The spore cases, or spore-producing structures, in ferns range from globose sessile (nonstalked) organs more than 1 mm (0.04 inch) in diameter down to microscopic stalked structures, the capsules of which are only 0.3 mm (0.01 inch) in diameter. The former are known as eusporangia and arise from several cells, the latter as leptosporangia and arise from a single cell. Eusporangia occur in the classes Psilotopsida and Marattiopsida, and leptosporangia occur in the majority of the species in the class Polypodiopsida. There are, however, many forms intermediate between the two types of sporangia, and these are known in various primitive species of the Polypodiopsida, such as members of the family Osmundaceae.
The capsule wall in eusporangia tends to be relatively massive, made up of two layers or more. In leptosporangia, on the other hand, the wall is thin and, at least at maturity, composed of one layer of cells. Opening of the capsule in eusporangia, such as those of the genus Botrychium, is accomplished by separation along a well-differentiated line of dehiscence (opening); but in most typical leptosporangia, except for a few stomial (“mouth”) cells that separate along one side, the process of dehiscence tears the cells apart more or less irregularly.
The opening process in eusporangia is the result of a generalized stress on drying walls, the cells of which are differentially thickened. There is no mechanism to throw the spores, and they are simply carried away by the wind. In contrast, leptosporangia display more or less specialized bows, or annuli, usually consisting of a single row of differentially thickened cells. Apparently, the mechanical force for opening and for throwing the spores derives entirely from these annular cells; all the other capsule cells are thin-walled and unmodified. The stresses imposed by the drying of the annular cells result in the collapse of the outer sides of the cells, thus straightening out the annulus and ripping the soft lateral cells of the capsule apart. As the annular cells continue to be deformed by the cohesive forces of the increasingly tense water molecules within, the spore case completely opens. Finally, the cohesive capacity of the water molecules is exceeded, the water film between the outer walls of the annular cells breaks, and the entire annulus snaps back to its original position, tossing the spores into the air.
Most primitive sporangial types are stalkless, or sessile. If a stalk is present at all, it is merely a slightly raised multicellular area at the base of the sporangial capsule. In typical leptosporangia, however, there commonly are well-developed stalks, and these are often extremely long and narrow (e.g., as in Davallia and Loxoscaphe), made up of only one or two rows of cells and often 1.7 to 2 mm (0.07 to 0.08 inch) in length.
The trend in sporangial evolution is evidently from solitary large capsules to increasingly elaborate groupings of smaller sporangia. These changes are accompanied by the appearance of such refinements as paraphyses and indusia. Paraphyses are sterile structures that grow among or on the sporangia. Indusia are papery tentlike structures that cover the sori (clusters of sporangia).
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