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Tracheid structure of aerial system in five species of Ophioglossaceae and one species of Osmundaceae was examined with light and scanning electron microscope. The species were Botrichium multifidum var. robustrum, B. ternatum, B. strictum, B. virginianum, Ophioglossum vulgatum, and Osmunda japonica. Three types of tracheids could be recognized by the pattern of secondary wall thickening; helical, irregular reticulate and circular bordered pitted tracheids. Among them, the appearance of circular bordered pitted tracheids supported that ophioglossaceous plants might have phylogenetic relationship with progymnosperm-seed plant line. Circular and elliptical bordered pits in shape were observed in five ophioglossaceous species; the former was subdivided into large and small types in size. In conclusion, three types of bordered pits were found: (1) large circular type- O. vulgatum, (2) small circular type- B. multifidum var. robustrum, B. ternatum and (3) elliptical type- B. strictum, B. virginianum. B. strictum and B. virginianum belong to subgenus Osmundopteris had the elliptical bordered pits. Therefore, this group might be interpreted as the most primitive in this family; however, such suggestion did subgenus Osmundopteris was classified into the most advanced group.
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