Pollen morphology of the genus Nothofagus and its taxonomic significance

›› 2000, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 452-461.

WANG Ping-Li, PU Fa-Ting, ZHENG Zhong-Hua

Abstract:

The present paper describes the pollen morphology of 26 species and 2 varieties in

Nothofagus from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Guinea and South America. Pollen

grains were all examined with light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope ( SEM ) and

transmission electron microscope(TEM). A comparative analysis of pollen exine ultrastructure was

made for some species. The results are summarised as follows: Pollen grains are oblate to peroblate,

5～8-short-colpate, rarely 4- or 9-colpate; colpi generally thickened at margins; pollen surface

spinulose. The exine ultrastructure of Nothofagus differs considerably from that of the other genera

in the Fagaceae. The pollen grains of the species examined here show great differences in shape,

size, colpal number and characteristics of colpi at margins and could be divided into three distinct

types, i.e. N. brassii type; N. menziesii type and N. fusca type.

Key words: Fagaceae, Nothofagus, Pollen type

WANG Ping-Li, PU Fa-Ting, ZHENG Zhong-Hua. Pollen morphology of the genus Nothofagus and its taxonomic significance[J]. , 2000, 38(5): 452-461.

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