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Updated: 09-12-10

SIMPLE TREATMENT TO INVESTIGATE SPORE ORNAMENTATION OF FERNS FOR SEM OBSERVATION FROM HERBARIUM SPECIMENS

HU XIAO-YING, ZHAI JUN-WEN, WANG FA-GUO*AND XU XIN-LAN

Abstract: Fern spore surface from herbarium specimens is usually difficult to study because of the presence of dust or debris. After being soaked in ethanol (70%) and shaken in an ultrasonic wave bath (50-60Hz, 90W), the treated spore surfaces become clearer than untreated ones under scanning electron microscopy. This is an easy method that represents an improvement to commonly use techniques for the preparation of fern spores for SEM observation. As a case study, we observed the spore morphology of Bolbitis changjiangensis, Humata henryana and Hypodematium hirsutum. Micromorphological data for Hypodematium hirsutum are reported for the first time.

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 723 Xingke Road, Tianhe District, CN-510650 Guangzhou, China. 

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