Sporotrophophyll

A sporotrophophyll (also tropho sporophyll ) is a leaf that both produces spores and photosynthesis.

Vascular spore plants (Pteridophyta) reproduce via spores, which in some groups are formed by the leaves. These leaves ( sporophylls ) can be completely specialized in the function of spore formation; they then only consist of the midrib and the spore containers ( sporangia ). In this case, one speaks of sporophylls in the narrower sense. Or the sporophyll resembles a normal leaf, is green and carries out photosynthesis. Green leaves, which feed the plant through photosynthesis, are called trophophylls . A trophophyll that also forms spores is accordingly called sporotrophophyll .

Sporotrophophylls are found in most ferns (Filicopsida) today, in the Central European flora for example in bracken or worm fern. It is believed that some extinct seed plants also had sporotrophophylls, such as the ancestors of today's cycads (Cycadophyta).

literature

• D. v. Denffer, H. Ziegler, F. Ehrendorfer and A. Besinsky: Straßburger. Textbook of botany for universities. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart 1983, 1161 pp.
• R. von Wettstein: Handbook of systematic botany. 3rd edition , Franz Deuticke, Leipzig 1924, 1017 pp.