ONTOGENETIC DEVELOPMENT OF SPINOUS EXINE IN HIBISCUS SYRIACUS (MALVACEAE)

Pollen development in Hibiscus syriacus L. (Malvaceae) was studied with light (LM), scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopes, with special attention to the formation of extremely long spines of the pollen grains. At the early tetrad stage, probacules are initiated directly on the plasma membrane and grow in coincidence with the height of primexine matrix within a callosic wall. Subsequently, a pretectum appears at the top of the probacules and then a foot layer is formed by accumulation of white line centered lamellations. Before dissolution of the callosic wall, a reticulate patterned pretectum is established around the microspores. There is not, however, any morphological indication on the initiation of the spines during the tetrad period within a callosic wall. It is after dissolution of the callosic wall that the spines of exine begin to form by the apposition of lamellated sheets. The lamellated sheets show a concentric configuration around the developing supratectal spines. The mature pollen grain is spheroidal, polycolporate, 160–170 μm in diameter, with supratectal spines 20–25 μm long. The supratectal spines of Hibiscus pollen are not homologous with the other exinous protrusions which are determined within the callosic wall during tetrad stage.