A preliminary account of the peristome structure and spores in six species of Philonotis (Bartramiaceae, Bryophyta)

A morphological study of the peristome and spores of six species of European Philonotis is reported. New peristome and spore characters are described and discussed. Among them the characters that show consistent differences and could help with accurate discrimination of the species are the papillosity of the surface of the endostome and exostome teeth, the differentiation of the OPL median line, the papillosity and number of cell rows of the basal membrane of the exostome and endostome, the number of cilia per cluster, and spore ornamentation. Nevertheless a more intensive study and examination of more numerous specimens is needed to confirm the taxonomic value of these characters.