Abstract:

 The spores of all specimens of Cystopteris in the Herbarium of the Institute of

Botany, Academea Sinica have been examined under light microscope.  The result of

the survey shows for the first time that the distribution of Cystopteris dickieana Sim

with non-spiny spores is also quite wide-spread in China, including provinces Xinjiang,

Xizang, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Hebei in northwestern China and Tibetan plateau.

The range of altitude for this species varies from 1800 to 5400(5600) m, but C. fragilis

(L.) Bernh. from 210 to 4600 m. The differences in the altitudinal distribution range

seem to suggest that C. dickieana is more tolerant of cold conditions than C. fragilis.

There are also variations in size and ornamentation of the spores in each of the two

species.  Their ploidy and relationships await futher cytogenetical study from living

materials.