Micro-morphology of <i>Selaginella</i> megaspores from India

Abstract

Twenty Indian species of the lycopod genus Selaginella are studied using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to resolve the variability in the number of megaspores per megasporangium and size, surface ornamentation and micro-sculpture of the megaspores. Comparisons between the new results and previous findings suggest that spore morphology and size are consistent for some species but variable within others.