The spores of Ophioglossum pendulum ssp. falcatum germinated after six weeks in the dark on a nutrient medium containing inorganic nutrients and glucose. The gametophytes grew on the same nutrient medium to give globular, teardrop-shaped, and finally cylindrical gametophytes. The mature gametophytes were cylindrical and highly branched. Other aspects of these gametophytes were normal for Ophioglossum gametophytes with sunken antheridia and short-necked archegonia. The gametangia were functional because fertilization took place in older cultures. Mature gametophytes of O. pendulum ssp. falcatum from culture had the same structure as those of O. pendulum ssp. pendulum from nature. The differing conditions under which the gametophytes of both subspecies grew did not alter their stellate form.
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1 January 2011
The Gametophyte of Ophioglossum pendulum in Culture
Dean P. Whittier,
John E. Braggins
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American Fern Journal
Vol. 101 • No. 1
January 2011
Vol. 101 • No. 1
January 2011
fern development
gametophytes
Ophioglossum