Subtopic 1: Definition of Sporophyll
– A sporophyll is a leaf bearing sporangia.
– Microphylls and megaphylls can be sporophylls.
– In heterosporous plants, sporophylls bear megasporangia (megasporophylls) or microsporangia (microsporophylls).
– Sporophylls vary greatly in appearance and structure.
– They may or may not resemble sterile leaves.
Subtopic 2: Plants Producing Sporophylls
– Alaria esculenta, a brown alga, has sporophylls near its base.
– Lycophytes like Selaginella and Lycopodium have sporophylls in strobili or among sterile leaves.
– Ferns like Onoclea sensibilis may have sporophylls different from sterile fronds.
– Cycads produce strobili with sporophylls for pollen and seed production.
– Ginkgo produces pollen strobili with microsporophylls.
Subtopic 3: Sporophylls in Gymnosperms
– Gymnosperms like Ginkgo and cycads have microsporophylls in pollen strobili.
– Ovules in gymnosperms are produced on cone scales, not on sporophylls.
– Some plants do not have sporophylls; sporangia are produced directly on stems.
– Psilotum produces sporangia on stem terminus.
– Equisetum produces strobili with sporangiophores interpreted as modified stems.
Subtopic 4: Gnetophytes and Sporophylls
– Gnetophytes produce compound pollen and seed strobili.
– The pollen and seed strobili of gnetophytes are compound structures.
– Gnetophytes have evolved unique reproductive structures.
– The reproductive structures of gnetophytes are distinct from other gymnosperms.
– Gnetophytes showcase diversity in reproductive morphology.
Subtopic 5: References
– C.Michael Hogan’s work in 2010 is a notable reference on sporophylls.
– Carola I. Dickson’s book “British Seaweeds” from 1963 provides insights into sporophylls.
– The Kew Series is a valuable resource for information on plant morphology.
– Wikipedia is a platform where sporophyll information can be accessed.
– The lack of in-text citations in some articles on sporophylls is a noted issue.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2013) |
A sporophyll is a leaf that bears sporangia. Both microphylls and megaphylls can be sporophylls. In heterosporous plants, sporophylls (whether they are microphylls or megaphylls) bear either megasporangia and thus are called megasporophylls, or microsporangia and are called microsporophylls. The overlap of the prefixes and roots makes these terms a particularly confusing subset of botanical nomenclature.
Sporophylls vary greatly in appearance and structure, and may or may not look similar to sterile leaves. Plants that produce sporophylls include:
Alaria esculenta, a brown alga which shows sporophylls attached near the base of the alga.
Lycophytes, where sporophylls may be aggregated into strobili (Selaginella and some Lycopodium and related genera) or distributed singly among sterile leaves (Huperzia). Sporangia are borne in the axil or on the adaxial surface of the sporophyll. In heterosporous members, megasporophylls and microsporophylls may be intermixed or separated in a variety of patterns.
Ferns, which may produce sporophylls that are similar to sterile fronds or that appear very different from sterile fronds. These may be non-photosynthetic and lack typical pinnae, e.g. Onoclea sensibilis.
Cycads produce strobili, both pollen-producing and seed-producing, that are composed of sporophylls.
Ginkgo produces microsporophylls aggregated into a pollen strobilus. Ovules are not born on sporophylls [citation needed].
Gymnosperms, like Ginkgo and cycads, produce microsporophylls, aggregated into pollen strobili. However, unlike these other groups, ovules are produced on cone scales, which are modified shoots rather than sporophylls.
Some plants do not produce sporophylls. Sporangia are produced directly on stems. Psilotum has been interpreted as producing sporangia (fused in a synangium) on the terminus of a stem. Equisetum always produce strobili, but the structures bearing sporangia (sporangiophores) have been interpreted as modified stems. The sporangia, despite being recurved are interpreted as terminal.
Gnetophytes produce both compound pollen and seed strobili.