GAMETOGENIC MORPHOGENESIS OF THE FERN THY RSOPTERIS ELEGANS (FILICALES, THYRSOPTERIDACEAE)

As part of a series about Neotropical and related ferns, the morphogen etic development of Thyrsopteris elegans, an endemic species of the Ar chipelago Juan Fernandez Chile, is presented. The spores are tetrahedr al-globose, trilete, homosporous, non-green. The germination of the sp ores is of the Cyathea-type and the prothallial development correspond s to the Drynaria-type. The antheridia and the archegonia are typical of the leptosporangiate ferns. The sporophyte appears 200 days after s owing. Apogamy was not observed in this species.