Silicon in sporoderms of micro- and megaspores of Isoetes echinospora Durieu registered by EDS and EELS.

The present study reveals silica in sporoderms of micro- and megaspores of the modern quillwort Isoetes echinospora Durieu and homologizes layers of the sporoderm in spores of this plant. Here, the presence of silica in sporoderms of microspores has been documented for the first time, and observations of megaspore sporoderms were used to test various methods, such as energy dispersive (EDS) and electron energy loss (EELS) spectroscopies. The results elucidate the occurrence of silicon in the quillworts and will influence on the interpretation of their modern and fossil sporoderms.