Pollen morphology of the tribe Cynoglosseae of Boraginoideae (Boraginaceae) in China

Pollen morphology of 16 Chinese species representing 7 genera in the tribe Cynoglosseae of Boraginoideae(Boraginaceae) was examined under LM and SEM, and 5 species under TEM. Pollen grains are cocoon-shaped, rarely subprolate, prolate or ovoid, very small, 7～ 15.7μm× 3.5 ~ 13.9 μm in size, P/E = 1.6～2.02; 3-colporate apertures alternate with 3-pseudocolpi, with equatorial endocingulus except those in Bothriospermum; exine surface is usually smooth, with or without perforations in two poles, rarely with tuberculate ornamentation; exine is rather thin and includes ectexine and endexine, while ectexine consists of imperforate tectum, columellae and foot-layer. The tribe Cynoglosseae has many common characters of pollen grains, but there are some differences among genera. A key to the genera is given based on pollen morphology. Bothriospermum, without endocingulus, may be a primitive genus in this tribe, and its pollen morphology is more similar to that of Eritrichieae than to Cynoglosseae, thus it seems more reasonable to put it into Eritrichieae. Solenanthus may be the most advanced genus in the tribe Cynoglosseae for its pollen grains of sub-isopolar and ovoid shape.     

中国紫草科紫草亚科琉璃草族花粉形态的研究

对中国紫草科Boraginaceae 紫草亚科Boraginoideae琉璃草族Trib．Cynoglosseae 7属16种的花粉形态进行了光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察,并对其中5种的花粉外壁超微结构进行了透射电镜观察。该族花粉为茧形,少数为近长球形、长球形或卵球形;体积很小,大小为7～15.7μm×3.5～13.9μm,P／E=1.6～2.02;三孔沟和三假沟相间排列;除斑种草属Bothriospermum Bge．外,均有赤道环带;外壁常光滑,两极具或不具穿孔,少数具小瘤状纹饰;外壁较薄,包括外壁外层和外壁内层,外壁外层又由完全覆盖层、柱状层和基层组成。以上表明该族花粉有很多共同特征,但属之间还是有区别。文中作了花粉分属检索表。在该族中,斑种草属的花粉没有赤道环带,表明它是比较原始的类群。它和齿缘草族的花粉更相似,因此把它放在齿缘草族Trib．Eritrichieae比放在琉璃草族似乎更合适。长蕊琉璃草属SolenanthusLedeb．由于花粉卵球形、亚等极,可认为是琉璃草族中最进化的属。     

Pollen morphology and its taxonomic significance in the tribe Gochnatieae (Compositae, Gochnatioideae)

In the context of recent molecular phylogenies of the basal grades of Compositae, we investigated the utility of pollen morphology within the tribe Gochnatieae. The pollen of 64 species of Anastraphia, Cnicothamnus, Cyclolepis, Gochnatia, Pentaphorus, and Richterago was studied using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, three extra-Gochnatieae genera (Ianthopappus, Leucomeris, and Nouelia) were examined as they were traditionally morphologically related to members of the tribe Gochnatieae. Three of the species of Gochnatieae were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Two pollen types, and two new subtypes, have been recognized on the basis of the pollen shape, size, and exine sculpture. The pollen features of Gochnatia sect. Moquiniastrum and G. cordata are similar and distinctive within the genus and support the recently re-circumscribed section Hedraiophyllum. Within the species with echinate pollen surface, the distinctive spine length of Anastraphia supports its recent resurrection as a genus. The identity of Pentaphorus could not be supported by pollen features as was for other morphological characteristics. The pollen features shared across Cyclolepis, Ianthopappus, Leucomeris, Nouelia and Gochnatia sect. Moquiniastrum, as well as those shared by Richterago and Anastraphia could be a result of parallel evolution.     

中国柽柳科（Tamaricaceae）花粉形态研究及其分类意义的探讨

研究观察了中国柽柳科（Tamaricaceae)4属27种植物的花粉形态。中国柽柳科植物花粉为三沟类型,无三拟孔沟类型,形态及外壁雕纹属间差异明显。根据花粉资料,探讨了属间的进化关系和分类地位及本科植物花粉外壁的演化途径。     

Pollen morphology ofPyrola and its taxonomic significance

Pollen from 152 collections representing 16Pyrola species was examined with LM, SEM and TEM. The genusPyrola is stenopalynous in having tetrads and 3-colporoidate grains. However, a continuous and serial variation in the exine sculpture and the tetrad diameter (D) was revealed within the genus. Křísa's system ofPyrola (1971) was re-examined in the light of these palynological characters which may have a taxonomic significance, as well as the external morphology. P. minor (only member of the subgenusAmelia), which is characterized by having small (D=30–35 μm) pollen tetrads with verrucate sculpture must best be placed near sectionPyrola of the subgenusPyrola. P. faurieana must be segregated from sectionChlorantha and together withP. media placed intermediate between the subgenusAmelia and sectionPyrola of the subgenusPyrola based on their larger (D=ca. 40 μm) pollen tetrads with verrucate sculpture. Two series of sectionChlorantha excludingP. faurieana are differentiated in the exine sculpture. Therefore, they are regarded as the distinct taxonomic groups. SectionScotophylla is characterized by having psilate sculptured pollen tetrads, which indicates that its sectional rank is sufficiently asserted. The evolutionary trend in the exine sculpture from verrucate through rugulate to psilate is suggested withinPyrola.     

Pollen morphology of Hosta Tratt. in China and its taxonomic significance

In this study, pollen morphology of 11 taxa of Hosta in China, three Chinese species, five introduced species, and three cultivars, was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with that of related genera (Hemerocallis, Agave, and Yucca). Pollen grains of Hosta were long-ellipsoidal or ellipsoidal, 20?C65?×?52.5?C142.5???m in size, bilaterally symmetrical, and monosulcate on the distal face. Reticulate and rugulate exine ornamentation was observed in different taxa, and the rugulate type can be further divided into rugulate, rugulate?Cbaculate, and rugulate?Cgranulate subtypes. The exine ornamentation may have evolved in the order: reticulate????rugulate????rugulate?Cbaculate????rugulate?Cgranulate. Furthermore, the rugulate exine ornamentation was the predominant ornamental type in Hosta except for one species with the reticulate type; this is markedly different from that of Hemerocallis, Agave and Yucca. Thus, our data support the proposal by Dahlgren and Clifford (The Monocotyledons: a comparative study. Academic Press, London, 1982) that these Hosta species constitute an independent family?CHostaceae.     

Pollen morphology in the genus Saxifraga and its taxonomic significance

The pollen morphology of 105 species of Saxifraga has been investigated. Four major types of sexine pattern are recognized, namely reticulate, granular, striate and very finely striate with superimposed granules or verrucae. The striate pattern is found to be the most common and is divided into eight subtypes. The types and subtypes are related to the sections recognized in the genus and are generally found to support the existing classifications. The pollen-types also clarify some of the longstanding problems but leave others unresolved, and some exceptional patterns occur within otherwise well-defined sections.     

Pollen morphology of the genus Nothofagus and its taxonomic significance

The present paper describes the pollen morphology of 26 species and 2 varieties in Nothofagus from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Guinea and South America. Pollen grains were all examined with light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope ( SEM ) and transmission electron microscope(TEM). A comparative analysis of pollen exine ultrastructure was made for some species. The results are summarised as follows: Pollen grains are oblate to peroblate, 5～8-short-colpate, rarely 4- or 9-colpate; colpi generally thickened at margins; pollen surface spinulose. The exine ultrastructure of Nothofagus differs considerably from that of the other genera in the Fagaceae. The pollen grains of the species examined here show great differences in shape, size, colpal number and characteristics of colpi at margins and could be divided into three distinct types, i.e. N. brassii type; N. menziesii type and N. fusca type.     

南水青冈属花粉形态类型及其分类学意义

采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜及透射电镜,对分布于南美洲、澳大利亚、新西兰、新喀里多尼亚岛和新几内亚岛的南水青冈属Nothofagus26种2变种,包括33份花粉材料,进行了观察测定及超微结构分析研究。通过对花粉的形状、大小、萌发孔特征的比较分析,得出以下结果：南水青冈属花粉粒为扁球形至超扁球形;萌发孔具5～8短沟,稀为4沟或9沟,沟缘普遍加厚;表面具不同形状、大小和疏密的刺状纹饰,花粉外壁超微结构与壳斗科(狭义)其它属迥然不同。研究结果表明,该类群的花粉在形状、大小、沟的数目和沟缘加厚等特征上亦具较大差异,据此可划分为3种类型,即N ．brassii型,N．menziesii型和N．fusca型。     

Pollen morphology and its taxonomic significance of the monotropoideae (Ericaceae)

A palynological survey, including LM, SEM and TEM is presented for eight genera, nine species and 76 samples of the Monotropoideae which is composed of 10 genera and 13 species. On the basis of the aperture number and shape, the following six pollen types are recognized: 1) 3-colp(oroid) ate—Allotropa, 2) 2-colpor(oid)ate—Monotropsis andHemitomes, 3) 4-colpor(oid)ate—Pterospora, Sarcodes andPleuricospora, 4) 2- and 3-colpor(oid)ate—Monotropa hypopitys, 5) 3-colporate and-porate —Monotropa uniflora, 6) 3- to 4- porate—Monotropastrum humile. Relationships among taxa within the Monotropoideae are illustrated on the palynological characters including the aperture type, exine sculpture and structure. Both pollen grains with two and four apertures have evolved independently from pollen grains with three apertures, according to the infraspecific variation of aperture numbers and the usual occurrence of three-aperturate pollen grains in the Ericaceae. 3-colp(oroid)ate pollen ofAllotropa is the most primitive and occupies an isolated position in the subfamily, on the other hand 3- to 4-porate pollen ofMonotropastrum humile is most advanced in the subfamily, probably even in the Ericaceae. A reduced sexine inMonotropastrum humile appears to be a specialized pollen character. Infraspecific geographical difference in palynological characters is revealed in two species ofMonotropa for the first time.M. hypopitys is basically characterized by pollen grains with two apertures in the New World vs. three apertures in the Old World.M. uniflora is basically characterized by 3-porate pollen in the New World vs. 3-colporate in the Old World. In both species pollen grains with more primitive characters usually occur in the Old World.     

Pollen morphology in the genus Coffea (Rubiaceae) and its taxonomic significance

The pollen morphology of 38 representative species and varieties within the genus Coffea L. is described. Eight pollen types, placed in two major groups, have been identified on the basis of the number of colpi, colpus characteristics, exine morphology and pollen size. Differences in pollen structures of the species studied do not correspond to present taxonomic groupings, but support a current proposal to place some of the species in the genus Paracoffea Leroy. Among the four sections in the genus, the section Eucoffea contains a high degree of pollen polymorphism.     

Numerical analyses of seed morphology and its taxonomic significance in the tribe Nigelleae (Ranunculaceae)

We examined the seed morphology of Nigella, Garidella and Komaroffia to aid systematics and taxonomy. The seeds of 21 taxa in 20 species from Mediterranean and West Asian countries were studied using both zoom stereo and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and unweighted average linkage analysis (UPGMA) were performed to assess the contribution of seed characters to the taxonomy of the tribe. Representative pictures from zoom stereo microscopy and SEM studies and measurement of seeds are presented. Most studied species showed unique seed surface sculpturing features, and seed shape, size and surface sculpturing separated the studied taxa into five main groups. However, the variation in seed shape and color were found to be in conflict with the generic taxonomy while macromorphological characters were found more congruent with the sectional taxonomy than with the generic taxonomy. Five main types of seed ornamentations – rugulose + striate, granulate, smooth, rugulose and mucronulate – were identified. Patterns in seed micromorphology strongly supported the sectional level taxonomy of Nigella. Two of the three sections of the genus were found to be well differentiated in terms of seed characters. Furthermore, seed morphology alone provide good support to Garidella as a distinct genus, but shows less taxonomic value for Komaroffia.     

Pollen morphology of the Pavetteae (Rubiaceae,Ixoroideae) and its taxonomic significance

Pollen grains of the tribe Pavetteae (Rubiaceae, subfamily Ixoroideae) are examined using LM and SEM. Grains are 3‐ or 4‐colporate and (semi‐) tectate (in one Versteegia species atectate). Sexine patterns vary between perforate, microreticulate, reticulate, rugulate and striato‐reticulate. Supratectal elements are sometimes present. The variation in pollen morphology in the Pavetteae allows to recognize seven pollen types, the distribution of which is useful to evaluate generic delimitations and relationships within the tribe. Pollen characters corroborate the close relationships between the genera Coleactina, Dictyandra and Leptactina and between Homollea, Homolliella and Paracephaelis. All the genera of the tribe proved to be stenopalynous (the species examined possess the same pollen type), except Pavetta, Rutidea, Versteegia and Tarenna which are eurypalynous. In the huge genus Pavetta the existing infrageneric classification is supported pollen morphologically. Pollen morphology further indicates that the genus Tarenna is badly delimited and strongly in need of a revision. The small genus Versteegia is in need of further taxonomic and palynological study to understand the pollen morphological variation encountered here. At a higher rank, pollen morphology also does not contradict the recent division of the Pavetteae in the Ixoreae (a stenopalynous tribe with presumably primitive pollen) and the Pavetteae sensu stricto (eurypalynous).     

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。     

Fruit and seed morphology of the tribe Orobancheae (Orobanchaceae) genera in Turkey and its taxonomic significance

Seed and fruit morphology of four genera of Orobanchaceae: Cistanche, Diphelypaea, Orobanche and Phelipanche, native to Turkey, were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. In this study, 100 accessions belonging to 39 species were investigated. The examined fruits had loculicidal capsules, generally dehiscing with 2 slits, and the seeds were small and with reticulate ornamentation. The basic shape of the seeds in most of the studied taxa was oblong, ellipsoid to ovoid, globose or subglobose. The results indicate that characters such as seed size, shape and color are useless for identification of the taxa at the species level. However, the anticlinal wall pattern and periclinal wall ornamentation proved useful for identifying the different genera. Four morphological types could be distinguished: smooth, perforate, microfibrillar and granulate. Type I corresponds to the genus Cistanche and Orobanche anatolica, whereas types II, III and IV were found in Diphelypaea, Orobanche and Phelipanche, respectively. The utility of seed characteristics is discussed in terms of inter‐ and intra‐generic taxonomy.     

物参属花粉形态及其分类学意义

首次报道了兰科的手参属Ｇｙｍｎａｄｅｎｉａ国产５种植物花粉形态的研究结果,并与邻近的兜被兰属Ｎｅｏｔｔｉａｎｔｈｅ花粉进行了对比研究。前者花上块形状大多不规则,少数为三棱体形;而后者花粉小块大多形状为三棱锥体形,少数形状不规则。手参属花粉外壁表面具很细微的小穿孔、皱波状,小穴和小穿孔与沟渠状纹饰共存,或沟渠状等。而兜被兰属外壁表面纹饰明显,具有５种类型：（１）小穿孔,（２）表面近光滑,（３）沟渠状     

新疆胡颓子属三种植物的花粉形态及其分类学意义

该文采用主成分分析和聚类分析方法,运用扫描电镜对新疆胡颓子属(Elaeagnus Linn.)落叶组大果沙(E. moorcroftii)、尖果沙枣(E. oxycarpa)和沙枣(E. angustifolia)共计18个样品的花粉形态进行了观察和研究;全面描述了新疆胡颓子属3个种花粉的极轴长、赤道轴长、极面观、赤道面观、孔沟形态和外壁纹饰等形态特点,并对其进行数据分析,通过对聚类结果的比较,讨论不同孢粉学特征对分类结果的影响。结果表明：(1)3个种的花粉均为中等大小;萌发孔类型均为三孔沟型。(2)花粉极面观形状从三角形、钝三角形到圆三角形;赤道面观形状从菱角形、半圆形到扁圆形;外壁纹饰从皱波状到穴状。(3)以筛选出的5个反映花粉形态的主成分指标进行聚类,结果显示所选指标不能区分种;以代表花粉形态的极面观形态和赤道面观形态为指标进行聚类同样也无法区分3个种;以花粉粒大小为指标进行聚类发现,大果沙枣的花粉大小可以区别于其他2个种。研究表明除了大果沙枣花粉的大小,尖果沙枣和沙枣的花粉形态不宜直接应用于种的划分。该研究结果为新疆胡颓子属落叶组植物花粉的种间鉴定和品种划分以及进化关系的研究提供了孢粉学依据。     

中国栎属植物花粉形态及其系统学意义

从系统学分类学的角度出发 ,对国产栎属 31个种的花粉进行了光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察。研究结果表明栎属的花粉萌发孔对该属的系统与分类无太大的参考价值 ;但栎属的花粉纹饰有颗粒状、聚颗粒状两种主要类型 ,具有重要的系统学分类学价值。花粉形态的研究结果支持将栎属植物划分为常绿类与落叶类的观点 ;栎属巴东栎组植物的花粉纹饰在种间存在分化 ,花粉形态的研究结果支持将巴东栎组至少划分为两个不同类群的观点 ;在佐以其他证据的情况下 ,栎属植物的花粉纹饰还具有重要的分类学价值     

Pollen morphology of Strobilanthes Blume (Acanthaceae) in China and its taxonomic implications

The pollen morphology of 37 Chinese species of Strobilanthes Blume (Acanthaceae), a large and taxonomically problematic genus, was investigated by LM and SEM. Two distinct pollen shape classes, ellipsoid and spheroidal, recognised by earlier workers were found. Eight pollen types could be distinguished on the basis of variation in ornamentation, and the number, distribution and type of apertures. Five of these fall within twenty two pollen types reported from Strobilanthes in southern India and Sri Lanka. Three new pollen types are also described, further extending the palynological diversity of the genus. From the results presented, the characters of palynological diversity and the related taxonomic implications are discussed.