XVI International Botanical Congess

The most important criterion for evolution of diagnostic characters of the sporoderma sculpture is the degree of variation (for quantitative characters can be different in various taxonomic groups). The characters of sporoderma are among the most stable features of vascular plants. However, in some taxa a more high polymorphism of some sporoderma structures is observed. For the majority of taxa, the sculpture type is a stable character. In some groups, the sporoderma sculpture is very variable. In with a comparatively a low level of morphological differentiation (Ranunculales, Caryophyllales), the sporoderma structure is more constant and more important taxonomically. The qualitative characters usually have higher taxonomic importance than quantitative ones.