The palynology of the genus Rondeletia L. (Rubiaceae-Cinchonoideae-Rondeletieae)

Pollen of 20 species of Rondeletia, covering three subgenera and seven sections or “species groups” of the genus, was studied using light and scanning microscopy. Rondeletia, characterized by binucleate mature pollen grains like numerous other Rubiaceae, was found to be eurypalynous. The pollen is isopolar and small-sized (average equatorial diameters 11.4–22.8 μm) and 3-colporate (rarely 4-colporate). In equatorial view, the pollen grains are mostly ± spheroidal (rarely suboblate); in polar view (ambitus), they are mainly circular or semiangular (intersemiangular in one species only). Three different exine types are distinguishable: exine with 1) tectum minutely perforate, perforations usually isodiametric, 2) tectum with comparatively large, not isodiametric perforations or 3) coarsely reticulate; supratectal sculpturing elements are lacking; the width of the perforations and lumina is either equal or different at the apo- and mesocolpia; in a few species rod-like luminal processes are present. Palynological features of most of the investigated taxa tend to overlap so that palynology is not very helpful in supporting the subgeneric division of Rondeletia. It was, however, noted that pollen morphology, to some extent, supports the sections of subgen. Arachnothrix. Palynologically, the subgen. Rogiera was found to be heterogeneous in that each of the three investigated species is characterized by a different exine type; one of these, R. strigosa, differs from all other Rondeletia species investigated in having a coarsely reticulate exine. R. odorata (subgen. Rondeletia) differs from all other investigated species in its intersemiangular pollen shape.     

Pollen morphology of Rhododendron subgen. Tsutsusi and its systematic implications

Eighty-four pollen samples were obtained for 80 taxa, of which, 13 species and one variety are from sect. Brachycalyx Sweet, 58 species and two varieties from sect. Tsutsusi Sweet, and six species from subgen. Pentanthera (G. Don) Pojarkova, respectively. Pollen morphology of all samples was observed using LM and SEM. Pollen grains are revealed to be spheroidal and tetrahedral with tricolporate apertures. Pollen sizes of sub-gen. Tsutsusi (Sweet) Pojarkova range from 37.67 μm to 61.06 μm, and the exine sculptures are more or less compactly granulated. Pollen sizes are significantly different between sect. Brachycalyx and sect. Tsutsusi of subgen. Tsutsusi. Rhododendron tashiroi Maxim. of sect. Tsusiopsis Sleumer shows a close affinity to sect. Brachycalyx. Pollen size and exine are consistent with general morphology in differentiating species in sect. Tsutsusi. Rhododendron huadingense B. Y. Ding & Y. Y. Fang, once placed as a member of sect. Brachycalyx, should be considered as a species in subgen. Pentanthera.     

Taxonomic implications of pollen exine morphology in infrageneric classification of Scutellaria (Lamiaceae)

Scutellaria L. in Lamiaceae subfamily Scutellarioideae is a subcosmopolitan genus with about 360 species. According to the latest subgeneric classification, two subgenera are recognized: S. subgen. Scutellaria and S. subgen. Apeltanthus. We studied pollen grains from 29 species of Scutellaria belonging to both subgenera and from both the Old and the New World to evaluate their taxonomic importance for the infrageneric classification of the genus. Pollen grains were acetolysed and studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and light microscope (LM). All examined pollen grains are isopolar, tricolpate, suboblate, oblate spheroidal, prolate spheroidal to subprolate. The exine is mainly bireticulate perforate, but with variations in lumina shape and size as well as perforation size and uniformity. Based on the exine sculpturing, two subtypes are recognized within the bireticulate pollen type. In subtype I the primary reticulum of the exine consists of angular muri; the lumen has an irregular polygonal shape and the perforations of the secondary reticulum are more or less uniform and of the same size. This pollen subtype was observed in species of subgenus Scutellaria, sectt. Scutellaria p.p., Anaspis, Perilomia and Salazaria. In subtype II the primary reticulum of the exine consists of a more or less curved murus; the lumen is rounded or obtusely angular and the secondary reticulum consists of one or more large central perforations surrounded by some smaller ones. This pollen subtype was observed in species of subgenus Scutellaria sectt. Scutellaria p.p., Salviifoliae and in all members of subgenus Apeltanthus. The results of this study reveal that the exine ornamentation is a diagnostic character useful for the infrageneric classification of Scutellaria.     

天南星属植物的花粉形态

利用扫描电镜对天南星科天南星属（Arisaema)8组25种植物的花粉进行研究（其中,12种前人未观察过,12种中11种为我国特有）。结果显示：本属花粉形态基本一致,即球形,无萌发孔,无覆盖层,具微刺,是一个非常自然的类群。但各个种在花粉粒大小,刺长,刺的形状,刺基部上径,刺的密度和刺间纹饰方面差别较大,可以作为区别种的依据。这进一步证实了前人的结论。花粉形态支持学者们关于天南星属是本科最进化的类群之一的观点。天南星属花粉可能由线花组从花粉大小适中、刺密度居中向大或小、密或疏的方向发展;刺间表面纹饰对探讨组间演化关系意义不大。Murata等对于花粉刺间具较密颗粒为曲序组特征的界定可疑;把A.yunnanense Buchet、A.bathycoleum Hand.-Mazt.和A.prazeri Hook.f.归入曲序组似乎不妥。A.consanguineum Schott和A.fraternum Schott的花粉形态没有支持李恒对这两个种的归并。     

中国紫金牛属圆齿组花粉形态研究及其分类学意义

利用扫描电子显微镜对紫金牛属圆齿组20种1变种植物的花粉形态进行了研究,并比较分析了腋序组2种及锯齿组1种的花粉。经观察花粉为近球形或近扁球形,具3孔沟,除锯齿组的月月红外,其余种均形成合沟。外壁纹饰可分为四类:穴网状、细网状、皱波状及细颗粒状(带刺突)。结果显示,花粉形态特征可作为属下分组及组下分类处理的依据。     

青藏高原东缘28种风毛菊属植物花粉形态研究

通过扫描电镜对青藏高原高寒草甸风毛菊属28种多年生草本植物的花粉进行了形态观察和比较,结果显示,该属植物花粉形态较为一致。花粉近球形或长球形,极面观三裂圆形,三孔沟,外壁表面具刺状突起。刺间纹饰可分为4种类型:穴状、颗粒状、网状—颗粒状和网状。花粉形态没有大的差异,但刺间表面纹饰、萌发沟的宽窄、刺的大小、分布密度和花粉大小在种间存在差异,可作为种的分类依据。花粉特征聚类分析结果表明,此28种风毛菊属植物花粉大致划分为明显的5个类群,所包含的种分别隶属于风毛菊属的四亚属:雪兔子亚属、雪莲亚属、附片亚属和风毛菊亚属。     

杜鹃花属植物花粉形态及其分类学意义

利用扫描电子显微镜对5个亚属20种杜鹃花属植物的花粉形态进行了观察和比较研究,其中大部分(16种)为首次报道。杜鹃花属花粉均为四合花粉,呈正四面体排列。四合体为圆角三角形,连接紧密。单粒花粉为球形或近球形,具三沟孔。在扫描电镜下,除了杜鹃亚属的百合杜鹃、羊踯躅亚属的羊踯躅以及马银花亚属的马银花组具有明显的纹饰特征之外,其它类群的形态特征相互重叠,不足以作为现有亚属的分类依据。花粉粒具不同的外壁纹饰,可为分类研究提供孢粉学方面的证据,但应慎重应用花粉形态对杜鹃花属植物特定种进行分类鉴定。     

Pollen morphology of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) in Turkey

Pollen grains of 30 taxa of the genus Salvia, belonging to sections Salvia, Horminum, Drymosphace, Plethiosphace and Hemisphace from Turkey were examined by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed pollen morphological characteristics are provided for these taxa. Among the studied taxa, S. verticillata subsp. verticillata from sect. Hemisphace has the smallest pollen grains, and S. pachystachys from sect. Salvia possesses the largest ones. The basic shape of the pollen grains in most taxa is suboblate, oblate-spheroidal or prolate-spheroidal. However subprolate pollen grains are recorded for S. macrochlamys from sect. Salvia. The grains are hexacolpate in all taxa, but in S. recognita from sect. Salvia also octacolpate pollen was found. Three distinct exine sculpturing types exist, reticulate-perforate (the common type), reticulate-granulate and bireticulate. The reticulate-perforate and bireticulate sculpturing patterns can be divided into subtypes based on the number of perforations and the number of secondary lumina in each primary lumen. Pollen morphological characteristics of the taxa studied are compared and discussed on the basis of taxonomical concepts. In some cases, these characters are useful in distinguishing the sections. For instance, the presence of 1-2 large central secondary lumina per primary lumen is a significant character of sect. Horminum separating it from the other sections. As well, the presence of holes on colpus membrane ornamentation can be used as a diagnostic taxonomic character for sectional division between sect. Hemisphace and others. S. ballsiana from sect. Salvia is clearly distinct from the other taxa examined by its unique pollen morphology. Further, for several macromorphologically similar taxa pollen structures provide additional evidence to delimite them from each other.     

Pollen morphology of Chinese Glochidion (Phyllanthaceae) and its taxonomic implications

The pollen morphology of twenty‐five Chinese species belonging to two sections of Glochidion and one species from Phyllanthus subgen. Phyllanthodendron was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that pollen grains of Glochidion are isopolar, spheroidal to rarely subprolate in shape, (3)4–5(6)‐colporate in aperture pattern, and tectate‐reticulate to tectate‐rugulate in exine ornamentation. Fusion of colpus ends was observed in some pollen grains of G. pseudo‐obscurum and G. wrightii. The pollen grains of Phyllanthus dunnianus are similar to those of Glochidion species in their spheroidal shape and four‐colporate aperture pattern, but are slightly larger in size, and show tectate‐perforate exine ornamentation. In Glochidion, pollen morphology appears to be useful for distinguishing several macromorphologically similar. Additionally, palynological characters provide evidence for the taxonomy of the supergenus Phyllanthus s.l.     

A palynotaxonomic study of the genus Filipendula (Rosaceae)

Pollen grains from 15 species (18 taxa) of the genus Filipendula were examined with light and scan-ning electron microscopy. It was revealed that the pollen grains are isopolar, tricolporate, with scabrate or scabrate-microechinate surface. The pollen morphology was compared with the conventional classification sys-tems of the genus by different authors, and supported Shimizu's system (1961), in which the genus was divided into three subgenera. The monotypic subgen. Hypogyna is characterized by pollen lacking fastigium and thickened costae colpi. The other monotypic subgen. Filipendula differs from others by pollen having larger grain, larger pore size, longitudinally elliptic fastigium and thickened costae colpi. The largest subgen. Ulmaria is distinguished by pollen having rounded or latitudinally elliptic fastigium and thickened costae colpi. Sectional classification was not supported by the pollen morphology due to insufficient variability.     

Variation of pollen morphology, and its implications in the phylogeny of Clematis (Ranunculaceae)

Clematis s.l. (including Archiclematis and Naravelia) is a genus of approximately 300 species with cosmopolitan distribution. The diversity of its pollen was surveyed in 162 taxa belonging to all infrageneric groups of Clematis s.l. Pollen morphology was investigated by use of scanning electron microscopy to identify useful characters, test taxonomic and systematic hypotheses, and elucidate pollen character evolution on the basis of the molecular phylogeny. Clematis pollen is small to medium (14.8–32.1?μm?×?14.2–28.7?μm), oblate to prolate (P/E?=?0.9–1.4) in shape. The apertures may be tricolpate and pantoporate sometimes with 4-zonocolpate and pantocolpate pollen grains as transitional forms. The tricolpate pollen grains are predominant and occur in all the sections of the genus, whereas pantoporate pollen grains can be found in sect. Tubulosae, sect. Viorna, sect. Viticella, and Naravelia only. Phylogenetic mapping of aperture types reveals that the pantoporate pollen type may be the apomorphy in the genus and evolved several times. The surface ornamentation in all taxa studied is similar and characterized by microechinae evenly distributed on the microperforate tectum. The size and density of spinules on the tectum vary greatly but successive in the whole genus. According to the character syndromes of the ornamentation, separating sect. Brachiata from sect. Meclatis is supported. Though pollen morphology may contribute to investigation of problematic taxa, the taxonomic value of pollen morphology is limited at the species level.     

Pollen morphology of Campanula (Campanulaceae) and allied genera in Iran with special focus on its systematic implication

Pollen grains of 47 taxa of Campanulaceae including 35 taxa of Campanula that represent its five subgenera and nine sections are investigated. Moreover, five species and three subspecies representing three sections in Asyneuma and one species of each genera Legousia, Michauxia, Zeugandra and Theodorovia were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. The basic shape of the pollen grains was spheroidal. The apertures vary from tri- to hexa-porate. The sculpturing pattern of exine was rugulate-echinate, rugulate-microechinate or in few species rugulate-microreticulate and microechinate. The most valuable characters for subgeneric classification were the length and density of echini. The length of echini were significantly long (> 2 μm) in C. sclerotricha, Legousia falcata and Michauxia laevigata. Pollen grains show low variation in different species of subgen. Rapunculus, but were variable among different species of some groups, such as sect. Rupestres, probably indicating their non-monophyly despite homogeneity with respect to other morphological characters. Pollen morphology does not support recognition of Asyneuma, Legousia, Michauxia, Symphyandra, Theodorovia, and Zeugandra as separated from Campanula, since none of them exhibit any unique feature.     

Seed and gland morphology in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) with focus on their systematic and phylogenetic importance, a case study in Iranian highlands

A comprehensive study based on gland and seed micromorphology in Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) for species distributed in Iranian highlands is presented. A total of 86 species were studied. The gland structure was examined by direct field observations. Taxonomically important characters of glands were observed and measured: size, texture, shape, color, and horns. For species out of Iran herbarium materials were studied. Seed characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as dissecting light microscopy. Significant features are: seed size, seed shape, presence of caruncle, shape of caruncle, and seed surface ornamentation. A phylogenetic study using Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI) was performed based on sequences of nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) for selected species representing the main clades known in Euphorbia and with special focus on the species distributed in Iranian highlands. ITS sequences for 20 accessions representing 19 species are provided for the first time, and 48 accessions of 47 species were used from GenBank. The topologies of both analyses were congruent. The results indicate: (1) four main clades with high supports in subgen. Esula which are appropriate to be recognized at sectional rank. (2) E. larica is nested within clade A including few members of subgen. Rhizanthium and is closely related to sect. Balsamis, which is suggested here to be transferred from subgen. Esula into subgen. Rhizanthium. (3) E. osyridea of the monotypic subsect. Osyrideae is closely related to E. buhsei and to the members of sect. Esula. Tracing morphological characters on the phylogenetic tree shows that several morphological characters, such as seed ornamentation applied in previous subgeneric classification of the subgen. Esula, are homoplasious, but the gland structure and capsule surface characters are more reliable for classification purposes.     

Pollen morphology of Stachys (Lamiaceae) in Iran and its systematic implication

Pollen grains of 30 taxa of the genus Stachys (29 spp. and one subsp.), representing 9 of the currently recognized sections and 1 species of the closely related genus Sideritis (Si. montana) distributed in Iran were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Twenty-eight taxa are studied for the first time under aspects of pollen morphology. The basic shape of the pollen grains in most taxa studied is prolate-spheroidal, but subprolate, spheroidal and oblate-spheroidal pollen grains can also be found in few species. The grains are usually tricolpate (the amb triangular), but also tetracolpate (the amb circular to more or less square) in some species (S. iberica, S. atherocalyx and Si. montana). The surface is microreticulate (the frequent type), reticulate, perforate, foveolate-psilate or foveolate. The lumina are separated by smooth or sinuate muri which make them polygonal, more or less rounded and elongate. Major pollen morphological features of the taxa studied are compared and discussed on the basis of taxonomical concepts. In some cases, these characters are useful in delimitation of formerly introduced sections while they mostly provide further characters in separating related species from each other. For example, all members of S. sect. Aucheriana are characterized by elongated lumina. Based on the oblate-spheroidal shape of its pollen as well as tetracolpate aperture type, the results of the present study confirm sect. Pontostachys as including S. angustifolia, S. iberica, S. sparsipilosa as well as S. atherocalyx. Our results also suggest that although some species like S. fruticolosa and S. lavandulifolia are morphologically well characterized, they cannot be separated from other species of Stachys based on pollen morphology.     

Pollen morphology and localization of Ni in some Ni-hyperaccumulator taxa of Alyssum L. (Brassicaceae)

Pollen morphology of seven Alyssum L. taxa growing on serpentine soils in different places in the European Mediterranean macrobioclimate territory were studied, described and compared. Cluster analysis was performed to show similarity between species and their populations. The shape of the pollen grains varies among the species and among the grains within the same anther. The pollen grains are 3-colpate, prolate, with long and narrow colpi reaching the poles. The ornamentation of the exine varies from micro-reticulate to reticulate between the species. Pollen sterility/fertility was also calculated. The highest percentage of sterile pollen (73.76%) was calculated for Alyssum murale subsp. murale and the lowest (9.54%) for A. bertolonii subsp. bertolonii. All species are representatives of sect. Odontarrhena (C.A. Meyer) Koch well known as Ni-hyperaccumulators. Nickel and other elements present in pollen and stamen were studied by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The stamen parts of all species were micromorphologically analyzed by scanning electron microscopy coupled to an energy-dispersive X-ray probe. Accumulation of Ni was detected in the stamens of all studied species and rarely in the pollen grains. The distribution patterns of Ni were similar among the species examined.     

杨亚科植物的分类与分布

杨亚科（Populoideae）植物自然分布于热带非洲和大约从北纬19°～70°度的北半球,由胡杨属（Balsamiflua）和杨属（Populus）2个属所组成。胡杨属间断分布于赤道非洲、古地中海地区和墨西哥,包含2个组（胡杨组、墨杨组）和约3个天然种。杨属分布于欧洲、亚洲、非洲（北缘）和北美洲的广大地区,包含大叶杨亚属（Subgen．Leucoides）（大叶杨组）、杨亚属（Subgen．Populus）（青杨组、黑杨组、杨组）2个亚属和约52个天然种。拟定了杨亚科属的检索表、胡杨属组和种的检索表、杨属亚属和组的检索表以及杨属中各组种的检索表。提供了一个杨树种类目录,包括它们的正名、异名、文献引注和地理分布等。     

猕猴桃属花粉形态及其系统学意义

由于天然种间杂交,猕猴桃属Actinidia Lindl.的分类存在着组间界限不清、近缘种之间很难区分的问题。本文试图通过对该属不同组、系的植物花粉及种间杂交后代花粉的扫描电镜观察,探讨该属物种的系统学关系。在扫描电镜下观察了猕猴桃属植物21种、 6变种和4个不同种间杂交F1代植株的花粉,描述了它们的花粉形态,并根据花粉形态特征建立了相应的检索表。研究结果表明：（1）猕猴桃属的花粉形状主要以长球形至近球形为主,变异较小,而花粉粒大小和外壁纹饰的种间差异较大。（2）多数迁地保护物种的花粉粒以三孔沟为主,不同于以前报道的以三拟孔沟为主,原因可能是花粉样本采集地的环境不一样,以及野外的广泛杂交造成的。（3）种间杂交后代花粉空瘪,无授粉能力,是由于所采用亲本植株染色体的倍性不同,后代不能产生正常花粉所致。（4）人工选育雄株花粉外壁纹饰较野生雄株花粉的精细,这种花粉外壁纹饰变小的特征可能有利于雌雄异株植物的授粉受精。这一现象值得进一步探讨。（5）雄株花粉大小与其雌株果实大小之间有一定相关性,这一现象有助于杂交后代的早期筛选。     

Chemotaxonomic study of Codonopsis (family Campanulaceae) and its related genera

Nine sterols and triterpenes isolated from Codonopsis pilosula and Adenophora stricta were used as reference compounds fir thin layer chromatographic identification of hydrophobic constituents in the roots of 28 species belonging to four genera of the family Campanulaceae: Codonopsis, Adenophora, Campanumoea and Platycodon. Two of the subgenera of Codonopsis (subgen. Codonopsis and subgen. Obconicicapsula) and two sections of Subgenus Codonopsis (sect. Codonopsis and sect. Erectae) were included in the study. The results indicated that the four genera could be distinguished from one another. β-Sitosterol and taraxerol were present in all the four genera studied. -Spinasterol was the characteristic compound in Codonopsis while β-sitosteryl palmitate was diagnostic to Adenophora.     

Palynological investigations on some Hypericum taxa (Hypericaceae) growing naturally in Turkey

This study examined the detailed pollen morphological structures of sixteen Hypericum taxa (four endemic, twelve non endemic) including eight sections showing the natural distribution in Turkey: H. sect. Ascyreia (H. calycinum L.), H. sect. Heterophyllum (H. heterophyllum Vent.), H. Sect. Taeniocarpium (Hypericum confertum Choisy subsp. confertum, H. venustum Fenzl, H. linaroides Bosse), H. sect. Drosocarpium (H. montbretii Spach, H. bithynicum Boiss.), H. sect. Crossophyllum (H. adenotrichum Spach, H. orientale L.), H. sect. Olympia (H. olympicum L. subsp. olympicum), H. sect. Origanifolia (H. origanifolium Willd., H. avicularifolium Jaub and Spach subsp. depilatum (Freyn and Bornm.) Robson var. depilatum, H. avicularifolium Jaub. and Spach subsp. byzantinum) and H. sect. Hypericum (H. tetrapterum Fries, H. perforatum L., H. triquetrifolium Tura). These taxa were studied under light microscope and scanning electron microscope for the first time. Of the taxa studied, H. tetrapterum has the smallest pollen grains (on average 15.85–17.20 × 15.45–16.05 μm); and H. olympicum subsp. olympicum the largest grains (on average 22.90–23.10 × 21.40–22.10 μm). The pollen grains of 15 taxa are subprolate and one taxon is prolate-spheroidal. The regular pollen grains of all 16 taxa are 3-zonocolporate. Ornamentation is microreticulate; lumina regularly spaced in eight taxa, tectum perforatum; tectal perforations regularly spaced in seven taxa and tectum perforatum; and tectal perforations grouped together in one taxon. Endoaperture is cruciform porus, with short lateral and meridional extensions in ten taxa, cruciform porus, transversally elongated, with very small lateral extensions in one taxon and lalongate colpus in five taxa. Basic pollen types are ten taxa in type X, five taxa in type IV and one taxon in type II.     

Microsporogenesis and development of the male gametophyte in Allium senescens L. (Liliaceae) in China

Microsporogenesis and development of the male gametophyte of Allium senescens L. were studied by use of paraffin sections. The anther was found to be four-sporangia. Its wall includes four layers: epidermis, endothecium, middle layer, and secretory tapetum. Cytokinesis during meiosis of microspore mother cells (MMCs) is successive. Most mature pollen grains are two-celled, a few are three-celled. In addition, anomalies were observed during meiosis of MMC and in uninucleate microspores, including laggard chromosomes, lagging chromosomes, anaphase bridges, and micronucleus. These anomalies are possible reasons for abortive pollen.