Abstract
Background Huperzia serrata is a medicinal plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been used to prevent against aging diseases. It is mainly propagated by spores and grows extremely slowly. Due to severe harvest, it is a highly endangered species. In this report, we characterize ontogenesis of sporangia and spores that are associated with propagation. A wild population of H. serrata plants is localized in western Hunan province, China and protected by Chinese Government to study its development (e.g. sporangia and spores) and ecology. Both field and microscopic observations were conducted for a few of years.ResultsThe development of sporangia from their initiation to maturation took nearly 1 year. Microscopic observations showed that the sporangial walls were developed from epidermal cells via initiation, cell division, and maturation. The structure of the mature sporangial wall is composed of one layer of epidermis, two middle layers of cells, and one layer of tapetum. Therefore, the sporangium is the eusporangium type. Spore development is characterized into six stages, initiation from epidermal cell and formation of sporogenous cells, primary sporogenous cell, secondary sporogenous cell, spore mother cell, tetrad, and maturation.ConclusionThe sporangial development of H. serrata belongs to the eusporangium type. The development takes approximately 1 year period from the initiation to the maturation. These data are useful for improving propagation of this medicinal plant in the future.
Highlights
Huperzia serrata is a medicinal plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been used to pre‐ vent against aging diseases
A Natural Reservation Station, namely Gao-Wang-Jian Forest located in Gu Zhang County (28°37′42.4′′N; 110°00′28.4′′E; At: 904 ± 5 m), which is next to Zhangjiajie, the International Heritage Park in the west of Hunan Province, has been defined by Chinese Government
Leaves developed in the early March did not form sporangia; while, leaves developed from branches after the late March would form sporangia
Summary
Huperzia serrata is a medicinal plant used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been used to pre‐ vent against aging diseases It is mainly propagated by spores and grows extremely slowly. A wild population of H. serrata plants is localized in western Hunan province, China and protected by Chinese Government to study its development (e.g. sporangia and spores) and ecology. Both field and microscopic observations were conducted for a few of years. Anatomic studies remain to be investigated in detail These data are significant to enhance growth and propagation of this medicinal plant and its relatives in the field. All observations are useful to enhance the understanding of sporangium of ferns, and provide basic information for propagation of this medicinal fern in the future
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