LEAF EPIDERMICPArrERNs AND OTHER FOLIAR CHARACTERSIN SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGYOF Lycopodium L., SECT. Cmssistachys HERTER

Abstract

The study of the epidermic morphology of 56 species of Lycopodium L., sect. Crassistachys Herter (1909, 1950, 1953) allowed for fue determination of epidermic models, based on the presence or absence of sinuositie-5 of the ceIl walls. Such models -3 sinuous and 2 poligonal- are correlated with other leaf characters such as epiderrnic cutinizatiol1; texture; surface; types and structure of leaf margins; cross-sectíon of microphyIls and th!'J structure of the mesohpyll. External leaf characters are diversely combined with the intemal ones, and wifu the general morphology of sporophyte, as well as with the ecology of species, allowing for the establishment of 5 groups of related species: L. sa,urun.1S Lam., L. brongniartii Spring, L. reflexum Lam., L. brevifolium Hook & Grev., and L. densifolium (Bk.) Und. & Lloyd. These groups, although including species evidently affine among them, have not been given a taxonomical hyerarchy for the time being, and do not coincide with the series proposed by erter for the section, thus attesting for fue artificiality of the latter, as was farmerly propased by one of the authors.