Spore morphology of some Dicranaceae species (Bryophyta) from Brazil

The spore morphology of 25 taxa belonging to the family Dicranaceae, includ ing ii genera is described. The majority of the spores do not exceed 25 mu m in the largest diameter. Three spore types, characterized by their surfac e ornamentation, are established, reflecting the species taxonomic relation ships. The genera Anisothecium, Atractylocarpus, Bryohumbertia, Campyloptus , Holomitrium, Oreoweisia, Pilopogon and Thysanomitrium present a surface r ecovered by elements resembling granules, they are included in the granuloi d type. The piloid type in Dicranella and Microdus it is characterized by a surface with pilum-like elements. The insuloid type is restricted to the g enus Campylopodium. The spores are resistant to the acetolysis mixture; the sclerine maintains its integrity when submitted to this method; only the i ntine is lost.