中国茶藨子属的研究

通过对国产茶藨子属的形态、分类和地理分布的研究,笔者支持把该属置于虎耳草科的观点,不赞成把它分离作为独立的科。另外,认为Rehder系统中所划分的4个亚属较合理,故予以采纳,但笔者对其中的亚属、组和系的划分、各分类类目的内容、系统排列的顺序等诸方面都作了较大修订。从系统发育的观点出发,对亚属的排列次序则和Rehder系统有很大不同,而对组和系的范围及其系统位置也作了较大改动。中国茶藨子属植物初步确定为59种30变种,隶属于4亚属10组15系(包括5新系)。依据对茶藨子属分布区的分析,首次提出了东亚区是茶藨子属植物的现代分布中心,在东亚区中,中国-喜马拉雅森林植物亚区中的横断山脉地区和中国-日本森林植物亚区的西部是茶藨子属发生和发展的关键地区。     

A Study on Pollen Morphology of the Genus Viburnum from China

The present study on pollen grains of the genus Viburnum Linn. Shows that: 1. The pollen characteristics are of no significance in division of sections, but each species has its own pollen characteristics. 2. The exine can be divided into three types: I. Exine semitectate, reticulate, muri psilate; II. Exine semitectate, reticulate, muri verrucate; III. Exine intectate, retipilate or pilate, the heads of pila verrucate. The evolutionary trend of the exine is III→II→I. 3. Four types of colpus margin are recognized: I. intectate; II. The colpus margin semitectate, reticulate; III. The colpus margin tectate; IV. Syncolpate at one pole, the margin tectate (only in V. farreri). 4. The ora can be divided into five types according to its membrane shape under SEM: I. The membrane of ora indistinct; II. The membrane of ora semispherical, discontinuous with colpus margin; III. The membrane of ora semispherical, continuous with colpus margin; IV. The membrane of ora semi-ellipsoidat, lolongate; V. The membrane of ora semi-ellipsoidal, lalongate, across the colpus like a bridge. 5. According to both pollen characters and inflorescence, the authors suggest that Sect. Pseudotinus be divided into two subsections, one including V. sympodiale, V. furcatum and V. latanoides, which have large sterile marginal flowers with the exine belonging to the Type I, and the other including only V. nervosum, which has no large sterr-ile marginal flowers with the exine belonging to the Type III.     

Pollen morphology of families Quillajaceae and Surianaceae (Fabales)

The Fabales clade comprises four families: Leguminosae, Polygalaceae, Quillajaceae and Surianaceae. This study presents new information on the pollen morphology of Quillaja, the only genus of Quillajaceae, and Recchia, Guilfoylia, Cadellia, Suriana and Stylobasium, the five genera that comprise Surianaceae. The pollen of 9 of the 11 species currently recognised within the two families was examined using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and, selectively, with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pollen of all taxa is isopolar with tri-zonocolporate apertures, lalongate endoapertures with fastigia adjacent to the endoaperture, and long ectoapertures that are nearly equal to the polar length. Apocolpia are correspondingly small. Quillaja pollen is subprolate to prolate, and striate with a granular aperture surface membrane. Ectexine protrudes over the endoapertures. In thin section the foot layer is thicker in mesocolpial areas and thin to discontinuous around the apertures, where the endexine is thicker. Cadellia pollen is prolate spheroidal, and striate with a granular aperture surface membrane. Exine protrudes over the endoapertures. In thin section the endexine is thicker and lamellate around the endoaperture area, and the foot layer is thicker in mesocolpial regions. Guilfoylia pollen is oblate and gemmate-verrucate, with a granular aperture surface membrane. Columellae are short. Recchia pollen is suboblate to oblate spheroidal, and microreticulate-perforate with a granular aperture surface membrane. Exine protrudes over the endoapertures. The foot layer is thin to discontinuous around aperture margins and thick in mesocolpial regions. Stylobasium pollen is suboblate, and finely rugulate-perforate with a granular aperture surface membrane. Columellae are short, the foot layer is thin or absent. Suriana pollen is suboblate, and finely rugulate-perforate with a granular aperture surface membrane. Pollen of Cadellia and Recchia, and Stylobasium and Suriana are morphologically similar. Verrucate surface ornamentation is only present in Guilfoylia. Quillaja, Cadellia and Recchia share the character of protruding exine over the endoaperture area. Striate ornamentation occurs in Quillaja and Cadellia. The pollen morphology of Quillajaceae has more in common with that of Leguminosae and Surianaceae, and with Cadellia in particular, than with Polygalaceae.     

紫草亚科附地菜族的花粉形态研究

本文用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜系统观察了附地菜族5个属26种植物花粉形态。五属是附地菜属、车前紫草属、滨紫草属、山茄子属和皿果草属。观察证明属间花粉形态有明显的差异。花粉资料为族内属的划分和皿果草属的建立提出了花粉学证据。     

Pollen morphology of Microstachys (Euphorbiaceae) with emphasis on neotropical species

Abstract

In Euphorbiaceae tribe Hippomaneae is the pantropical genus Microstachys, comprised by 24 species, mostly from Brazil. Palynological studies with several representatives of the genus are scarce. The purpose of this study was to describe the pollen morphology of Microstachys and find possible differentiating characteristics between its species. Ten species of the genus were analysed, represented by 21 herbarium collections. Their pollen grains were acetolysed, measured and photographed under light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysed species possess pollen in monads, of small to medium size, isopolars, amb distincticly trilobed, oblate-spheroidal, prolate-spheroidal or subprolate, tricolporate with narrow and very long colpi, almost fused at the poles sometimes forming an invagination with tapering ends and margo of the colporus wide to very wide and psilate; endoapertures lalongate to very lalongate with tapering ends, presence of a narrow costae distinct in the endoaperture; exine microreticulate homobrochate, walls with simple columella; at the mesocolpus the sexine separates from the nexine forming cavea; and sexine always thicker than the nexine. Microstachys is a stenopalynous genus, despite its species varying in pollen size, shape and width of the cavea, margo of the colporus, and length of the endoapertures, demonstrating taxonomic value, and indicating a contribution towards future systematic analyses.     

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.     

A Study on Pollen Morphology of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver is endemic to China. The pollen morphology and exine ultrastructure were examined under LM, SEM and TEM. Pollen grains are prolate, polar axis 30.5-54.8 μm long, with the average 32.7 μm, equatorial axis 27.8-31.3 μm long, with the average 29.2 μm, tricolporoidate, but sometimes the outline of ora could be observed and elliptic in shape. Colpi are narrow, uequal in length, often two long and one short or two short and one long, sometimes rather irregularly arranged, with indistinct and thin colpus membrance. Exine psilate under LM, granulate under SEM, and shortly baculate under TEM. Tectum is thin with dense and small granules, columellae layer consists of short bacules, and foot layer very thick. Some taxonomists (Cronquist, 1968) consider that Eucommiaceae is related to Hamamelidales, but others (Takhtajan, 1969) to Urticales. The Urticales is of the porate type of pollen grains, while Eucommiaceae of tricolporoidate type, and thus the former is more advanced than the latter. Pollen grains of some members of Hamamelidales, tricolporoidate, are similar to those of Eucommiaceae. We therefore consider that Eucommiaceae is related to Hama-melidales.     

Exine Micromorphology of Orchidinae (Orchidoideae,Orchidaceae): Phylogenetic Constraints or Ecological Influences?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pollen characters have been widely used in defining evolutionary trends in orchids. In recent years, information on pollination biology and phylogenetic patterns within Orchidinae has become available. Hence, the aim of the presented work is to re-evaluate exine micromorphology of Orchidinae in light of recent phylogenetic studies and to test whether pollen micromorphology strictly depends on phylogenetic relationships among species or whether it is influenced by the marked differences in pollination ecology also reported among closely related species. METHODS: Pollen sculpturing of 45 species of Orchidinae and related taxa was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. To cover potential intraspecific variation, several accessions of the same species were examined. KEY RESULTS: Orchidinae show remarkable variation in exine sculpturing, with a different level of variation within species groups. In some genera, such as Serapias (rugulate) and Ophrys (psilate to verrucate), intrageneric uniformity corresponds well to a common pollination strategy and close relationships among species. However, little exine variability (psilate-scabrate and scabrate-rugulate) was also found in the genus Anacamptis in spite of striking differences in floral architecture and pollination strategies. A larger variety of exine conditions was found in genera Dactylorhiza (psilate, psilate-scabrate and reticulate) and Orchis s.s. (psilate, reticulate, perforate-rugulate and baculate) where no unequivocal correspondence can be found to either phylogenetic patterns or pollination strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in pollen characteristics do not consistently reflect shifts in pollination strategy. A unique trend of exine evolution within Orchidinae is difficult to trace. However, the clades comprising Anacamptis, Neotinea, Ophrys and Serapias show psilate to rugulate or scabrate pollen, while that of the clade comprising Chamorchis, Dactylorhiza, Gymnadenia, Orchis s.s., Platanthera, Pseudorchis and Traunsteinera ranges from psilate to reticulate. Comparison of the data with exine micromorphology from members of the tribe Orchidieae and related tribes suggests a possible general trend from reticulate to psilate.     

POLLEN MORPHOLOGY IN THE SELAGINEAE,MANULEAE (SCROPHULARIACEAE), AND SELECTED GLOBULARIACEAE,AND ITS TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The pollen grains of 22 genera and 182 species of Selagineae, Manuleae, and selected Globulariaceae were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy of whole and fractured pollen. Grains of the Selagineae and most Manuleae have trizonicolporate aperatures with long, unconstricted ectocolpi; clearly delimited margos; psilate colpus membranes; lalongate transverse endocolpi extending beyond the boundaries of the ectocolpi; thickened endoaperture margins; semitectate, reticulate to microreticulate exines; and psilate, simplicolumellate muri. In the Globulariaceae, Globularia has spinulose, microperforate exines and undifferentiated ectocolpus margins, and both Globularia and Poskea have granular to spinulose colpus membranes, lolongate endoapertures included within the ectocolpi, and unthickened endoaperture margins. These pollen data support postulated relationships between Selagineae and Manuleae, but pollen grains of Selagineae and Globulariaceae are distinct, and pollen morphology does not correlate with proposals combining these taxa in Globulariaceae or Selaginaceae. Pollen morphology in Glumicalyx is indistinguishable from that in most Manuleae and supports transfer of this genus to the Manuleae from the Digitaleae. Differences in pollen morphology supplement established morphological distinctions between Globularia and Poskea, but the pollen evidence does not support published infrageneric classifications in Globularia or postulated relationships between Selagineae and Gratioleae or Selagineae and Lagotis.     

Pollen morphology of the subtribe Cuspariinae (Rutaceae)

The neotropical subtribe Cuspariinae (Rutaceae) comprises as many as 26 genera and over 125 species. Pollen grains from 111 collections representing 71 species and 24 genera were examined by LM, SEM, and TEM. The pollen morphology of this subtribe is very diverse. Grains are mostly 3–6-aperturate and colporate, rarely porate (Spiranthera) or pantocolporate (Almeidea). Exine sculpturing is most commonly reticulate, sometimes perforate, foveolate-perforate, foveolate, foveolate-reticulate, reticulate, striate-reticulate, echinate, clavate, or baculate. The exine structure is columellate and tectate-perforate, columellate and semitectate, or intectate and is stratified into ektexine and endexine. The exine ofLeptothyrsa is distinctive in that the ektexine of the mesocolpium is longitudinally deeply ridged. The pollen ofHortia, characterized by a psilate exine with rare perforations, a very thick foot-layer, and reduced columellae, is unlike that of any member of the Cuspariinae and offers no support for the transfer of this genus from the Toddalioideae. The pollen data correlate with macromorphological characters and are taxonomically useful.     

Pollen Morphology of Microula Benth. and Allied Genera (Boraginaceae)

Pollen grains of 16 species of Microula Benth. and six species of three related genera were examined under LM and SEM, and four of them also under TEM. Pollen grains of Microula and three related genera are dumb-bell-shaped, 3-colporate apertures alternate with three pseudocolpi. Pollen grains are very small,ranging from 12.18 x 7.13 μm to 6.36 x 3.66μm. In general, colpi with os are wider and shorter, rhomboid, but sometimes they are equal to pseudocolpi in length. Colpus margins are regularly or irregularly tooth-like. The surface of colpi is psilate or processed. Ora are circular or lalongated in outline, protruded or not; surface of os membrane is smooth or scabrid. The exine is usually indistinctly layered under LM. The exine surface is psilate, and more or less perforate. TEM examination shows that the pollen wall is differentiated into exine and intine: the exine includes ectexine and endexine, while the ectexine consists of tectum, columellae and foot-layer. However, there are differences in constriction of equatorial area, apertural characters, ornamentation and exinous ultrastructure between these genera. Pollen morphology indicates that the genus Microula Benth. is primitive, directly related to the genus Actinocarya Benth .; the genus Asperugo L. Is more advanced. The genus Eritrichium Schrad. which has two ora or one os and is anisopolar, represents the most advanced group among them. Noteworthily, the diorate phenomenon is found for the first time not onlyin the genus but in the family Boraginaceae.     

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.     

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。     

禾本科针茅族(Stipeae)7种花粉形态比较研究

利用光学显微镜(LM)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了针茅族7种花粉形态.观察显示,花粉形态均为近球形,具远极单孔,并有萌发孔盖(Operculum).LM观察到花粉外壁纹饰具粗细不一的颗粒状结构,SEM则可辨不同种类的颗粒或瘤状结构的大小及其形成图案的差异,其中芨芨草属(Achnatherum)花粉外壁纹饰的种间差异...     

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。     

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。     

Studies On the Pollen Morphology of the Genus Iris in China

In this paper, pollen grains of 32 species of the genus Iris in China were examined under light microscope and scanning elrctron microscope. Pollen grains in Iris of China are navicular or subspheroidal. According to the characters of aperture and shape, pollen grains may be divided into four types: (1) Monocolpate (distal): pollen grains navicular or subspheroidal, exine reticulate. (2) Monocolpate-colpoidal: pollen grains subspheroidal, exine pilate. (3) 2-syncolpate: polen grains subspheroidal or navicular, exine reticulate. (4) No aperture: pollen grains subspheroidal; exine verrucate. The evolutional trends of aperture and exine ornamentation are traced and systematic po-sitions of some species are discussed based on characteristics of pollen grains and other organs.     

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.     

A Study on Pollen Morphology of Tribe Rhamneae (Rhamnaceae)in China

Pollen morphology of 25 Chinese species, representing 6 five genera in the tribe Rhamneae of Rhamnaceae, was examined under LM and SEM. Pollen grains are subspheroidal or suboblate, obtuse-triangular in polar view, 3-colporate, with the polar axis (P)10.4-28.7μm long and equatorial axis (E) 11.3-30.5μm long, P/E = 0.81-1.11. Colpi generally narrow and long, ora lalongate, with two ends connected with the thinned part of exine, forming a H-shape. Four thickenings were observed where colpi and ora cross, but sometimes the thickenings were indistinct or formed a ring. The stratification indistinct. The ornamentation of exine obscure or indistinctly reticulate under LM, but rugulose, short-striate, rugulose-foveolate or reticulate under SEM. The exine ultrastructure of Rhamnus ussuriensis was examined under TEM. It consists of imperforate tectum, granular layer, foot layer and endexine. The tectum is rather thick with uneven surface, while the granular layer is rather thin. A key to the genera based on pollen characteristics is provided and the general pollenmorphology of five genera, i.e. Sageretia, Rhamnus, Hovenia, Colubrina and Alphitonia, is described respectively. Based on pollen size, the four thickenings and the ornamentation, the five genera under study may be distinguished from each other. For example, pollen grains are smaller in Sageretia; the four thickenings are larger and distinct in Hovenia and Alphitonia. However, the ornamentation is short-striate under SEM in Hovenia and Alphitonia, while reticulate in the Colubrina and Rhamnus ( Subgen. Rhamnus) .Two different concepts of Rhamnus exist among taxonomists. Heppeler and Suessenguth divided Rhamnus into two subgenera (Subgen. Frangula and Subgen. Rhamnus), whereas Grubov separated Subgen. Frangula from Rhamnus as an independent genus. According to the pollen morphology, the separationis reasonable.     

The unique pollen morphology of Duparquetia (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae): developmental evidence of aperture orientation using confocal microscopy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The phylogenetic affinities of the aberrant monotypic genus Duparquetia (subfamily Caesalpinioideae) are at present unresolved. Preliminary results from molecular analyses suggest a basal, isolated position among legumes. A study of Duparquetia pollen was carried out to provide further morphological characters to contribute to multi-data set analyses. Understanding the development of Duparquetia pollen was necessary to clarify the orientation of the apertures. METHODS: Pollen grains and developing microspores were examined using light microscopy, confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Evidence for the orientation of the apertures was provided by the examination of microspores within developing tetrads, using (a) confocal microscopy to locate the position of the ectoapertures, and (b) light microscopy and Alcian blue stain to locate the position of the endoapertures. KEY RESULTS: Confocal microscopy has been used for the first time to examine developing microspores in order to obtain information on ectoapertures that was unavailable using other techniques. Pollen in Duparquetia develops in tetrahedral tetrads as in other eudicots, with the apertures arranged in a modified pattern following Fischer's rule. Pollen grains are asymmetrical and have one equatorial-encircling ectoaperture with two equatorial endoapertures, a unique feature in Leguminosae, and in eudicots. CONCLUSIONS: The pollen morphology of Duparquetia is so unusual that it provides little information to help determine its closest relatives. However, it does fit with a pattern of greater pollen morphological diversity in the first-branching caesalpinioid legume groups than in the more derived clades. The latitudinal ectoaperture of Duparquetia is unique within the Fabales and eudicot clades, resembling more closely the monosulcate pollen found in monocots and basal angiosperms; however, developmental patterns are recognizably similar to those of all other legume pollen types.