Palynological Study of Cheilanthes and Astrolepis (Pteridaceae) Species from Northwestern Argentina

MORBELLI, M. A.; PONCE, M. M.

AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL

AMER FERN SOC INC

Año: 1997 vol. 87 p. 51 - 65

0002-8444

The spore morphology of Cheilanthes and Astrolepis species from northwestern Ar- gentina was analyzed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Three patterns of sporoderm structure were found: two exclusive and different structures in A. sinuata and the C. squamosa group, and a typically cheilanthoid structure with diverse sculptures in the rest of the species of Cheilanthes, i.e., C. bonariensis, C. buchtienii, C. cf. cucullans, C. obducta, and C. volcanensis. Sporophytic features such as hairs with "tongue and groove" wall cells and dixylic vascular strands are also mentioned in C. obducta. Similar spore characteristics are correlated with sporophyte morphology in some of the recognized groups. Spore-size differences, abnormalities in spore type, abortion and number of spores per sporangium (16, 32) suggest polyploidy and/or apogamy in some specimens of C. buchtienii, C. obducta, and C. squamosa, and in all samples of A. sinuata and C. bonariensis.