Pollen morphology in the family Asphodelaceae (Asphodeleae,Kniphofieae)

Pollen of 72 species from 7 genera of the Asphodelaceae was studied by means of LM and SEM in order to investigate their taxonomic relationships. The pollen of all the genera investigated is heteropolar, monosulcate, non-operculate and differs in size, form and exine ornamentation. The species of Eremurus are homogenous palynologically and studies of this genus do not support the segregation of the genera Henningia, Selonia, and Ammolirion. The pollen of Bulbinopsis mainly differs from the pollen of Bulbine species in having a perforate-areolate exine surface (B. bulbosa) but the genera are close in their other palynological features. The genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline have the largest, almost spheroidal grains with the thickest exine but differ in details of exine ornamentation. The species of Kniphofia are very close palynologically.