Pollen morphology of selected species of the genera Chrysodracon and Dracaena (Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae) and its systematic implications

• Published in: Plant systematics and evolution Vol. 304; no. 3; pp. 431 - 443
• Main Authors: Klimko, Małgorzata, Nowińska, Renata, Jura-Morawiec, Joanna, Wiland-Szymańska, Justyna, Wilkin, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer-Verlag GmbH 01-03-2018; Springer Vienna
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Original Article; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Ecology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Palynology; Taxonomy; Monocot; Micromorphology
• ISSN: 0378-2697; 1615-6110; 2199-6881
• DOI: 10.1007/s00606-017-1486-8

Pollen grains of 3 species from the genus Chrysodracon and 20 species from the genus Dracaena were examined by light, scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy. The basic shape of the pollen grains is subprolate and prolate, but prolatespheroidal pollen grains may also be found. Pollen of Chrysodracon and Dracaeana is dispersed as monads, rarely as dyads. In terms of size, the pollen grains studied were classified as medium-sized and large. There are two different types of apertures: monosulcate and monoulcerate in Dracaena and monoulcerate in Chrysodracon. The surface of the non-apertural areas is psilate-perforate, irregularly folded, microreticulate and fossulate. Ornamentation of the apertural region is microreticulate, microreticulate-baculate, baculate, psilate-perforate, psilate-perforate-verrucate, granulate and irregularly folded. Irregular perforations are present, and the wall structure is tectate-columellate. Our results suggest that some species of Chrysodracon and Dracaena may be separated based on their pollen grain micromorphology on the distal region.