Oospore dimensions and wall ornamentation in Chara braunii

Morphological features of oospores of a rarely noted species Chara braunii Gmel. were examined in a local population (fishpond near Tuplice village, Ziemia Lubuska region, mid-western Poland). The largest polar axis (LPA, length), largest equatorial diameter (LED, width), isopolarity index (ISI = LPA/LED* 100), and the number of ridges and width of fossa of 90 oospores were measured. Additionally, the oospore wall ornamentation pattern was examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a result, a cylindrical shape and the lack of so-called “shoulder” were found. Oospore length and width ranged between 466.8–600.1 µm and 250.1–366.7 µm, respectively, with the ISI index values between 148 and 213. The number of ridges was 8–10 and the width of fossa varied between 50.0 and 66.7 µm. The oospore width appeared to be the most changeable feature, whereas, by contrast, the number of ridges was the least variable character. Wall ornamentation can be described as tuberculate and a ribbon was present on the ridges. As a comparative material for the study performed, 9 oospores from Professor Izabela DÄ mbska’s Collection of Charophytes of Poland were measured. It was evidenced that variation ranges of most of the features of Chara braunii oospores from Tuplice fishpond are similar to those of Professor DÄ mbska’s herbarium materials and to data reported by authors from other countries as well. The morphology of reproductive structures does not follow the variation of thalli characteristics.