Abstract:

The spore morphology of 4 species of mosses from Fildes Peninsula ,Antarctica are observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. They are Encalypta patagonia Broth. , Schistidium hyalino cuspitatum B.G.Bell., S.rivulare (Brid.)Podp. and Bartramia Patens Brid. Spore size ranging from 8.4-32.9μm in diameter.P/E ranges from 0.825-0.906.Colour of the mature spore varies from light yellow to yellow brown.Germinal aperture belongs to katalept type.Exine ornamentation are pilate,baculate or tuberculate. The spores of two species ( Bartramia patens collected in Fildes Peninsula and B.pomiformis collected in Hebei,China) are similar in diameter,shape and aperture. But they are different in spore colour and exine ornamentation. It shows character differentiation between two species in Bartramia.