Sporogenesis in Polypodiaceae (Filicales). III. Species of several genera. Spore characters and their value in phylogenetic analysis

Mature spores were studied in more than 30 species from sixteen genera of Polypodiaceae. Of ten of these species sporogenesis was also studied, after the application of conventional fixation techniques for transmission electron microscopy, or of freeze fracturing for scanning electron microscopy. For the species studied here and for those described earlier in this series of publications, the possible value of spore characters in phylogenetic analysis is discussed.