Sphagnales

The Sphagnales is an order of mosses with four living genera: Ambuchanania, Eosphagnum,
Flatbergium, and Sphagnum.
The genus Sphagnum contains the largest number of species currently discovered. The other
genera are currently limited to one species each. Genus Sphagnum, occupies a very distinct and
isolated position among mosses.
Germination of Spore
The spore released from the sporophyte is the first cell of the gametophytic generation. It is
arranged in tetrads with a triradiate ridge. The spore has two layers: an outer exine and an inner
intine.
The spores germinate in favourable conditions to form a flat thallus of the primary protonema.
The protonema then gives rise to buds which further develop into erect leafy gametophytes.
1. The plants occur in large patches of a pale green or reddish color, and, when filling up small
lakes or pools, may attain a length of some feet. 2. Their growth has played a large part in the
formation of peat. 3. The species are distributed in temperate and arctic climates, but in the tropics
only occur at high levels. 4. The protonema forms a flat, lobed, thalloid structure attached to the
soil by rhizoids, and the plants arise from marginal cells. 5. The main shoot bears numerous
branches which appear to stand in whorls; some of them bend down and become applied to the
surface of the main axis. 6. The structure of the stem and leaves is peculiar. 7. Internally the stem
shows well marked differentiation of tissues into three zones. These are the cortex or
hyalodermis, the hydrome (pseudoparenchymatous region) , & the medulla (axial cylinder).
Hydrome functions as a supporting tissue & medulla functions as storage region. In species like
S.tenellum & S.molluscum peculiar absorptive cells present at the point of insertion of leaves.
Some people call them as retort cells. They are elongated, flask shaped cells. These cells open at
its distal end by an aperture and are inhabited by small microscopic animals.8. The adult plant
lacks rhizoids. Their function of water absorption is taken up by – (a). The spongy cortex of stem
and branches which consists of dead, water filled cells with porous walls.(b). The large hyaline
capillary cells of leaves with pores. These cells have no protoplasmic contents, but are filled with
water. Outside this come one to five layers of large clear cells, which when mature are dead and
empty; their walls are strengthened with a spiral thickening and perforated with round pores. They
serve to absorb and conduct water by capillarity. 9. It has some organic substance of a colloidal
nature in the cell walls. It absorbs the base and releases acid. For this reason the water in which it
grows is highly acidic. 10. The leaves have no midrib and similar empty cells occur regularly
among the narrow chlorophyll-containing cells, which thus appear as a green network. 11.. The
antheridia are globular and have long stalks. They stand by the side of leaves of special club-
shaped branches. 12. The archegonial groups occupy the apices of short branches. The mature
sporogonium consists of a wide foot separated by a constriction from the globular capsule. 13.
The capsule, the wall of which bears rudimentary stomata, has a small operculum but no
peristome. There is a short, wide columella, over which the dome-shaped spore-sac extends, and
no air-space is present between the spore-sac and the wall. 14. In the embryo a number of tiers of
cells are first formed. The lower tiers form the foot, while in the upper part the first divisions
mark off the columella, around which the archesporium, derived from the amphithecium, extends.
15. The sporogonium when nearly mature bursts the calyptra irregularly. The capsule opens
explosively in dry weather, the operculum and spores being thrown to a distance.

In sphagnum or Bog Bryophytes presence of spongy texture of stem cortex and leaves
due to presence of porous cell compensates for the absence of rhizoids in the adult gametophores.
Since they ie stem and leaves are immensely involved absorbing and retaining the water in
appreciable amount. The upward conduction of absorption of water to into distinct pathways
depending morpho anatomical build of plant.
i. The porous cortical cell in the stem of sphagnum palustre substitute and efficient capillary
apparatus by which the water may be easily be ascended from base upwards.
ii. In those sps where cortex is non porous the water is drawn capillary action and efficient system
of capillary spaces formed by closely placed pendent branches that constitute a lose mantle
around the stem axis.
Ecology of sphagnum
In a nut shell it may said that sphagnum thrives luxuriantly in pond or lake. It sterile seat of water
gradually is replaced by organic debris,humus and eventually by soil being congenial for
providing all avenues to the development of land trees culminating in the forest of mesophytic
nature .Hence the presence of submerged sps of Sphagnum constituting dominant pioneers
members pave the way for their own displacement generally in sequence by other plant
community and this explain the different stage hydrosere.
Sphagnum as considered as synthetic group
Sphagnum is interesting genus of Bryopsida showing a remarkable synthesis of liverworts,
anthocerotales and moss character .It serves to link together the three classes of Bryophyte are
usually regarded as synthetic group. It is an interesting type showing a no structural and
developmental characteristics which apparently indicate relationship with Bryopsida in one hand
and Hepaticopsida and Anthoceroptopsida on the other hand .They are common characterized
which is summarized below-

i. Characters common with Hepaticopsida

a. The flat like protonema of sphagnum shows similarity to the juvenile stage of some
acrogynous jungermaniales in which growth also occurs by two sides apical cells.
b. .Sphagnum resembles jungermaniales as Porella in position form indehiscent form of
antheridia . Antheridia are axillary in position in both the genera.it has a globular body born on a
long two celled stalked .Antheridia in both sphagnum and porella dehisces by rupturing of
thinner apical region of jacket into a no irregular lobe which curl back strongly.
c. The position origin and development of archegonia of the sphagnum is similar to that of
acrogynous jungermaniales.
ii . Characters common with anthoceroptopsida
i. Absence of apical growth in the sporangium.
ii. Origin of archesporium from amphithecium and the
development of collumella from the whole of endothecium.
iii. Presence of photosynthetic tissue in capsule wall.
iv. Presence of large bulbous foot and constricted seta
III. Characters common with Bryopsida
i. Erect radial , leafy gametophores.
ii. Multicellular rhizoids with oblique septa.
iii. Apical growth of stem , leaves and antheridia as in mosses.
iv. The structure of archegonia with long stalk and massive Venter canal cell.
v. Absence of elaters in the capsule.
vi. Dehiscence of capsule by the separation of definite operculum.
vii. Presence of pseudopodium
viii. The structure of leaf of sphagnum consisting green cells with hyaline dead cells having pores
shows similarities to the structure of leaf in Leucobryeae .In Leucobryam the brad thickened
midrib shows complexity in the internal structure . it consist of a layer of small green
photosynthetic cell which is situated between two layer of large hyaline cells with round pores in
the wall but no thickening.
Thus sphagnum link to some extent the classes of Bryophyte and regarded as synthetic group.