Moss cells and diagram
Home » Sphagnoid areolation pattern in leaves of Palaeozoic protosphagnalean mosses

Sphagnoid areolation pattern in leaves of Palaeozoic protosphagnalean mosses

Palaeozoic Protosphagnales constitute the largest group of extinct mosses of a still uncertain affinity. Their leaf areolation resembles that of modern Sphagna, which is strikingly different from any other mosses.

Moss cells and diagram

Ivanov et al. use original methods to analyse digitised images of fossils. They argue that the similar type of areolation may have developed through different pathways: unequal oblique cell divisions in Sphagnum and equal cell divisions with subsequent uneven cell elongation in the Palaeozoic plants. Such different mechanisms make the relatedness of Sphagnales and Protosphagnales doubtful, and explain the remarkable intra-leaf variability in Protosphagnales, thus calling for the reassessment of the key characters used in their taxonomy.

Alex Assiry

Alex Assiry is an editorial assistant in the Annals of Botany Office. When not working, Alex listens for the opportunity to help.

Read this in your language

The Week in Botany

On Monday mornings we send out a newsletter of the links that have been catching the attention of our readers on Twitter and beyond. You can sign up to receive it below.

@BotanyOne on Mastodon

Loading Mastodon feed...

Audio


Archive