Spores and Capsules Morphology of Some Orthotrichum and Lewinskya Species (Orthotrichaceae) in Türkiye

Authors : Merve Can Gözcü, Oktay Bıyıklıoğlu, Serhat Karabıcak, Güray Uyar, Talip Çeter

Pages : 154-165

Doi:10.26672/anatolianbryology.1817850

View : 64 | Download : 205

Publication Date : 2025-12-12

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Orthotrichum Hedw. and Lewinskya F. Lara, Garilleti & Goffinet are widespread genera within the family Orthotrichaceae Arn. Although spore size is commonly used in the identification of these genera, detailed information on spore ornamentation remains insufficient. Therefore, in this study, the detailed spore morphological characteristics and capsule structures of several Orthotrichum species collected from Türkiye (O. bistratosum (Schiffn.) J. Guerra, O. diaphanum Schrad. ex Brid., O. pallens Bruch ex Brid., O. pumilum Sw. ex anon., O. scanicum Gronvall, O. stramineum Hornsch. ex Brid.) and Lewinskya striata (Hedw.) F. Lara, Garilleti & Goffinet were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The aperture regions of most of the examined spores were found to possess a leptoma. In addition, depending on the type of sclerine ornamentation, the spores of the studied species correspond to three morphological categories: verrucate, gemmate, and granulate. The spores are also katalept, monolete, or trilete. In equatorial view, spore shapes range from spheroidal to plan-convex. Generally, the surface ornamentation elements are prominent, accompanied by smaller projections such as micro-verrucae, nano-gemmae, and granulae. Furthermore, the polar outline of the spores is typically circular to ellipsoidal, and occasionally subtriangular. The average polar axis (P) length ranges from 10.41 µm to 21.77 µm, while the equatorial diameter (E) ranges between 11.66 µm and 24.67 µm. It was determined that characteristics such as spore shape, size, and surface ornamentation vary among the examined taxa, indicating their taxonomic significance.
Keywords : Bryophyta, Orthotrichaceae, spor morfolojisi, kapsül yapısı, ışık mikroskobu (LM), taramalı elektron mikroskobu (SEM), Türkiye

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL