Spore wall morphology and dehiscence pattern in the liverwort Fossombronia caespitiformis De Not.

Abstract

The spore wall morphology and first germination stages of Fossombronia caespitiformis are described. The spores are markedly heteropolar and catalept. The boundary line, which separates the proximal and distal faces, is shifted toward the proximal pole. The spore coat breaks along this boundary line allowing the protonemal tube to protrude. The dehiscence pattern can be considered tangential.