The systematic value of pollen morphology in Smilacaceae

Smilacaceae are a small family of dioecious, mostly climbing, net-veined monocotyledons with a cosmopolitan distribution. Relatively little is known about the variation of pollen morphology within the family. For this reason, and to investigate the systematic value of palynology in Smilacaceae, poll...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant systematics and evolution 2006-05, Vol.259 (1), p.19-37
Main Authors: Chen, S.-C., Zhang, X.-P., Ni, S.-F., Fu, C.-X., Cameron, K. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological taxonomies
Botanical gardens
Evolution
Flowering plants
Microscopy
Morphology
Palynology
Phylogeny
Plant morphology
Pollen
Scanning electron microscopy
Smilacaceae
Smilax
Synonymy
Taxa
Transmission electron microscopy
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Summary:Smilacaceae are a small family of dioecious, mostly climbing, net-veined monocotyledons with a cosmopolitan distribution. Relatively little is known about the variation of pollen morphology within the family. For this reason, and to investigate the systematic value of palynology in Smilacaceae, pollen from 125 species of Smilax, Heterosmilax, and Ripogonum was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Ten of these were examined further by transmission electron microscopy. Four distinct pollen types grouped into two major pollen classes were distinguished: Class 1, represented by the pollen of all Smilax and Heterosmilax species, is mostly spheroidal, inaperturate, and spinulate or microspinulate, with a thin, fragile exine of varied sculpturing; three pollen types are represented within this class. Class 2 is found only in Ripogonum and contains a single pollen type with prolate, monosulcate, reticulately-sculptured pollen. The unique pollen morphology of Ripogonum supports its removal from Smilacaceae. In contrast, the characteristics of Heterosmilax pollen intergrade with those seen in Smilax, suggesting that the former might be better reduced to synonymy with the latter. A key to the identification of these pollen types is presented along with a discussion of geographic and possible evolutionary trends among them.
ISSN:0378-2697
1615-6110
2199-6881
DOI:10.1007/s00606-006-0424-y