Abstract
Underground gemmae in Botrychium subgenus Botrychium are described as the first report of such structures in ferns. Gemmae are spherical units 0.5–1 mm in diameter produced on the stem, where they originate in meristematic regions of the outer cortex. At maturity they contain an embedded apical cell and may contain a mycorrhizal fungus. Upon abscission from the stem they remain subterranean and may undergo growth and development into completely differentiated sporophytes in a pattern similar to that of development of sexually produced embryos. In addition to the diploid B. campestre, gemmae occur in the tetraploids B. minganense, B. echo, and a new species as yet undescribed. These may be allotetraploids of which B. campestre is one parent. The ecological significance of reproduction by gemmae may lie in the advantages of asexual reproduction in the dry prairie habitat of B. campestre.
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