Morphological characterization of Hypnaceae (Bryopsida, Hypnales): Investigating four genera from Western Himalayas by using LM and SEM techniques

Abstract

The Hypnaceae is one of the largest and diversified family among the pleurocarpous mosses which consists of nearly 60 genera and 1,000 species around the world. In Pakistan, it is represented by 15 species and 8 genera. The current research article provides the detail morphological investigation of four different species (genera) of the family Hypnaceae that is, Gollania clarescens, Hypnum revolutum, Homomallium andoi, and Taxiphyllum taxirameum in the Western Himalayas, Pakistan. The research article reports the first SEM study of the leaf surfaces of the studied taxa, along with comprehensive morphological characters of the four species. The main objective of the research project is to present the comparative light and scanning electron microscopic study to discuss the morphology in detail because previously the family is just reported in different bryophyte checklists of the Western Himalayas. Based on results, morphological characters, micromorphological observations, qualitative and quantitative attributes, taxonomic keys for the studied taxa, distribution, and habitat are described. Stereoscope was used to analyze different qualitative characters, and light microscope was used to observe and measure the laminal and alar cells of the leaf. The SEM study reveals many important surface features like cell shape and cell wall. The laminal cells were mostly linear and elongated with thin cell walls. The specimens used for the SEM were air dried, so the laminal cells were somewhat constricted and concaved. The current study project will help to make the contribution in the taxonomy and morphology of this family. K E Y W O R D SHypnaceae, micromorphology, Pakistan, scanning electron microscope, Western Himalayas

Palyno‐anatomical microscopic characterization of selected species of Boraginaceae and Fabaceae

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Taxonomic Implications of Leaf Micromorphology Using Microscopic Analysis: A Tool for Identification and Authentication of Korean Piperales

“…Especially, previous works have shown that leaf micromorphological (cuticular, epidermal) characteristics are more taxonomically useful than gross or external morphology [1,2]. Micromorphological characteristics of leaves have been applied in systematic studies for different taxonomic groups such as bryophytes [3,4], ferns [5][6][7], gymnosperms [8][9][10][11], and angiosperms [12][13][14][15]. Recently, leaf micromorphology using microscopic analysis has also been used to facilitate accurate authentication and quality control of medicinal plants [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Taxonomic implications of macro and micromorphological characters in the genus Brachythecium (Brachytheciaceae, Bryopsida) from the Western Himalayas: A combined light and scanning electron microscopic analysis

“…So it will be highly important to study the micromorphological details of the moss leaves. In the last few decades, SEM is used with the success especially in mosses for the detailed understanding of the micromorphology of leaf surfaces e.g., leaf papillae, and cell wall and it is also used to investigate the sporophyte structure or peristome (Câmara & Kellogg, 2010; Duarte‐Silva, Carvalho‐Silva, & Câmara, 2013; Duckett & Soni, 1972; Khan et al, 2020; Moore, Luff, & Hallam, 1982; Ramsay, 2010; Robinson, 1971; Yelitza, 2006).…”