Spore Morphology of Some Bryaceae Schwägr. Species (Bryophyta) from Turkey

Abstract

The spores of Bryum caespiticium Hedw., B. capillare Hedw., B. creberrimum Taylor, B. imbricatum (Schwägr.) Bruch &
Schimp. and B. subelegans Kindb. were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The apertural region
consists of a leptoma in all spores. Two spore types, characterized by their surface ornamentation, are established, refl ecting the
species taxonomic relationships. While surface ornamentation is of a piloid type in Bryum imbricatum, it is of granuloid type in
B. caespiticium, B. capillare, B. creberrimum and B. subelegans. The spore wall of the family Bryaceae includes sclerine (the
dinstinction between exine and perine may be difficult to define) and intine. The taxonomy of the genera Bryum is discussed on
the basis of their spore morphology.