| Abstract: | In the present work, pollen grains of 3 species of Liriope, 24 species
of Ophiopogon and 2 species of Peliosanthes were examined under scanning electron
microscope, Among them 4 species were also observed under transmission electron
microscope.
The observation (Table 3)shows that Liriope and Ophiopogon distinctly differ
from Peliosanthes in the exine ornamentation and structure, They may be divided
into two types: 1. Rugulate-perforate, ektexine with perforate tectum in Liriope
and Ophiopogon. 2. Verrucate, Verracae unequal in size, ektexine intectate in
Peliosanthes. Pollen morphology shows the close affinity between Liriope and
Ophiopogon, but they are very far from Peliosanthes. The correlation between pollen and gross morphology in Liriope, Ophiopogon and Peliosanthes are stated and
their evolutionaly trends are discussed in this paper. The pollen characters support
the placement of Liriope and Ophiopogon in one tribe—Ophiopogoneae, and
Peliosanthes in another tribe—Peliosantheae. Peliosanthes is more advancedthan Liriope and Ophiopogon. |
