OBSERVATIONS ON THE STOMATAL COMPLEX IN TEN SPECIES OF MOSSES (POTTIACEAE, BRYOPSIDA)

Abstract

  The stomatal complex in Bryophyta is morphologically more uniform than in vascular plants. Nevertheless there are many species without data about the morphology, physiology and ontogeny of their stomata. We present here a morphological and histochemical study of the stomatal complex in ten species of Crossidium, Didymodon, Pottia and Tortula (Pottiaceae).The number of stomata per capsule, their size, orientation, location, neighbouring cells, morphological type and the results of the histochemical tests for the guard and adjacent cells for starch, callose, cellulose and pectin are described. The results suggest that the morphological features of the stomata in these ten species have not any taxonomical value.