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VARIATIONS IN MICROSPORANGIA AND MICROSPORE DISPERSAL IN SELAGINELLA
Author(s) -
Koller Alan L.,
Scheckler Stephen E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1986.tb10869.x
Subject(s) - biology , microspore , deserts and xeric shrublands , selaginella , biological dispersal , fern , botany , ecology , habitat , population , pollen , stamen , demography , sociology
Fifty‐three species of Selaginella were examined for variations in microsporangium anatomy and microspore dispersal strategies. Five anatomically different kinds of microsporangia were observed, displaying three different strategies for microspore dispersal. Xeric species, including all isophyllous species, have microsporangia that only dry and shrink as they dehisce, resulting in microspores being passively dispersed. Among anisophyllous species from tropical and subtropical habitats some species actively eject their microspores, while others of the series Articulatae eject the entire microsporangium. These two types of active ejection both utilize a mechanism similar to that found in fern leptosporangia.