Spore Characteristics of Thai Pyrrosia Mirble (Polypodiaceae)

Abstract

The spore morphology of 18 taxa of Pyrrosia Mirbel in Thailand was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the spore is monolete, bilaterally symmetrical and anisopolar. The laesura is straight for about 1/3 of the spore length. The spore shapes are ellipsoidal or oblong in polar view and concavo-convex in the equatorial profile. The sizes are medium or large. Six patterns of spore ornamentation viz. psilate, parallel folds to longitudinal axis, verrucate with globules, verrucate with large verrucae, tuberculate with gross verrucae and verrucate with coarse echinae groups, are useful with taxonomic significance