@article {19, title = {Micromorphological approach to the systematics of Mediterranean Iso{\"e}tes species (Iso{\"e}taceae, Lycopodiophyta): Analysis of the megaspore surface}, journal = {Grana}, volume = {51}, year = {2012}, note = {Export Date: 11 November 2013Source: Scopus}, month = {2012///}, pages = {35 - 43}, abstract = {Megaspore ornamentation is one of the few morphological characters used in the taxonomy of the genus Iso{\"e}tes. In the present work, we test the application of this character for distinguishing some Iso{\"e}tes species occurring in the Mediterranean: Iso{\"e}tes sicula, which according to some authors should be included as a variety in I. histrix, and the recently described I. todaroana, whose affinity with other taxa is currently unknown. Two additional species (I. duriei, I. velata) were also included in the analysis. The megaspores were studied using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and chemical treatment. In all species, the megaspore surface is covered by a siliceous coating; removal of this coating reveals an underlying three-dimensional network of fused rodlets. A unique pattern of this network occurs in I. sicula, supporting its separation from I. histrix. Comparison between the patterns observed in the examined Mediterranean species shows that I. todaroana is most similar to I. histrix. {\textcopyright} 2012 Copyright 2012 Collegium Palynologicum Scandinavicum.}, keywords = {energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Iso{\"e}tes duriei, Iso{\"e}tes histrix, Iso{\"e}tes sicula, Iso{\"e}tes todaroana, Iso{\"e}tes velata, SEM, Sicily, siliceous coating}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84859208191\&partnerID=40\&md5=8268047dea3226ff247ba747f4878e5d}, author = {Troia, A. and Bazan, G. and Schicchi, R.} }