Abstract:

This paper deals with pollen morphology of 33 species belonging to 5 sections of

Dioscorea in China.  They were examined under both LM and SEM.

       The pollen grains of Sect. Stenophora are monocolpate with the size of 17-25.5×26.8-

39.1μm, the exine is reticulate, striate, parforate-reticulate or cerebro-reticulate, while those of the

other sections are bicolpate, reticulate or cerebro- reticulate with the size of 19.2-26.7×13.9-

23.1μm.

       Based on palynological data Sect.  Stenophora may be considered primitive and Sect.

Enantiophyllum the most advanced in Dioscorea.

Key words: Pallen Morphology, Dioscorea