Pollen Morphology of the Family Zingiberaceae in China—Pollen Types and Their Significance in the Taxonomy

Pollen morphology of 89 species and 3 varieties belonging to 18 genera (out of 150 spcies in 20 genera) of Zingiberaceae in China was studied under both light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains of Zingiberaceae are spherical, subspherical, ovoid and prolate, 36-225 μm in size, nonaperturate or aperturate (spiraperturate, porate). Pollen grains are almost not resistant to acetolysis. The wall is composed of a very thin exine and a thick intine. The exine is psilate, spinate, cerebelloid-areolate, striate, verrucate and foveolate. According to the presence or the absence of aperture and differential ornamentations, two types and six subtypes are recognized: I. The type Nonaperturate: (85 species and 3 varieties in 18 genera). Four subtypes can be recognized within the type based on the characteristics of the exine sculpture. These are: (1) The subtype Psilate, in which, the exine is nearly smooth (including: Hedychium, Curcuma, Kaempferia, Caulokaempferia coenobilis, Boesenbergia rotunda, Stahlianthus, Amomum compactum, Etingera, Hornstedtis, Rhynchanthus). (2) The subtype Spinate, which comprises two groups: (A) The group Short-spinate, pollen grains with smaller spines (Globba), (B) The group Long-spinate, pollen grains with longer spines (Alpinia, Amomum, Plagiostachys, Roscoea, Cautleya, Boesenbergia fallax, Caulokaempferia yunnanensis). (3) The subtype Cereblloid-areolate, pollen grains of which are spherical or subspherical, with cerebelloid sculpture (Zingiber Sect. Zingiber). (4) The subtype Striate, pollen grains of which are prolate or oliveshaped, and striate (Zingiber Setc. Cryptanthium). II. The type Aperturate, in which pollen grains are acetilysis-resistant and possess distinct apertures (mixed colpate-porate or forate), including two subtypes: (1)The subtype Mixed colpate and Porate. Pollen grains are both 3-colpate and 1-3-porate, and usually with one long spiral, two short (straight or slightly curved) colpi and 1-3-poris. The exine is verrucate or not, nearly sinuolate (Costus speciosus, C. tonkinensis, C. lacerus). (2) The subtype porate, whose grains are 6-8-porate and exine is foveolate (Costus megalobractea). The taxonomic significance of the pollen types in the family Zingiberaceae is also discussed.     

Study on the Pollen Morphology of the Chinese Family Oleaceae

This paper deals with the pollen grains of 11 genera, 22 species in Chinese Oleaceae. A comparative study on the pollen grains was carried out by means of scanning electron microscope and light microscope. The pollen grains of the family Oleaceae are almost spheroidal, oblate and prolate, in polar view tlie majority of the pollen grains are tri-lobulate-circular, the minority are tetra-lobulate-circular and dilobulate-circular. Pollen size: (15-65) × (12- 60)μ, 3-colporate and 3-colpate the minority of the pollen grains 4-colpate and 2- colpate colpus usually distinct and the en doaperature vague. The exine oonsists of two layers, the sexine thicker than the nexine, with big reticulum or fine reticulum, the majority of the reticulum are very distinct. On the basis of the pollen size and exine ornamentation, the pollen grains are divided into following two main types: (1) The larger pellen grains and the exine with big reticulum are found in the genera: Jasminum, Nyctanthes, Ligustrum, and Syringa. (2) The smaller pollen grains and the exine with finer reticulum are found in the genera: Osmanthus, Olea, Chionanthus, Fraxinus, Forsythia, Fontanesia and Linociera. In view of the features of pollen morphology, this family is much similar to the family Itamamelidaeeae. For example, the first pollen type resembles the genus Coryiopsis of the family Hamamelidaceae, but there are some differences between them, the former with a bigger reticulate exine and without any colpal membrane, the latter with a finer reticulate apocolpium and eolpate membrane. The second pollen type is much similar to that of the genera Hamamelis and Loropetalum of family Hamamelidaceae.     

Pollen Morphology of Hydrocotyloideae and Saniculoideae (Apiaceae) in China

Pollen grains of 30 species and 2 varieties from China, belonging to 5 genera (out of 36 species in 5 genera) of Hydrocotyloideae and Saniculoideae, were examined with light microscope and scanning electron microscope. 1.Six types of the pollen shape are recognized in Hydrocotyloideae and Saniculoideae from China, and their evolutionary trend is from rhomboidal→subspheroidal→ellipsoidal→subrectangular→superrectangular to equatorially-constricted. 2.Pollen grains of Hydrocotyloideae are mostly ellipsoidal with P / E ratio 1.07-1.6, the polar axis 22.5-46μm long, the equatorial axis 13.75-27.5μm long, and with the size index 21.1-31.8.They are angulapeturate in the great majority, and the exine sculpture is recticulate under SEM. Those of Saniculoideae are mostly superrectangular or rectangular, with P/E ratio 1.3-2.1, the polar axis 35-65μm long, the equatorial axis 17.5-42.5μm long, and with the size index 28.2-49.7. They are planaperturate in the great majority and the exine sculpture is striate-reticulate or cerebro-reticulate under SEM. Therefore, the latter might be more advanced than the former. 3.Pollen grains of Dickinsia Franch., endemic to China, are ellipsoidal,with P/E ratio 1.5,the polar axis 31.25-37.5μm long, the equatorial axis 20-25μm, and with the size index 27.81. They are angulaperturate, and the exine sculpture is cerebroid-reticulate under SEM. The genus is greatly similar to the members of Hydrocotyloideae in pollen morphology, which supports the treatment of the genus asa member of Hydrocotyloideae by Handel-Mazzetti (1933).     

牛奶子花粉形态特征与生活力测定

采用两种扫描电镜样品制备技术制备牛奶子花粉,扫描电镜观察其形态,研究结果表明:经自然干燥法制样,牛奶子花粉外观变形严重;采用固定—脱水制样,花粉外形保持良好,牛奶子花粉近球形,极面观钝三角圆形,具3沟,表面具脑纹状雕纹。采用I2-KI染色法测定牛奶子花粉开花后不同时间的生活力,结果表明:牛奶子花粉生活力在开花初较高,并在开花后36h内维持在80%以上,之后迅速下降,但在花期末仍有部分花粉具有生活力。     

山东酢浆草属花粉形态的研究

用扫描电子显微镜 ,对山东酢浆草属 3种植物的花粉形态进行观察 ,报道了花粉形态特征 ,并探讨其分类意义。结果表明 :该属花粉粒大小、形状和外壁雕纹可作为分种的依据。     

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。     

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.     

山茶属的花粉形态及其分类学意义

本文对山茶属(Camellia L.)18个组27个代表种的花粉进行了光学显微镜、扫描电镜和大部分进行了透射电镜的观察,并对花粉大小、形状、外壁纹饰和超微结构等作了综合的比较。结果表明,其形状和大小差异不很明显。花粉壁的层次、厚度和不同层次的比例,如复盖层与柱状层以及外壁外层与外壁内层的比例等也没有显著的差异。但花粉壁的纹饰特征在扫描电镜下显示出较大的差异,具有较重要的分类学价值。根据其纹饰特征,可以把山茶属花粉大致区分为六个类型:皱疣状纹饰;粗瘤状纹饰;颗粒状至皱-颗粒状纹饰;穴-网状纹饰;皱沟状纹饰及皱波-念珠状纹饰。孢粉学上区分的类型不完全与各个学者从植物形态上划分的组相一致。其中管蕊茶 Camellia lanceolata的纹饰非常特殊(粗瘤状),其外壁表面很象牛心果(Annona reticulata)的外形特征,为其重新分类提供孢粉学依据。     

中国紫葳科花粉形态的研究

对紫葳科18属27种花粉进行了光镜和扫描电镜的观察,其中有些种是第一次观察或报道。紫葳科花粉明显地属多型花粉,萌发孔类型和纹饰特征多种多样。萌发孔基本上可分为3（－4）沟,3（－4）孔沟,3孔,多沟及散沟等类型;纹饰则可分为皱波状饰,穴状纹饰,穴－网状纹饰,网状纹饰,刺状纹饰以及表面光滑等。值得注意的是在菜豆树属Rademoachera Zoll.et Moritzi中,菜豆树R．sinica和滇菜豆树R.yunnanensis虽为同一个属,但其萌发孔类型和纹饰特征截然不同,菜豆树花粉为3孔,具网状纹饰;而滇菜豆树花粉为3孔沟,具穴状纹饰。就花粉形态学而言,紫葳科也许是多元发生的。     

A Comparative study on pollen exine ultrastructure of Nothofagus and the other genera of Fagaceae

The genus Nothofagus is mainly distributed in South America and New Zealand. The present paper describes its pollen exine ultrastructure and compares the exine ultrastructure with that of the other genera of Fagaceae. The pollen grains were examined using ultrathin sectioning technique under transmission electron microscope. The study shows that the pollen exine ultrastructure of Nothofagus differs from that of the other genera of Fagaceae by its exine structure and thickness, type of aperture, and ornamentation. The pollen exine of Nothofagus is thin and possesses granular bacules, regular foot layer and tectum, spinulate ornamentation, and the endexine is usually visible at poral area, and 5～8 colpate. The pollen exine of the other genera of Fagaceae possesses entire bacules, irregular foot layer and tectum, granulate and tuberculate ornamentation, thicker endexine, and is 3-colporate ( 3-colpate or 3-colporoidate). The pollen exine ultrastructure of Nothofagus may belong to primitive type. The pollen exine ultrastructure data support Kuprianova’s opinion that Nothofagus should be separated from Fagaceae and established as a monogenetic family, i.e. Nothofa-gaceae.     

樟科植物花粉形态研究

樟科植物为我国南方常绿阔叶林重要组成成分,我国约有20属420余种。过去对于樟科花粉形态的研究仅限于在光学显微镜下进行观察记载,以台湾学者王仁礼的研究最为全面,共记载了台湾产14属40余种的花粉形态。本文作者以国产樟科为主,应用扫描电镜及光学显微镜对该科花粉形态进行了更为全面系统的研究,共观察记载了22属150余种,对各属的花粉形态特征均进行了描述;首次报道了樟科花粉有小穿孔的存在,并依据花粉的形状、外壁纹饰及小穿孔存在与否将樟科花粉划分为7个类型,即:1．厚壳桂型(Cryptocarya,Neocimamomum);2．檬果樟型(Caryodaphnopsis);3．木姜子型(Litsea,Lindera,Neolitsea);4．月桂型(Laurus);5．鳄梨型(Persea,Machilus,Syndiclis,Nothaphoebe, Beilschemiedia,Phoebe,Alseodaphne,Octea);6．檫木型(Sassafras,Cinnamomum,Umbellularia,Actinodaphne,Dehaasia);7．无根藤型(Cassytha)。文中还讨论了樟科花粉的多样性、有关属之间的亲缘关系和分类问题以及同邻近的肉豆蔻科、莲叶桐科的关系。     

中国特有属牛筋条属的花粉形态与其系统位置

从发育的角度研究了中国特有单种属DichotomanthesKurz及与其系统学研究有关的外类群Prinsepiautilis的花粉形态 ,扫描电镜观察显示Dichotomanthes花粉粒自脱离四分体胼胝质膜开始至成熟二核花粉粒不同发育时期 ,花粉形态和外壁纹饰未见变化 ,仅花粉体积随成熟度增加而有所增大。而Prinsepiautilis ,其花粉粒刚脱离四分体时形状和成熟花粉明显不同 ,成熟花粉极面观为三裂圆形 ,赤道面观为圆形 ,外壁具清晰的平行条纹 ,但幼嫩花粉粒的形状很特别 ,极面观为深三裂圆形 ,赤道面观亦见花粉在两条沟之间下陷而沟部外突 ,明显为角萌发孔花粉 ,且花粉体积较成熟者小 ,而外壁纹饰同成熟者相比无根本性差异。前述两种植物花粉在不同成熟期体积有明显差异 ,而外壁纹饰在不同成熟期不存在质的变化并相对稳定 ,说明花粉外壁纹饰这一性状在蔷薇科中具有较为重要的分类学意义。DichotomanthesKurz具典型Rosaceae花粉的三孔沟结构 ,外壁具条纹 -穴状纹饰。将其孢粉学特征同Rosaceae 4个亚科有关类群的同类资料相比较 ,并结合其它形态解剖与细胞学等研究结果 ,支持将Dichotoman thes置入Maloideae下而不赞同将其另立亚科或置于Prunoideae之下。此外 ,由于Prinsepiautilis的花粉在其发育初期具角萌发孔花粉 ,与Cunoniacea     

旌节花科及其相关类群花粉形态的研究

对旌节花科及其相关类群五桠果科、猕猴桃科、水东哥科、金莲木科、省沽油科和山茶科等7科19属37种花粉进行了光镜（LM）和扫描电镜（SEM）的观察和比较。其中有些种类是第一次观察和报道。研究表明,上述各科花粉多为近球形至球形,少数近扁球形或近长球形。极面观三裂圆形或近三裂圆形。直径20－30（－35μm）,但厚皮香亚科和省沽油科银鹊树属Tapiscia的花科特别小,仅12.5-20μm。3孔沟,罕有3沟或4孔沟。外萌发孔（沟）相对地较长而宽,内孔多数较发达。花粉外壁纹饰变化大,从模糊而粗糙的细突起到皱波状纹饰,细孔状纹饰,蜂巢状－穴状纹饰,穴－网状纹饰,网状纹饰和颗粒状纹饰等。从形状、大小、萌发孔类型和外壁纹饰的比较看,虽然上述各科花粉均在不同程度上具有一定的相似性,但其中以旌节花科、省沽油科和山茶科中厚皮香科的花粉具有更多的相似性,尤其表现在外壁纹饰特征上。就孢粉学而言,也许旌节花科与省沽油科和山茶科中的厚皮香亚科的关系相对地较为密切。不过,其孢粉学特征所表现出的亲缘关系似乎不如在分子生物学中所表现出的明显。     

我国鼠尾草属花粉形态研究

鼠尾草属由于属中的丹参是优良的药用植物,因而引起人们的重视,进行了各方面的研究。至于鼠尾草属的花粉形态,G·埃特曼曾研究过二种鼠尾草花粉(Salvia pratensis和Salvia splenders),提及花粉多数为6沟,也有少数花粉具7-12沟(G.Erdtman 1969),中国植物花粉形态一书中也提到Salvia brevilabra花粉具六沟,外壁为网状纹饰(中国科学院植物研究所,1960年)。     

葫芦科8属11种植物花粉形态的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电子显微镜,对葫芦科8属10种1变种植物的花粉形态进行观察研究。结果显示:冬瓜属、葫芦属和栝楼属的花粉粒为近球形,具3孔沟;苦瓜属、西瓜属和丝瓜属的花粉粒为长球形,具3沟;黄瓜属的花粉粒为近球形,具3孔;南瓜属的花粉粒为球形,具散孔。花粉粒大小、形状和外壁雕纹属、种间差异显著。     

Pollen Morphology of Parnassia L. （Parnassiaceae） and Its Systematic Implications

The pollen morphology of 28 species of Parnassia L. was investigated with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The shape of pollen grains in this genus varies from subspheroidal to prolate in equatorial view and is three-lobed circular in the polar view. Pollen grains are usually radially symmetrical, isopolar, tricolporate or syntricolporate, with reticulate sculpture. The pollen characteristics among species are fairly similar to each other. Morphological information regarding the pollen grains shows that Parnassia is a natural genus. Based on exine ornamentation observed under SEM, three types of pollen grains were recognized: (i) type I, with foveolate-reticulate sculpture; (ii) type II, with a finely reticulate sculpture; and (iii) type III, with a coarsely reticulate sculpture. Most sections of this genus have one type of sculpture of pollen morphology, but Sect. Nectarotrilobos has three types of sculpture and Sect.Saxifragastrum has two types of sculpture. All three types of sculpture can be found in Southwest China,with species with the longest (Parnassia delavayi Franch.) and shortest (Parnassiafaberi Oliv.) colpi,implying that Southwest China is the center of diversification of the genus.     

Pollen morphology of selected Central European species from subgenera Vignea and Carex (Carex,Cyperaceae) and its relation to taxonomy

This study analysed the taxonomic utility of selected features of pollen grains of 45 Central European species of subgenera Vignea and Carex of the genus Carex. Seven quantitative features were analysed: [length of polar axis (P), length of equatorial axis (E), exine thickness on the pole (Exp), exine thickness on the equator plane (Exe), P/E ratio and the relative thickness of exine (Exp/P and Exe/E ratio)] and outline, shape and exine sculpture. Among the biometrical features, the most important for Carex taxonomy (particularly at the level of subgenus) is the thickness of exine (Exp). Marked differences in the morphological structure of inflorescences at the subgenus level are reflected in the differences of pollen features. Results of our studies clearly show an explicit (and not previously described in the palynological literature) taxonomic division of the genus Carex on the basis of pollen biometrical features into two units corresponding exactly to the subgenera (Vignea and Carex). However, the features of pollen grains analysed did not contribute any essential taxonomic criteria at levels lower than subgenus (e.g. sections). An exception was for C. disticha, where it was observed that the poroid areas occurred in pairs, a new feature for sedges. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 164 , 422–439.     

中国木犀属花粉形态研究及其系统学意义

观察了中国木犀属4组21种植物的花粉形态。花粉为圆球形或近长球形,外壁表面均具网状纹饰。大多数种类都具有三孔沟的萌发孔,极少四孔沟,或六萌发孔。内孔明显或不明显,有9种植物同时存在具三孔沟和具三沟二种类型的花粉及中间过渡类型(显脉木犀同时存在具三拟孔沟和具四拟孔沟)。很多特点表明,木犀属花粉的萌发孔在木犀科中处于由简单萌发孔向复合萌发孔过渡的阶段。根据网眼从沟间区中央到沟边是否变细,可将本属花粉分为两大类型,与分组有一定的对应关系。综合一些花粉特征,可发现本属花粉形态差异较明显,与一般形态差异有一定的相关性。花粉形态在木犀属具有一定的系统学意义。     

Pollen Morphology of Parnassia L. (Parnassiaceae) and Its Systematic Implications

The pollen morphology of 28 species of Parnassia L. was investigated with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The shape of pollen grains in this genus varies from subspheroidal to prolate in equatorial view and is three-lobed circular in the polar view. Pollen grains are usually radially symmetrical, isopolar, tricolporate or syntricolporate, with reticulate sculpture. The pollen characteristics among species are fairly similar to each other. Morphological information regarding the pollen grains shows that Parnassia is a natural genus. Based on exine ornamentation observed under SEM, three types of pollen grains were recognized: (i) type Ⅰ, with foveolate-reticulate sculpture; (ii) type Ⅱ, with a finely reticulate sculpture; and (iii) type Ⅲ, with a coarsely reticulate sculpture. Most sections of this genus have one type of sculpture of pollen morphology, but Sect. Nectarotrilobos has three types of sculpture and Sect.Saxifragastrum has two types of sculpture. All three types of sculpture can be found in Southwest China,with species with the longest (Parnassia delavayi Franch.) and shortest (Parnassia faberi Oliv.) colpi,implying that Southwest China is the center of diversification of the genus.