Recent Bryological Literature

Abstract

Growing Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wilson under ten times ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentrations showed that, while stomatal density and index decreased under elevated atmospheric CO₂, the overall number of stomata per spore capsule remained unaltered. Capsule length increased, while the size of stomata and epidermal cells decreased. This study suggests that stomatal frequency measures used to investigate the influence of varying levels of atmospheric CO₂ on angiosperms and gymnosperms may result in misleading conclusions when applied to bryophytes if considered in isolation from growth responses.