The branching of Trichomanes proliferum (Hymenophyllaceae)

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Abstract
The general morphology, anatomy, and meristem histology of Trichomanes proliferum were studied in order to explain the morphogenesis of this fern. As opposed to Bierhorst's conclusions, T. proliferum was found to be a typical fern with normal tetrahedral shoot apical cells and lenticular leaf apical cells. The leaf is a lateral production of the shoot apical meristem. This species is similar morphologically to other species in the genus Trichomanes: the shoot apical meristems on the creeping stolons produce "lateral systems," composed of a leaf and a bud, which are extraaxillary, as in other Trichomanes species with a creeping filiform stolon. The unique morphology of this fern is due to two supplementary branching systems: a lateral branching of the stolon, which is leafless at the fork, and an epiphyllous budding, which results in the formation of additional leaves by a different process of development. Key words: fern, branching, morphogenesis, histogenesis, epiphyllous buds.