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.     

Pollen morphology of some species belonging to Codonoprasum and Allium sections of Allium (Liliaceae-Alliaceae) genus

Pollen morphology of 14 Allium L. species grown in Turkey, that belong to the sections Codonoprasum and Allium, were investigated under LM (light microscopy) and by SEM (scanning electron microscopy). However, the pollens of 5 species were investigated under TEM (transmission electron microscopy). Detailed pollen morphological characteristics are given for Allium in the family on the basis of the results presented here together with data from the literature. The genera Allium homogeneous in both aperture type and exine ornamentation. It is suggested that some palynological characters, such as aperture type and the presence of an operculum, could be of taxonomic value at the section level.     

Pollen Morphology in the Subtribe Aspidistrinae (Liliaceae s. l.)

Pollen morphology in the subtribe Aspidistrinae is reported and the main viewpoints are summarized as follows: (1) Two major types of pollen grains, i.e., monosulcate,ellipsoidal pollen and inaperturate, spheroidal pollen, are identified in the genus Tupistra. The species with monosulcate, ellipsoidal pollen usually have monomodal karyotypes, brightcolored flower, smaller stigma, and stamens inserted at upper or middle part of perianth tube, while the inaperturate and spheroidal pollen is always found in the species with bimodal karyotypes, dingy-colored flower, swollen stigma and stamens inserted at the base of perianth tube. (2) Pollen grains in the genus Rhodea are monosulcate and ellipsoidal, while those in the genus Aspidistra are inaperturate and spheroidal, correspondingly similar to the second type of pollen grains in the genus Tupistra. (3) The most primitive pollen in the subtribe Aspidistinae is regarded as monosulcate and ellipsoidal, having perforate or reticulate exine sculpture. The inaperturate, spheroidal pollen with verrucate, gemmate or rugulate exine sculpture is considered derived; (4) Unlike those reported in other groups of the family Liliaceae, the infraspecific pollen shape, aperture type and exine sculpture in Aspidistrinae are basically stable and may serve as a taxonomic character.     

蜘蛛抱蛋亚族的花粉形态

本文研究并报道了百合科蜘蛛抱蛋亚族的花粉形态,主要结论如下：1．开口箭属含两种花粉类型即：(1)单槽、椭圆形;(2)无萌发孔、球形。具单槽、椭圆形花粉的种类含单型性核型,花形较小,柱头小而花柱短,雄蕊高于柱头;无萌发孔、球形花粉的种类则为单型性核型,花形较大,柱头常高度膨大,雄蕊常着生在花被筒基部。2．万年青属花粉为椭圆形,具单槽;蜘蛛抱蛋属花粉则为球形,无萌发孔;开口箭属花粉一部分与万年青属相似,另一部分则与蜘蛛抱蛋属雷同。3．蜘蛛抱蛋亚族中最原始的花粉类型为单槽椭圆形,具孔状或网状外壁纹饰。球形,无萌发孔,外壁具皱波状、瘤状或芽孢状纹饰的花粉为派生类型。4．蜘蛛抱蛋亚族种下花粉形状、萌发孔类型和外壁纹饰基本稳定,可作为分种特征。     

国产爵床科芦莉花族植物的花粉形态

报道了国产爵床科Acanthaceae芦莉花族Ruellieae芦莉花亚族Ruelliinae 2属7种、假杜鹃亚族Barlerinae 1属3种和马蓝亚族Strobilanthinae 16属34种植物扫描电镜下的花粉形态.芦莉花亚族的地皮消属Pararuellia和喜花草属Eranthemum的花粉均为圆球形,具3孔或3孔沟,外壁为不同的网状结构; 假杜鹃亚族的假杜鹃属Barleria的花粉为长球形,具3孔沟,外壁亦为网状结构;马蓝亚族植物(包含广义的马蓝属Strobilanthes s.l.)花粉形态多样,结构复杂.依据花粉萌发孔和外壁纹饰特征,可将马蓝亚族16属植物和上述两亚族3属植物的花粉形态归纳成3大类型: 1. 具3孔类型.其中又有(1)外壁具网状纹饰者,见于地皮消属; (2)外壁具芽胞状纹饰者,见于黄猄草属Championella; (3)外壁具刺状(棒状)纹饰者,见于南一笼鸡属Paragutzlaffia、叉花草属Diflugossa和假蓝属Pteroptychia.2. 具3孔沟及具3孔沟与假沟类型(肋条带型).其中又有(1)具3孔沟和网状纹饰者,见于喜花草属和假杜鹃属; (2)具刺状(棒状)纹饰者,见于南一笼鸡属、叉花草属和假蓝属; (3)具3孔沟与假沟,外壁纹饰具节隔、肋条带状或网状,网眼纵向排列成行,网眼内有细网纹者,见于耳叶马蓝属Perilepta、马蓝属Pteracanthus(大部分)、金足草属Goldfussia、紫云菜属Strobilanthes(部分)和合页草属Sympagis; (4)具3孔沟与假沟类型,肋条带状,但不具节隔,外壁纹饰网状,网眼不成行或不明显纵向排列,网内无细网纹者,见于尖蕊花属Aechmanthera、板蓝属Baphicacanthus、马蓝属(部分)和糯米香属Semnostachya; (5)具双脊及细网状纹饰者,见于环毛紫云菜Strobilanthes cycla.3. 具(4-)5孔沟及假沟类型(肋条带型),外壁具网状或拟网状纹饰,见于腺背蓝属Adenacanthus.另外兰嵌马蓝属Parachampionella、山一笼鸡属Gutzlaffia和肖笼鸡属Tarphochlamys的花粉有无萌发孔尚不清楚,有待进一步研究.综上所述,芦莉花族植物的花粉形态具有较高的多样性,是重要的分类性状.利用花粉形态特征能较好地区分高级分类群如亚科、族以及亚族,有时也有助于阐明类群之间的相互关系,甚至也能用于区分属、种和阐明其关系.     

Pollen morphology of the tribe Ruellieae (Acanthaceae) from

Pollen morphology of seven species in two genera in the Ruelliinae, three species in one genus in the Barlerinae and 34 species in 16 genera in the Strobilanthinae (Ruellieae, Acanthaceae), were observed under SEM. Pollen grains in Ruellieae, particularly in Strobilanthinae (including Strobilanthes s.l.) exhibit great diversity and are most eurypalynous in the family. In light of the aperture types and exine ornamentation patterns, pollen grains of the genera examined fall into three major types: 1. 3-porate pollen, which includes, (1) pollen with reticulate exine ornamentation (Pararuellia); (2) pollen with gemmate exine ornamentation (Championella); (3) pollen with echinate exine ornamentation (Paragutzlaffia, Diflugossa and Pteroptychia). 2. 3-colporate pollen or 3-colporate pollen with pseudocolpi, which includes, (1) 3-colporate pollen with reticulate exine ornamentation (Eranthemum and Barleria); (2) 3-colporate pollen with pseudocolpi and ribbed or banded, and septate exine ornamentation, the lumina rounded, finely reticulate inside and arranged in longitudinal rows (Perilepta, Pteracanthus, Goldfussia, Sympagis and some species of Strobilanthes); (3) 3-colporate pollen with ribbed or banded yet not septate exine ornamentation, the lumina neither distinctly rounded and finely reticulate inside, nor conspicuously arranged in longitudinal rows (Aechmanthera, Baphicacanthus, Semnostachya and some species of Pteracanthus); and (4) 3-colporate pollen with ribbed and finely reticulate exine ornamentation but with broader bands, each band with two ridges (Strobilanthes cycla). 3. (4-)5-colporate pollen with pseudocolpi and reticulate or ornate exine ornamentation (Adenacanthus). No distinct apertures were observed in three genera, Parachampionella, Gutzlaffia and Tarphochlamys. Pollen morphological characters in the Acanthaceae can be used not only to distinguish taxa of higher ranks (subfamily, tribe and subtribe) and elucidate their relationships, but sometimes can also be used to distinguish genera and species.     

国产爵床科山牵牛属6种、叉柱花属和老鼠簕属各1种植物的花粉形态

报道了国产爵床科Acanthaceae山牵牛属Thunbergia(山牵牛亚科Thunbergioideae)6种、叉柱花属Staurogyne(瘤子草亚科Nelsonioideae)和老鼠簕属Acanthus(老鼠簕亚科Acanthoideae)各1种植物在扫描电镜下的花粉形态。山牵牛属植物的花粉粒为圆球形,均具螺旋状萌发孔,外壁纹饰以光滑或颗粒状为主,偶具棒状突起。具螺旋状萌发孔被认为是该科独特而较原始的花粉特征。叉柱花属的花粉粒为圆球形,具3孔沟,外壁平滑。老鼠簕属的花粉粒为长球形,具3沟,外壁具细网状纹饰或具小穿孔。花粉形态特征支持传统上将上述3属置于3个不同亚科的处理。     

POLLEN MORPHOLOGY IN THE GENUS ERYTHRONIUM (LILIACEAE) AND ITS SYSTEMATIC IMPLICATIONS

Pollen morphology was examined in 40 samples from 19 species in the genus Erythronium (Liliaceae) using scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pollen grains are monosulcate monads, except for a plant of E. oregonum which has dyad grains. North American and European species are characterized by reticulate exine sculpture composed of various degrees of wavy muri and variably-sized lumina. The most distinctive feature of exine sculpture in the genus is exhibited by the Asian species E. japonicum, which has a unique reticulate pattern composed of striate muri and a distinctive exine structure without columellae. The distinctness of E. japonicum pollen suggests that it has specialized in isolation from species in North America and Europe.     

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.     

COMPARATIVE POLLEN MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMIC AFFINITIES IN CYCADALES

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of pollen grains of 29 species, representing the ten extant genera of Cycadales, has provided valuable insight into their relationships. Pollen grains of these taxa are boat-shaped, monosulcate, and bilaterally symmetrical. They range from narrowly to widely elliptical or subcircular when viewed distally, and have an exine surface of psilate, foveolate, or fossulate. Pollen wall ultrastructure of Cycadales is typically tectate with alveolate∗∗∗spongy exine. The nexine is laminated in all genera. Nexine 1 (footlayer) is present in most species as a thin and often discontinuous layer. There is consistent variation in thickness of the sporoderm layers among the genera but relative uniformity within them. Pollen characteristics are well correlated with macro- and micromorphological features, chromosome numbers, geographical distribution, and postulated pollination mode. A close affinity between Encephalartos, Lepidozamia, and Macrozamia is recognized. Pollen characteristics of the genus Bowenia show some similarity with those of the latter group. Except for two species of Macrozamia which are narrowly elliptic, all of the genera have widely elliptic pollen and share a psilate exine surface and the thinnest sexine with nearly identical arrangement of alveoli. Pollen grains of the species in the genus Dioon exhibit a unique morphology but are more similar to Stangeria than they are to those of taxa in Zamiaceae. The circular outline of the grains and the foveolate exine surface are characters shared by these two genera, but several morphological features distinguish Dioon from Stangeria. Ceratozamia and Zamia share a widely elliptic shape, foveolate exine surface and nearly identical sexine, as well as morphological features and chromosome numbers. They differ from Microcycas in sexine thickness, gross morphology and chromosome numbers. The pollen grains of Cycas circinalis and C. revoluta differ in size and structure of the sexine from all other genera and from each other, substantiating their distinct subgeneric delimitations.     

Pollen morphology and ultrastructure of selected species of Magnoliaceae

The pollen morphology and ultrastructure of 20 species, representing eight genera of the Magnoliaceae are described based on observations with light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The family represents a homogeneous group from a pollen morphological point of view. The pollen grains are boat-shaped with a single elongate aperture on the distal face. The tectum is usually microperforate, rarely slightly or coarsely rugulose. Columellae are often irregular, but well-developed columellae do occur in some taxa. The endexine is distinct in 14 species, but difficult to discern in the genera Parakmeria, Kmeria and Tsoongiodendron. Within the aperture zone the exine elements are reduced to a thin foot layer. The intine has three layers with many vesicular-fibrillar components and tubular extensions in intine 1. The symmetry of the pollen grains, shape, type of aperture and ultrastructure of the intine show a remarkable uniformity in the family. Nevertheless there is variety in pollen size, ornamentation and the ultrastructure of the exine. The pollen of Magnoliaceae is an example of an early trend of specialization, and supports the view that Magnoliaceae are not one of the earliest lines in the phylogeny of flowering plants.     

Pollen morphology and taxonomic implications of Muscari Miller (Hyacinthaceae) species from Sicily

Pollen morphology of the native Sicilian species of the genus Muscari, one of which is endemic to Sicily, belonging to the subgenera Muscari, Leopoldia and Pseudomuscari, was studied using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains are monads, heteropolar and monosulcate; the exine is semitectate reticulate and perforate. The sulcus extends from distal to proximal face and its length is not directly proportional to the size of the granules and varies from one species to another.     

Pollen morphology of the Dimorphandra group (Leguminosae,Caesalpinioideae)

The Dimorphandra group, as traditionally circumscribed, is a rather diverse assemblage of genera in Leguminosae subfamily Caesalpinioideae that share certain morphological characteristics with the basally branching lineages of subfamily Mimosoideae. It currently comprises 51 species in seven genera: Burkea (1 species), Dimorphandra (26 species), Erythrophleum (10 species), Mora (6 species), Pachyelasma (1 species), Stachyothyrsus (2 species) and Sympetalandra (5 species). This study investigates the pollen morphology of 25 samples from 19 species of all seven genera. Pollen of the Dimorphandra group is small, isopolar, trizonocolporate and released in monads. Apertures are almost equal to polar length, with correspondingly small apocolpial areas. The shape of the aperture apices varies from acute to wide and rounded. Surface ornamentation is psilate, perforate, microreticulate, or perforate‐rugulate. The wall structure is usually columellate with a well developed foot layer. The pollen is small and unspecialised, agreeing with a previously noted pattern of more fixed and homogenous pollen structure in the more derived clades in subfamily Caesalpinioideae, compared with the great diversity of pollen types found in the basally branching lineages.     

东北杜鹃花科4属植物花粉形态的研究

利用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对东北杜鹃花科甸杜属(Chamaedaphne Moench.)、杜香属(Ledum Linn.)、松毛翠属(Phyllodoce Salisb.)、越橘属(Vaccinium Linn.)4属6种, 1变种的花粉形态进行了观察和比较研究。以上4属花粉粒均为四合花粉。四合花粉呈正四面体排列。花粉粒近球形。每粒花粉均具3沟,在四合花粉粒上,相邻花粉粒上的沟相接,有些种可见沟内的萌发孔。光镜下可见花粉外壁为内外两层,厚度约相等。不同属种的花粉粒在大小上有区别,花粉粒平均直径为34.0~43.7μm。在扫描电镜下观察可见不同的种花粉表面具有不同的纹饰。为分类学提供了孢粉学方面的证据。     

Pollen morphology of the family Cistaceae in Egypt and its systematic significance

The pollen morphology of 11 species (including two subspecies and two varieties) belonging to two genera (Helianthemum and Fumana) of the family Cistaceae in Egypt was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy.Pollen grains of the studied taxa were found to be radially symmetrical and tricolporate.Pollen size,shape,apertures,and exine ornamentation characteristics were valuable parameters among the studied taxa.The largest pollen size was recorded in H.salicifolium and the smallest one observed in H.kahiricum subsp,schweinfurthii.Pollen shape in the Egyptian taxa varied from (sub-)prolate to prolate spheroidal,but F.arabica is different in having sub-oblate grains.The pollen data confirm that H.lippii and H.sessiliflorum are very closely related species.Pollen sculpture was useful in distinguishing between H.vesicarium var.vesicarium and H.vesicarium var.ciliatum.Three main pollen types of exine ornamentation were recognized:retipilate; reticulate to verrucate; and striate.Based on palynological data,a key for the studied taxa is suggested.     

水鳖科9属15种植物花粉形态的研究

应用光学显微镜、扫描电镜和透射电镜对水鳖科Hydrocharitaceae 9属15种植物的花粉形态进行 了观察。水鳖科植物花粉为圆球形至近椭球形,无萌发孔或偶为单沟萌发孔,外壁纹饰通常为小刺状纹 饰,刺密集或稀疏,花粉表面具瘤状、疣状、颗粒状、皱波状突起或光滑。外壁由覆盖层、柱状层和基层组 成。覆盖层厚或较薄,柱状层小柱发育不明显,基层薄。水鳖科植物在花粉大小、纹饰类型、刺的长短、 密度、形态、萌发孔的有无以及花粉壁的结构等方面表现出了较为明显的差异,这些特征对探讨类群间 关系具有较重要意义。由于黑藻属Hydrilla和Stratiotes属花粉较为特殊,支持将它们各自作为一个独立 的族处理。水鳖科植物花粉外壁纹饰和结构特点表明该科与水雍科Aponogetonaceae、泽泻科Alismataceae 和花蔺科Butomaceae等近缘,而该科植物花粉大多无萌发孔等则反应了该科与茨藻目Najadales植物有密切联系。     

Variations in the microsporogenesis of monosulcate palm pollen

Pollen morphology has been extensively studied in the Arecaceae, and pollen aperture organization is usually distal monosulcate, as in many monocot families. Much is known about the influence of microsporogenesis on aperture configuration, but the key processes during microsporogenesis responsible for aperture type, number and arrangement are still poorly understood. In order to clarify the developmental sequence underlying aperture type and organization in palm monosulcate pollen, a study of the characteristics of male postmeiotic development was carried out in representative species of four genera of subfamily Coryphoideae, and four genera of subfamily Arecoideae. We found evidence for the occurrence of successive cytokinesis in addition to simultaneous cytokinesis in three Coryphoideae species. Tetrad shape was highly diverse within all species. Our results reveal an unexpected diversity in microsporogenesis from which it may be possible to gain further insight into pollen evolution within the family.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 93–102.     

亚洲茜草科粗叶木属及其相关属植物花粉形态研究

利用光学显微镜和扫描电镜研究了茜草科粗叶木属Lasianthus 16种2亚种、1变种及相关的5属5种的花粉形态。粗叶木属的花粉属于广孢型, 单粒。一般中等大小, 绝大多数为圆球形, 少数为近长球形或长球形。花粉形态特征, 特别是在萌发孔和外壁纹饰上表现出多样化。根据孔沟的数目或是否具有内孔, 可以将萌发孔分为(3-)4-(-5)孔沟和3孔。在所观察的这些种中, 萌发孔以3-4孔沟为主要类型, 比例为62.4%。外壁纹饰可分为细网状、粗网状和穴状。有部分种的花粉极面有穴状纹饰, 其余均为网状纹饰。网眼一般椭圆形、近圆形、三角形或者不规则形。少数外壁纹饰网脊上有颗粒状雕纹或模糊的颗粒, 网脊轮廓线呈波浪形, 一般凸出且平滑。大部分种的花粉具有沟膜, 沟膜上具有瘤状突起或小颗粒状, 沟边缘一般较平滑, 或粗糙, 有的种具有沟桥。     

泽泻科的花粉形态研究

本文对泽泻科11属27种代表植物的花粉进行了光学显微镜、扫描电镜和透射电镜观察。在系统描述了该科及各属植物花粉形态的基础上,将泽泻科植物的花粉划分为3种类型,即少果泽苔草型、慈菇型和泽泻型。根据花粉形态特征的比较,并依据泽泻科植物祖先类群的花粉具有船形、具单沟萌发孔、花粉外壁具明显的刺状纹饰、覆盖层完整无通道等特征,作者认为泽泻科植物花粉形态的如下演化趋势是明显的：由船形演化为卵球形、球形和多面体球形;由单沟萌发孔经过一无孔的中间类型演化为散孔类型;孔膜由光滑演化为具颗粒和小刺;萌发孔不内陷进化到内陷;花粉粒外壁的刺状纹饰逐渐过渡为颗粒状纹饰或者消失,以及覆盖层由无通道到具细通道和通道。     

Pollen morphology in the genus Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) and its systematic significance

Pollen grains of 30, mainly annual, species from 134 populations of the genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae) from the Mediterranean Region, have been studied with light and scanning electron microscopy. Three pollen types are defined based on pollen size and exine surface sculpture. In some cases within the study group pollen size can be useful in species determination. Hypothetical relationships of pollen grain size and aperture number with ploidy level, style length and corolla diameter are discussed. The ornamentation of the exine in Veronica, although generally a conservative character within the genus, gives some additional support to the most recent infrageneric classification of Veronica.