New Zealand pollen studies. The monocotyledons

Plant Microfossil and 14C Analysis of Archaeological Features at Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand: Evidence for regional Māori use of introduced and indigenous plants

Article

Feb 2023

The study of Māori agriculture has been limited by lack of evidence in the form of plant remains. Studies using a combined microfossil (pollen, phytolith, and starch) approach have shown promise, although have mostly focused on specific sites. Here we address these limitations by providing a relatively high geographic resolution microfossils and 14C study examining how several sites within a region compared to one another. Using samples from sediments, middens, and coprolites from six sites on Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, the results build on previous local studies, showing major landscape disturbance by people, and agricultural activity through the identification of Māori introduced cf. Colocasia esculenta, Cordyline cf. fruticosa, Dioscorea alata, and cf. Ipomoea batatas. Microfossils of possible gathered wild plants in the coprolites, namely Brassicaceae, Coriaria, Rhopalostylis, Rumex, and Sonchus, were also identified, complementing the agricultural record. Ipomoea batatas and Colocasia esculenta were identified at each of four of the six sites and in each of five of the seven coprolites, which could reflect their generally accepted dominance in Māori agriculture. Dioscorea alata starch at only one site is consistent with its status as a marginal crop. Starch of cf. Solanum tuberosum at one site reflects adoption of European cropping. https://pacificarchaeology.org/index.php/journal/article/view/345

Pollen Morphology of Rapateaceae

Article

Jan 1961

Sherwin Carlquist

Palynological study of Asian Thismia (Thismiaceae: Dioscoreales) reveals an unusual pollen type

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2021
PLANT SYST EVOL

The mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia shows a great number of structural and ecological traits which are rare or unique for angiosperms. Pollen morphology of this genus is still poorly known. Pollen of Thismia was reported to be porate with one to several pores. Position of the pores is unknown, and therefore, the pollen type has not been established to date. Information on sporoderm structure in the genus is scarce, as high-quality images of pollen grains are available for several species only. In our comprehensive investigation of pollen morphology of Thismia, we involved nine Asian species of the genus and employed an integrative approach, which included data from light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. All studied species were shown to possess monoporate pollen of asymmetric-elliptic planoconvex shape. Using TEM investigation of immature anthers, we demonstrated that pollen grains are organized in tetragonal tetrads, and the pore occupies an equatorial position. We argue that Asian species of Thismia along with Burmannia from the same order Dioscoreales are the only known lineages of seed plants with a single equatorial aperture. The sporoderm surface is psilate or perforate with perforations of various size and density in the studied species. We discuss the interspecific variation of sporoderm morphology in the light of the phylogenetic relationships between Asian species of Thismia. We demonstrate that the pollen morphology of Thismia fails to conform to the idea of entomophily, which is believed to prevail in this genus. Finally, we describe an unexpected striking difference in sporoderm structure between the specimens belonging to T. javanica species group.

New Records of Secondary Thickening in Monocotyledons

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1995

Paula J. Rudall

A seco ndary thickening meristem is record ed for the first time in some herbaceous taxa of Asparagales (Herreria montevide nsis and Thysanotus sp inige r), and the new records are assessed in a systematic co ntext. All monocotyl edons lack a vascular cambium, which is typicall y a single per sistent row of cells producing phloem centrifugally and xylem ce ntripetally. However, some monocotyled ons achieve stem thicken ing by means of a different type of later al meristern, either a primary thickening meristem (PTM) near the apex, together with diffuse secondary growth (as in palm s). or a secondary thicken ing meristern (STM) further away from the apex (as in some Asparagales; see Rudall 1991, for review). The PTM and STM are probabl y developmenlally related, although there is complex tissue involvement. In taxa with an STM, the PTM and STM may someti mes be longitudi nally co ntinuous, at least at some stage in the life cycle (Steven son 1980). Virtually all monocotyledons have a PTM , but among tree-forming or woody taxa this has developed along different lines, probabl y more than once, either as an exten sive apical PTM, as in palms, or as an STM, in some Asparagales (see below). The PTM and STM are not homologous with the vascular cambium, as they are tiered (etagen) men stems which produce distinct vascular bundles (of both xylem and phloem) in a parench ymatou s ground tis sue (Fig. 1-3), mainly ce ntripe tally. There are record s of a PTM in some dicotyledon s and other plant groups (DeMaso n 1983), although the hom ology of these requ ires testing . All unequi vocal records of an STM are in the asparagoid clade (sensn Cha se et al. 1995), which compri ses Dahlgren et al.'s (1985) order Asparagales, together with a few membe rs of their Liliales, such as Iridaceae (Rudall 1991). A STM has been re ported in several tree-forming and shru bby asparagoid s: Aga ve, Aloe, Beaucarnea, Calibanus, Cordyiine, Dasylirion, Dra caena, Furcra ea, Klatti a, Nive nia, No lina, Pleomel e, Sansevieria, Witsenia, Xanth orrh oea and Yucca, and also in some more her baceou s taxa with a thick ' woody' rhizome or stem, such as Aphyllanthes, Gasteria.

Evidence of pseudomonad pollen formation in Hypolytrum (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae) Alessandra Ike Coan, Marccus Vinícius da Silva Alves & Vera Lucia Scatena Australian Journal of Botany 2010; 58:663-672

Article

Nov 2010

Cyperaceae are characterised by typical simultaneous microsporogenesis that results in the formation of pseudomonad pollen. Morphological studies indicate the occurrence of a distinct pollen type in Mapanioideae, the spherical and monoporate Mapania-type pollen, found in representatives of Hypolytreae. This study investigates anther and pollen development in species of Hypolytrum for a better understanding of the mapanioid pollen type. Stages in microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis were analysed in both Hypolytrum (Mapanioideae, Hypolytreae; ﬁve species sampled) and Rhynchospora (Cyperoideae; two species studied). The latter was used as a comparator, known for the occurrence of pseudomonads. The results presented here conﬁrm those already reported for the family, regardless of genus. The most important differences are morphological, not developmental. All species sampled of both genera had Cyperaceae-type simultaneous microsporogenesis resulting in pseudomonad pollen. Predictions that Mapania-type pollen in Hypolytrum would be monad are refuted. Anthers examined of Rhynchospora showed phenolic idioblasts, while those of species of Hypolytrum did not. There is need for ontogenetic studies on the other genera of Hypolytreae, such as Mapania and Scirpodendron, to extend and test the generality of our observations across the Hypolytreae.

Microsporogenesis and pollen sulcus type in Asparagales (Lilianae)

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2011
CAN J BOT

Cladistic analysis of molecular data (plastid rbcL sequences) supports the interpretation of simultaneous microsporogenesis as an apomorphy for Asparagales (Lilianae), with a reversal in the most derived 'higher' asparagoid clade, which is entirely successive. 'Lower' asparagoids are mainly simultaneous, with occasional reversals to the successive state, such as in Xanthorrhoea, Hypoxidaceae, and a few Orchidaceae and Iridaceae (including Geosiris). Trichotomosulcate pollen, a characteristic feature of one of the lower asparagoid clades, is associated with simultaneous microsporogenesis. Some lower asparagoids, such as Doryanthes and a few Iridaceae, are recorded as having both successive and simultaneous microsporogenesis. Irregular tetrads occur frequently in Asphodelaceae and sometimes in higher asparagoids, although not in the group with trichotomosulcate pollen. We relate the distributions of these characters to the positions of the same taxa in the rbcL tree, expanded to include more taxa sampled for pollen characters. The pollen data are highly congruent with the rbcL tree, although when viewed from the perspective of all previous classifications, trichotomosulcate pollen would be interpreted to have evolved several times. We interpret distribution of both simultaneous microsporogenesis and trichotomosulcate pollen with the DNA tree to be an indication of the reliability of both for taxonomic revision of family limits. Key words: tetrads, trichotomosulcate pollen, Phormiaceae.

The trichotomosulcate asparagoids: Pollen morphology of Hemerocallidaceae in relation to systematics and pollination biology

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2014

We examined pollen of 19 genera of Hemerocallidaceae by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and one genus (Dianella) by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pollen was generally small in size, with a rounded triangular outline when hydrated, and a characteristic three-armed aperture, a distal trichotomosulcus. The pollen surface was finely sculptured and the exine was thin. Microreticulate pollen is a potential synapomorphy for several species of the 'crown phormioid' subclade recognised in molecular analyses. Perforate and fossulate pollen supports a relationship between several species of Dianella. Microrugulate pollen is more frequent in the johnsonioids than in the phormioids. Hemerocallis is distinguished by elongated monosulcate pollen, a relatively thick exine with a pronounced reticulate surface, and large globules of attached pollenkitt. We hypothesise that Hemerocallidaceae are ancestrally buzz-pollinated, and their pollen morphology is an adaptation to this pollination type. A reversal to butterfly or moth pollination occurred in Hemerocallis, with associated changes in pollen morphology.

Biological flora of New Zealand 7. Ripogonum scandens J. R. et G. Forst. (Smilacaceae) Supplejack, Kareao

Article

Dec 1972

B. H. Macmillan

This paper includes an account of the morphological development of Ripogonum scandens, information relevant to its ecology, a distribution map based on its presence or absence in grid squares, and bibliographic references to other information.

Biological flora of New Zealand 10. Phormium tenax , harakeke, New Zealand flax

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2007

We review the biosystematics, chemistry, phenology, ecology, and cultural and economic uses of Phormium tenax, a widespread iconic New Zealand monocotyledon. Phormium tenax is endemic to New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and the Chatham Islands, and is distinguished from the sole other member of the genus, P. cookianum, by its erect trigonous seed capsules and red flowers, despite incomplete barriers to hybridisation. Flowers produce abundant nectar and are bird pollinated. Seed is orthodox and tolerates drying, while chilling overcomes dormancy. Rich, well‐drained alluvial and organic soils encourage abundant growth in P. tenax but prolonged flooding and drought reduce growth and survival. Lack of tolerance to both frost and low mean annual temperatures distinguish its environmental niche from that of P. cookianum, but further research is required to characterise these differences more accurately. Phormium tenax is a significant component of vegetation on coastal cliffs, slopes, and dunelands; in estuarine shrublands; and lake margin and freshwater communities. Wide morphological variation in Phormium has led to cultivar development by Maori for weaving and by horticulturalists for ornamental garden use. Phormium tenax is important in many ecological communities as a food source, and is often used in restoration and revegetation plantings.

Adaptive Features of Pollen Morphology of Hydrophytes in Relation to Ecological Class

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Pollen morphology is used for comparative importance in taxonomy and evolution at all taxa levels. The pollen features are constant for each genus while the exine sculpturing pattern is highly recognizable for various genera. In this study we have narrated how pollen exine thickness acts as an adaptive feature of hydrophytes. There is a clear increase in exine thickness with respect to the ecological classes of hydrophytes which can be treated as evolutionary schemes of the plant kingdom. An attempt is also made to find if there is any relation to pollen morphology and exine pattern. The value of such studies could be augmented appreciably where it is possible to supplement the other data with pollen records for the more distant past and experimental treatment of postulated vegetational process of hydrophytes.

PALYNOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WETLAND FLORA OF SIALKOT DISTRICT, PAKISTAN

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2014

Pollen characters and their evolutionary and taxonomic significance: Using light and confocal laser scanning microscope to study diverse plant pollen taxa from central India

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

Increasing the taxonomic resolution of fossil pollen identification and establishing the kinship and similarity among phylogenetically related plant groups are inevitable for advancing the Quaternary palaeoecological, palaeoclimatological and palaeoenvironmental research. We, in the present study, examined and determined the pollen morphological characteristics of 9 plant taxa belonging to 7 families from central India by a combined light microscopic (LM) and confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) study. The prime object was to observe, document and describe, as well as illustrate the prevalent variation in pollen shape, size, aperture number and diameter, diameter of the polar axis and equatorial distance, as well as exine thickness and pattern (i.e. pollen wall architecture) of the studied plant taxa. Pollen identification key was developed to demonstrate variations in pollen features and delimit taxa for correct identification. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggest exine and aperture number as dominant characters, as well as hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), applied to the pollen morphological characters of 9 plant taxa to understand the variability among the taxa, and to cluster them respectively, suggest three clusters. The cophenetic correlation coefficient also substantiates the three group of clustering. The present study has significance in taxonomy and systematics, as well as in phylogeny and evolution. In addition, the preservation potential of different pollen grains has been ascertained, based on the pollen wall architecture. The study, moreover, will improve the precise fossil pollen identification, which is critical for advancing Quaternary palaeoecology in India and also in similar tropical and subtropical areas of the globe.

Pollen heteromorphism in Schleichera Lour. (Sapindaceae), observed in surface soil samples from central India

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2021

Angiosperms display striking variation of pollen morphological features within and between populations of the same species, as well as within individual plants. We describe and illustrate variation of pollen aperture number, which is called pollen heteromorphism, in Schleichera Lour. (Sapindaceae) from surface soil samples collected from central India, based on combined observations from light microscopy (LM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Tri-zono-parasyncolporoidate pollen grains are, in general, known to occur in Schleichera Lour., but occasional tetra-zono-parasyncolporoidate pollen is also recorded, for the first time, from Chhattisgarh State, central India. Changes in ploidy level (diploidy/polyploidy), chromosome number, the C-value of DNA, completion of meiosis, as well as environmental factors and/or pollination ecology could be driving the occurrence of pollen heteromorphism. The present study could provide insights into the phylogeny and systematics, and has implications for pollen preservation as well.

Pollen Dimorphism of Several Members of Nymphaeaceae and Nelumbonaceae: An Index of Geographical and Ecological Variation

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2012

Pollen morphology of five Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) species, growing in Tripura, India were analysed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Pollen grains of Nymphaea are dimorphic (ellipsoidal and spheroidal). The exine pattern also varies among the species. The variation as reported in the present study in terms of exine pattern of the studied species suggests the feasibility of applying the data in the identification of the genus of Nymphaea. The difference in exine patterns with the earlier reports may be interpreted as reflections of genetic variations possibly due to mutational changes effected by ecological conditions. The present pollen dimorphism may be attributed by introgression of populations. The variability in pollen morphology, including size variation and morphological differences, is often associated with hybrids among angiosperm groups. The examinations of percentages of aborted grains, generally considered a good indicator of hybridity. The occurrence of monosulcate pollens in Nelumbo nucifera along with dominant tricolpate pollens may be considered as aberrant pollens because of very low percentage of occurrence of monosulcate pollens. The ecological and geographical variations in pollen morphology could be an index of the genetic impact of the environment on the plant. Thus the present difference in terms of exine pattern could be useful to separate them at varietal level.

Morpho-palynological study of Cyperaceae from wetlands of Azad Jammu and Kashmir using SEM and LM

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2018

In this study 12 species of Cyperaceae have been studied for quantitative and qualitative observation of pollen grains through Light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollens of 12 species of Cyperaceae from different wetlands of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were collected. Morphological characters of pollen grains were then investigated under the Light and Scanning electron microscope. Two pollen types have been observed apolar and heteropolar. Shape of pollens was prolate (4 spp), sub-spheroidal (7 spp), and oblate (1 spp). Variation observed in exine sculpturing granular (4 spp), reticulate (1 spp), areolate-punctate (3 spp), and psilate (2 spp). Polar to equatorial ratio and fertility percentage of the pollens were also studied. Based on these micromorphlogical characters of pollens taxonomic keys have been made for the accurate identification of the members of Cyperaceae. The characteristics studied in present research work are very much valuable taxonomically and phytochemically for the identification of species of family Cyperaceae. Light microscope (LM) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for pollen observation, which play vital role in the taxonomical identification of species and provide sufficient information for taxonomist.

Food plants and foraging distances for the native bee Lasioglossum sordidum in Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2017
NEW ZEAL J ECOL

With concerns about declines in pollinating bee species worldwide, there is renewed interest in solitary native bee species and their role in pollination services. We studied the foraging preferences and foraging distances of Lasioglossum sordidum (Halictidae), New Zealand’s smallest solitary bee, in urban Christchurch. Lasioglossum sordidum were abundant within the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Pollen samples taken from 40 bees at each of two nest sites were identified using a pollen reference collection from the sites. Bees were collecting pollen from both native and exotic plants. In total, pollen from 23 different plant taxa was found, but 96% came from five taxa: Asteraceae (65%), Hebe spp. (16%), Aesculus spp. (8%), Yucca baccata (3%) and Taraxacum officinale (3%). Individual bees usually specialised in a few pollen types, with 74% of bees having >90% of a single pollen type and a mean of 2.6 pollen types per bee. The minimum flight distances to the nearest sources of each pollen type were typically 70–250 m. These easily overlooked bees may be assisting more in general pollination services given the diversity of plant taxa from which the bees were collecting pollen, the variation from bee to bee in the plant taxa collected, and the sometimes considerable minimum foraging distances exhibited.

Holocene history of a raised bog, northern New Zealand, based on plant cuticles

Article

Jul 2016

We present a method for analysing subfossil plant cuticles preserved in peat and apply the method to provide a preliminary, coarse resolution reconstruction of Holocene vegetation history at Moanatuatua Bog, northern North Island, New Zealand. The plant cuticle record reveals the early-Holocene development of a swamp and its transition to a raised bog, which is not apparent from other proxies. Comparison with a pollen record from the same sequence highlights the advantages of plant cuticle analysis in cases where pollen is hard to identify or poorly preserved. In particular, distinguishing between the pollen grains of the two main bog species, the restiads Empodisma robustum and Sporadanthus ferrugineus, relies on subtle gradational characteristics, whereas their cuticular patterns are very distinct. Furthermore, Cyperaceae pollen is poorly preserved at Moanatuatua Bog, being almost completely absent, whereas the Cyperaceae cuticles are present throughout the sequence. Therefore, we suggest that Cyperaceae pollen at this site is a less reliable indicator of local sedge communities than the cuticle record. The wide dispersal capabilities of these wind-dispersed pollen types also make them less suitable for determining local site vegetation and environmental change in comparison with cuticle remains. These results suggest that plant cuticle analysis may be a useful tool for the reconstruction of long-term vegetation changes from peat sequences, especially when used in concert with palynology. Sample preparation also proved to be fast with little equipment or chemicals needed.

Various Pollen Morphology in Hibiscus syriacus

Article

Sep 2015

The taxonomic importance of pollen morphology in family Malvaceae had long been acknowledged as it provides the basis for palynological and phylogenetic analysis. In present study, pollen morphological characteristics of various Hibiscus syriacus cultivars were examined. The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive evidence on pollen morphology and to determine pollen morphological diversity in cultivars of H. syriacus that would be useful for plant taxonomy and classification. To get a clear insights of the pollen morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out. It has been recorded that the pollen diameter of 16 cultivars of H. syriacus ranges from 108.81 to 172.15 • Ïm. The maximum pollen size was reported from the cultivar 'Chongdansim' followed by the cultivar 'Paedal'. The maximum spine exine length was reported from 'Jabae' (25.29 µm) followed by 'Collie mullens' (23.25 µm), whereas the minimum value was recorded from 'Paedal' (8.16 µm). It is apparent from this study that pollen morphology of various H. syriacus cultivars was fairly uniform, and in almost all studied cultivars the pollen shape was spheroi-dal. The spines were present in all studied cultivars and varied considerably among the cultivars. The pollen spine features presented notable variations which were of great significance at both specific and generic levels, and has also been helpful in understanding the process of spine evolution within H. syriacus. The maximum distance between spines was observed from cultivar 'Gyewolhyang' that had distance of 45.03 µm. The morphological characteristics of pollen studied in this study could be useful in performing a more efficient Hibiscus hybridization and breeding in future.

Various Pollen Morphology in Hibiscus syriacus

Article

Jan 2015

The taxonomic importance of pollen morphology in family Malvaceae had long been acknowledged as it provides the basis for palynological and phylogenetic analysis. In present study, pollen morphological characteristics of various Hibiscus syriacus cultivars were examined. The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive evidence on pollen morphology and to determine pollen morphological diversity in cultivars of H. syriacus that would be useful for plant taxonomy and classification. To get a clear insights of the pollen morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out. It has been recorded that the pollen diameter of 16 cultivars of H. syriacus ranges from 108.81 to 172.15 • Ïm. The maximum pollen size was reported from the cultivar 'Chongdansim' followed by the cultivar 'Paedal'. The maximum spine exine length was reported from 'Jabae' (25.29 µm) followed by 'Collie mullens' (23.25 µm), whereas the minimum value was recorded from 'Paedal' (8.16 µm). It is apparent from this study that pollen morphology of various H. syriacus cultivars was fairly uniform, and in almost all studied cultivars the pollen shape was spheroi-dal. The spines were present in all studied cultivars and varied considerably among the cultivars. The pollen spine features presented notable variations which were of great significance at both specific and generic levels, and has also been helpful in understanding the process of spine evolution within H. syriacus. The maximum distance between spines was observed from cultivar 'Gyewolhyang' that had distance of 45.03 µm. The morphological characteristics of pollen studied in this study could be useful in performing a more efficient Hibiscus hybridization and breeding in future.

Pollen – A microscopic wonder of plant kingdom

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2014

Stephen A.

Palynology is a century old science and there are many opportunities for its practical application. The study of the symmetry, polarity, shape, size, structure, sculpture and of the apertures of the sporoderm can be very useful to many other sciences (Botany, Oceanography, Limnology, Pedology, Geology, Paleontology, Ecology, Melittology, Entomology, Archaeology, Aerobiology, Allergology, Criminology, etc.). Pollen is an indicator which enables researchers to study the phytogeography of the past, plant evolution, climates, rock and soil characteristics, air pollution levels, plant-insect relationships and the botanical and geographical origin of bee products

The Bases of Angiosperm Phylogeny: Palynology

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1975

The field of palynology is reviewed in terms of its contributions to angiosperm systematics and phylogeny. Principal pollen characters which are phylogenetically useful at higher taxonomic levels (including aperture type, pollen wall architecture, pollen-unit, polarity, symmetry, shape, and grain size), and their evolutionary trends are examined. Many palynological characters and concepts are subjected to re-examination, particularly in an evolutionary-phylogenetic context. An attempt is made to show how pollen characters correlate with various higher categories of the Takhtajan and Cronquist systems of angiosperm classification and to outline certain phylogenetic tends observed in the pollen of different groups of angiosperms. With some exceptions, pollen morphology is consistent with the levels of relative advancement and the relationships postulated in the Takhtajan and Cronquist systems. Angiosperm pollen grains are clearly divisible into two fundamentally different types (each with its own derivatives): heteropolar, bilateral, boat-shaped monosulcate pollen versus isopolar, radiosymmetric, globose tricolpate pollen. "Gymnospermous" monosulcate pollen and derivative types (ulcerate, disulculate, etc) characterize both the putatively primitive dicotyledonous subclass Magnoliidae and the monocotyledons. The six non-magnoliid dicotyledonous subclasses, on the other hand, are characterized by tricolpate pollen and derivative types (tricolporate, triporate, rugate etc.). Relatively primitive tricolpate pollen is retained by many Ranunculidae, Caryophyllidae, and "lower' Hamamelididae. The Dilleniidae (except Dilleniaceae) and Rosidae are somewhat more advanced in having basically compound-aperturate tricolporate pollen. The subclass Asteridae, which retains indications of a rosid ancestry, exhibits the greatest array of specialized pollen types. The most important palynological contradiction of the Takhtajan and Cronquist systems is the fact that the highly specialized, basically triporate pollen of the "higher" Hamamelididae (Amentiferae) can be more directly related to triangular tricolporate pollen of the Rosidae than to the tricolpate pollen of the "lower" Hamamelididae. Briefer sections of the paper deal with pollen technique and the major reference works of systematic palynology.

Anatomical and molecular systematics of Asteliaceae and Hypoxidaceae

Article

Full-text available

May 1998

Paula J. Rudall

Consider the lilies - systematics of Liliales

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 2000

New Circumscriptions and a New Family of Asparagoid Lilies: Genera Formerly included in Anthericaceae

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1996

Both molecular and morphological data have indicated that the family Anthericaceae sensu lato is polyphytetic. For example, some members have successive microsporogenesis, while others have simultaneous microsporogenesis. Anthericaceae and Lomandraceae are here formally recircumscribed. Anthericaceae sensu stricto now includes only eight genera. Lomandraceae has fifteen genera in two informal groups; the Lomandra-group and the arthropodioids, representing genera formerly in four different families. The tribe Boryeae is raised to family status (Boryaceae). A broad concept of Phormiaceae is presented, including all the genera with trichotomosulcate pollen and Hemevocallis. The relationships of other genera are discussed. New observations on ovule structure are presented, together with a summary of existing evidence necessitating rearrangements of these taxa.

A late Early Pleistocene tephrochronological and pollen record from Auckland, New Zealand

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2005

A late Early Pleistocene pollen record was obtained from a coastal site in Auckland, New Zealand. A combination of isothermal plateau fission track ages on interbedded tephras, palaeomagnetism, palynostratigraphy and orbital tuning to the marine oxygen isotope record of Ocean Drilling Program Site 677 constrained the age of the topmost 28 m of sediments to c. 1.4-1.0 Ma (Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 45-28). For this interval a diverse pollen record consisting of mostly extant pollen types shows multiple compositional shifts from a Nothofagus-dominated to conifer-dominated regional vegetation. These shifts are broadly correlated to changes in the marine oxygen isotope record. The inferred climate was moist, temperate, stable, and cooler than at present, but never as cool as the last glacial maximum. A permanent increase in Nothofagus forest in the region after MIS 35 seems to be related to a long-term palaeoclimatic shift that probably included greater temperature extremes between warm and cool stages and decreases in humidity and increased seasonality during cool stages. Although the Patiki pollen record predates the mid-Pleistocene revolution by c. 100 ka, the nature of climate change itself was already in transition, and becoming more similar to the climate regime experienced in northern New Zealand in the Late Pleistocene.

Leaf fossils of Luzuriaga and a monocot flower with in situ pollen of Liliacidites contortus Mildenh. & Bannister sp. nov. (Alstroemeriaceae) from the Early Miocene

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2014
AM J BOT

The Foulden Maar lake sediments in Otago, South Island, New Zealand, date to the earliest Miocene and provide an important picture of the diversity of the Australasian biota, paleoecology, and climate at a time when New Zealand had a smaller land area than today. The diverse rainforest contains many taxa now restricted to Australia, New Caledonia, or South America. The presence of Luzuriaga-like fossils in these deposits is important for understanding Alstroemeriaceae evolution and the biogeography of genera shared between New Zealand and South America. Leaves and a flower with in situ pollen that resemble extant Luzuriaga are described and placed phylogenetically. Geographic range information and a molecular clock model for the Alstroemeriaceae were used to investigate possible biogeographic scenarios and the influence of the new fossil on inferred divergence times. LUZURIAGA PETERBANNISTERI Conran, Bannister, Mildenh., & D.E.Lee sp. nov. represents the first macrofossil record for Alstroemeriaceae. An associated Luzuriaga-like flower with in situ fossil pollen of Liliacidites contortus Mildenh. & Bannister sp. nov. is also described. The biogeographic analysis suggests that there have been several dispersal events across the Southern Ocean for the genus, with the fossil representing a now-extinct New Zealand lineage. LUZURIAGA was present in Early Miocene New Zealand, indicating a long paleogeographic history for the genus, and L. peterbannisteri strengthens biogeographic connections between South America and Australasia during the Oligocene and earliest Miocene.

A one-year pollen trapping study in Westland and Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

Article

Jun 1991

P. M. Randall

A one year pollen trapping study across the Southern Alps, New Zealand, is described. A specially-designed trap collected pollen from seven forested and non-forested sites during all four seasons of the year from October 1987 to September 1988. The accumulation rates of the pollen of broadleaved angiosperm trees (Metrosideros umbellata, Quintinia acutifolia and Weinmannia racemosa) were most concentrated near their source, but declined rapidly a few hundred metres away. Metrosideros pollen had the highest accumulation rate of all the taxa studied. More Nothofagus fusca type pollen was collected from the grassland sites than in the forested areas. The pollens of herbaceous species were scarce in forested areas. Pollens of local taxa were most frequent, especially in redeposited material. Redeposition contributed a relatively small part of the annual pollen deposition.

The New Zealand species of Libertia (Iridaceae)

Article

Jun 1967

L. B. Moore

Specific criteria in Libertia are described. Seven specific epithets have been applied to New Zealand plants and the types of these are discussed. The four species accepted and compared, with notes on distribution and intraspecific variation, are: L. ixioides (Forst. f.) Spreng. (12-ploid); L. grandiflora (R. Br.) Sweet (hexaploid); L. pulchella (R. Br.) Spreng. (diploid); L. peregrinans Ckn. et Allan (hexaploid). All are endemic except L. pulchella, which is recorded also from Australia, including Tasmania, and from the mountains of New Guinea.

Taxonomic implication of palynological characters in genus Malva L., family Malvaceae from Pakistan

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2009

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of a well-preserved Stage 7 forest sequence catastrophically buried by basaltic eruptive deposits, northern New Zealand

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2006
QUATERNARY SCI REV

Forest remnants, buried by catastrophically emplaced volcanic deposits, are identified on the shores of the Manukau Harbour, in northern New Zealand. Carbonaceous muds associated with the fossil forest were investigated through a combination of stratigraphy, chronology and palaeoecological proxies. The fossil forest was destroyed and buried by phreatomagmatic explosions from the adjacent Maungataketake Volcano. Small trees (<1 m diameter) in position of growth are observed extending 1–2 m upwards into the overlying volcanic deposits. The lowermost part of the phreatomagmatic succession contains well-preserved leaf fossils and small fallen logs and branches, many of which were incorporated into the phreatomagmatic succession during the initial eruptive phase. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of the phreatomagmatic succession together with palaeoecological evidence for interglacial climate suggests deposition in late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7. This extends the known age of volcanism in the Auckland Volcanic Field by up to 40 ka.

New Microfossil Approaches and Multi-Proxy Analysis Reveal Precontact Polynesian Translocations and Plant Use, Marquesas Islands

Article

Jun 2023

Pollen and phytoliths in archaeological features from North Island, New Zealand, reveal landscape disturbance and cultivation of Polynesian-introduced Cordyline cf. fruticosa (ti)

Article

Nov 2022

The study of pre-European Māori agriculture in New Zealand is hindered by a lack of direct evidence in the form of plant remains. Presented here are the results of pollen and phytolith analyses of three archaeological excavations at Auckland Isthmus, Cambridge, and northern Taranaki. All sites show landscape disturbance by people, and the discovery of pollen of the Māori-introduced cultigen Cordyline cf. fruticosa (ti), suggesting that this species had a wide geographic range, well beyond that considered climatically limited by early ethnographic accounts. The pollen of C. fruticosa can be identified in the Pacific Islands, including New Zealand which has several endemic Cordyline species. The study describes this pollen type and reviews the locations and types of both macro- and microfossils of C. fruticosa previously reported in the Pacific Island region.

Scanning electron imaging of mellitophilous and allergenic pollen grain of arid and northern irrigated agroecological zones of Pakistan

Article

Mar 2021

Palynomorphic studies of 65 common mellitophilous and 16 allergenic flora of Arid and Northern irrigated agroecological zones of Pakistan are carried out in this study by using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Mellitophilous pollen were extracted from honey samples of selected sites. For collection of local allergenic pollen, previously identified allergy‐causing plants were selected. Pollen morphological examination was carried out under FESEM. Diverse range of pollen shapes ranging from monad to polyad and sculpturing ranging from psilate to echinate, scabrate to reticulate, bireticulate, or echinolophate were observed. Brassicaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, and Poaceae were observed to be dominant allergenic and mellitophilous families of the selected sites. Allergenic pollen and honey samples collection Melliferous pollen extraction from honey samples Allergenic and melliferous pollen preparation for field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) studies Taxonomic studies of allergenic and melliferous pollen and their sculpturing using FESEM Development of detailed allergenic and melliferous pollen spectrum Diverse range of the pollen shapes were observed ranging from monad to polyad Pollen sculpturing ranging from psilate to echinate, scabrate to reticulate, bireticulate or echinolophate were observed. Brassicaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, and Poaceae families were observed to be dominant allergenic and mellitophilous families of arid and northern irrigated agro ecological zones of Pakistan Pollen sculpturing ranging from psilate to echinate, scabrate to reticulate, bireticulate or echinolophate were observed. Brassicaceae, Myrtaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae, and Poaceae families were observed to be dominant allergenic and mellitophilous families of arid and northern irrigated agro ecological zones of Pakistan

Glossário de Termos usados em Morfologia Polínica

Technical Report

Full-text available

Jan 2012

Paula Fernanda Queiroz

Evolution of Angiosperm Pollen. 3. Monocots

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2015

Monocots, with ca. 65,000 species in 78 families and 12 orders as classified by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III, 2009), have traditionally been known as a distinct assemblage from dicots within angiosperms and are now seen as a lineage that diverged from within the more basal of the angiosperm groupings. In this study, the third in a series analyzing pollen characters across the angiosperms, we illustrate the pollen morphological diversity of monocots and analyze 19 palynological and two ecological characters for 120 taxa in 71 families covering the 12 monocot orders and 16 taxa of nine orders in basal angiosperms. Pollen morphological data from previous works and our investigations were optimized onto a new maximum likelihood tree reconstructed from an existing DNA matrix of Chase et al. (2006) using Fitch parsimony, maximum likelihood, and hierarchical Bayesian analysis. From these analyses we infer evolutionary patterns in palynological characters, assess their systematic value, and investigate two aspects (pollination type and habitat moisture) of their ecological adaptation. The highest levels of pollen variation were shown to exist in the Alismatales and Commelinales, with lower levels seen in the Asparagales, Dasypogonales, and Zingiberales; the most variable characters across the phylogeny were found to be pollen outline in polar view, size, and tectum extent. We infer unambiguous plesiomorphic states for monocots and report significant transitions in character states at various levels within the monocot assemblage. Analyses of correlated evolution reconfirmed the hypothesis of an association between exine reduction (or complete loss) and habitat moisture and found significant correlations between various states of exine loss and habitat for hydrophytic–helophytic plants. The presence or absence of the exine itself was found to be more significantly correlated than individual structures, in terms of association with hydrophytic–helophytic plants. The most rapid rate of state changes in pollen characters, in the evolutionary history of monocots, is estimated to have occurred during the Albian-Turonian stage; our work may provide insights into the identification of enigmatic fossil pollen grains from this geological time.

Pollen Structure and Diversity in Liliales

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2015

Premise of research. Family relationships in the monocot order Liliales have been revised recently, so that the order now consists of 10 families of geophytes and climbers, with unusually diverse pollen morphology. Corsiaceae are sometimes placed as sister to all other Liliales, probably allied with Campynemataceae. Relationships of the wild card family Petermanniaceae are unresolved. The remaining seven families are arranged in three clades. Methodology. We use SEM and TEM to describe the pollen of representatives of all 10 families of Liliales in order to investigate pollen character evolution. Pivotal results. Liliales pollen is unusually diverse in size (10-<80 μm), shape (mostly ellipsoidal, or circular to oval), apertures, and surface patterning. Apertures are predominantly monosulcate but frequently inaperturate; disulculate, trisulcate, monoporate (or ulcerate), and diporate forms also occur in different taxa. The sulcus or pore is often indistinct and may be covered by an operculum or areolae. Surface sculpturing ranges from perforate, reticulate, rugulate, striate, and crotonoid to types with raised elements, including scabrate, pilate, gemmate, and echinate. The exine is usually tectate-perforate or semitectate and columellate, though it can be reduced to granules or echini on top of a lamellated endexine. Conclusions. Our study indicates a strong potential correlation between pollen size and genome size. Some pollen characters appear to have evolved iteratively (e.g., operculate apertures). On the basis of character optimizations, the plesiomorphic pollen conditions for Liliales are probably small grain size, reticulate surface sculpturing, and a single elongated aperture.

Flowering Plants · Monocotyledons

Chapter

Jan 1998

Perennials, caespitose or rhizomatous, terrestrial, herbaceous or shrubby; aerial stems prostrate or to about 2 m tall. Leaves distributed along elongated or shortened stems or only in terminal tufts, distichous with sheathing bases which are usually keeled and strongly compressed, occasionally rounded. Inflorescence terminal, of a solitary flower or a variously branched panicle; flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic (Phormium and Hemerocallis), articulated on pedicels; perianth wholly or partially marcescent, not twisting after anthesis (except Agrostocrinum, Pasithea and Xeronema); tepals 6, free or shortly united into a tube, the whorls subequal or the inner slightly longer than the outer; stamens 6, free or slightly connate at the base; if free, hypogynous or inserted on tepal bases, if connate, 3 hypogynous and 3 affixed to the tepals (Eccremis); anther filaments ornamented or unornamented; anthers basifixed or peltate, dehiscing latrorsely by pores or slits, erect or recurved, especially after anthesis; ovary syncarpous, superior, half-inferior (Pasithea) and either 3- or 1-locular; style simple, terminating in a small capitate stigma or tuft of short hairs; septal nectaries except in Phormium and Hemerocallis; ovules anatropous, on axile or parietal placentas; ovules 1-numerous per placenta. Fruit a berry or capsule; seeds black without an elaiosome.

Flowering Plants · Monocotyledons

Chapter

Jan 1998

Perennial, short stemmed herbs, often rhizomatous, occasionally epiphytic; dioecious, gynodioecious or hermaphroditic (Milligania). Leaves spirally arranged, with open or closed sheaths and linear to lanceolate laminas, usually densely pubescent, at least when young, sometimes whitish to silvery, woolly, especially on the broadened base. Inflorescences terminal, composed of racemes, few-flowered in some spp., sometimes densely covered with silky-woolly, whitish to silvery hairs. Flowers trimerous or up to heptamerous, pedicellate without articulation to sessile, actinomorphic, pentacyclic. Tepals in 2 whorls, free or basally fused, membranous and bractlike or fleshy. Stamens 6, filaments free or basally adnate to tepals in Milligania Anthers dorsifixed to basifixed, longitudinally dehiscent, introrse; female flowers with staminodes. Ovary superior, 3(-7)-carpellate, trilocular with axile placentation, or rarely (in Astelia section Astelia) unilocular with parietal placentation; mucilage-secreting intraovarian trichomes often present (Astelia, Collospermum); septal nectaries present; ovules several per locule, anatropous, funicles hairy in some species; styluli short (Milligania) or lacking; stigmas usually (sub-)sessile, sometimes confluent; male flowers with pistillodes, or sometimes bearing (sub-)fertile ovules. Fruit a berry, or capsule in Milligania, few-to many-seeded. Seeds more or less ovate, often angular, sometimes embedded in mucilaginous hairs; testa hard, black; endosperm abundant.

Flowering Plants · Monocotyledons

Chapter

Jan 1998

John G Conran

Tendriliferous climbers, or rarely twiners or shrubs or vines with perennial or rarely annual, sometimes spiny, aerial shoots up to many metres long from short, woody rhizomes with fibrous roots. Leaves alternate, opposite or verticillate, distichously or decussately arranged, petiolate, paired tendrils mostly present; blades entire, oblong-ovate to ovate or linear-lanceolate, main veins prominent, 3–7, venation distinctly reticulate. Inflorescence axillary or terminal panicles, simple or compound racemes, spikes or ebracteate umbels. Flowers dioecious or hermaphroditic, erect, actinomorphic, hypogynous; pedicels subtended by small scales; tepals in 2 petaloid trimerous whorls, free or fused to form a deep tube (Heterosmilax), with basal nectaries, white, cream, green or reddish. Stamens 3–12 (Heterosmilax) or 6, in 1–3 whorls, filaments free or connate below or for the whole length (Heterosmilax spp.); anthers basifixed, latrorse to introrse, dehiscing longitudinally, bisporangiate (Smilacoideae) or tetrasporangiate (Ripogonoideae). Gynoecium of 3 united carpels, rarely unicarpellate (Smilax); ovary 3-locular with basal or axile placentae; styluli short, spreading, rarely a rudimentary style; ovules atropous or anatropous, borne singly or paired in each loculus. Fruit a black, purple or red berry. Seeds single to several, globose to ovoid-angular, pale yellow to dark brown; embryo minute to 2/3 the length of the seed, linear to capitate; endosperm copious, starchy (Ripogonum) or starchless.

Le pollen du Palmier à huile Elæis guineensis L.

Article

Jul 2014

Marius Chadefaud

Thismia hongkongensis (Thismiaceae): A new mycoheterotrophic species from Hong Kong, China, with observations on floral visitors and seed dispersal

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2015

A new species, Thismia hongkongensis S.S.Mar & R.M.K.Saunders, is described from Hong Kong. It is most closely related to Thismia brunonis Griff. from Myanmar, but differs in the number of flowers per inflorescence, the colour of the perianth tube, the length of the filaments, and the shape of the stigma lobes. We also provide inferences on the pollination ecology and seed dispersal of the new species, based on field observations and interpretations of morphology. The flowers are visited by fungus gnats (Myctophilidae or Sciaridae) and scuttle flies (Phoridae), which are likely to enter the perianth tube via the annulus below the filiform tepal appendages, and exit via small apertures between the filaments of the pendent stamens. The flowers are inferred to be protandrous, and flies visiting late-anthetic (pistillate-phase) flowers are possibly trapped within the flower, increasing chances of pollen deposition on the receptive stigma. The seeds are likely to be dispersed by rain splash.

Características morfológicas dos Grãos de Polem das principais Plantas Apícolas

Article

Full-text available

Jan 1963

Clóvis Ferraz de Oliveira Santos

Descrevemos, no presente trabalho, as características morfológicas dos grãos de polem de 78 espécies apícolas mais conhecidas, os quais, na sua maioria, não haviam sido ainda descritos. Após esses estudos, elaboramos uma chave para a identificação e comparação, pelo polem, das espécies estudadas. As 78 espécies estudadas pertencem a 68 gêneros e distribuem-se por 28 famílias, sendo 3 subordinadas à classe Monocotyledoneae e as 25 restantes à classe Dicotyledoneae. O material polínico para a preparação das lâminas foi, na sua maioria, colhido diretamente das anteras das flores recém-abertas, no laboratório, somente seis espécies provieram de material de herbário. Todo o material polínico foi tratado pelo método de acetólise, e montado em geléia de glicerina colorida com Fucsina básica. As observações microscópicas e as mensurações dos grãos de polem foram feitas com o auxílio de um microscópico Zeiss, tomando-se as medidas em 5 grãos de polem, em vista equatorial, e 5 em vista polar. Empregamos a chave-principal para as classes de polem segundo FAEGRI e IVERSEN (1950) para separar em grupos os grãos de polem estudados de acordo com as suas características morfológicas, dando em resultado 10 grupos distintos. As espécies pertencentes a cada um dos 10 grupos, foram separadas por outros caracteres considerados de valor para tais separações. Assim, sempre na mesma ordem, foram considerados: a escultura da exina, tamanho do grão de polem, área polar e largura dos sulcos (nos grão colpados), tipo e número de espículos por área (nos grãos equinados). Isso nos possibilitou elaborar uma chave de identificação pelo podem das espécies estudadas. Os resultados nos mostram que a maioria das espécies apícolas estudadas apresentam grãos tricolporados, os quais ocorrem freqüentemente entre as Dicotiledôneas superiores, tais como Compositae, Cucurbitaceae, Labiatae, Verbenaceae, Myrtaceae, Legu-minosae (Caesalpinoideae e Papilionoidae) e Cruciferae. Verifica-se, também, que há famílias cujo tamanho dos grãos de polem e outros caracteres morfológicos são mais ou menos uniformes, e outros, bem mais variáveis. A presença de espículos é mais comum nas Compositae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae. A família Myrtaceae é mais facilmente reconhecida pela uniformidade de seus caracteres. A família Compositae, apesar de ter grãos de polem de tamanho mais ou menos variável, apresenta-os do tipo tricolporado e com espículos. A introdução das características de largura dos sulcos meridionais, em relação aos intersulcos quando em vista polar, contribui bastante para a identificação dos grãos de polem.

The late Quaternary decline and extinction of palms on Oceanic Pacific islands

Article

Dec 2008

Late Quaternary palaeoecological records of palm decline, extirpation and extinction are explored from the oceanic islands of the Pacific Ocean. Despite the severe reduction of faunal diversity coincidental with human colonisation of these previously uninhabited oceanic islands, relatively few plant extinctions have been recorded. At low taxonomic levels, recent faunal extinctions on oceanic islands are concentrated in larger bodied representatives of certain genera and families. Fossil and historic records of plant extinction show a similar trend with high representation of the palm family, Arecaceae. Late Holocene decline of palm pollen types is demonstrated from most islands where there are palaeoecological records including the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, the Hawaiian Islands, the Juan Fernandez Islands and Rapanui. A strong correspondence between human impact and palm decline is measured from palynological proxies including increased concentrations of charcoal particles and pollen from cultivated plants and invasive weeds. Late Holocene extinctions or extirpations are recorded across all five of the Arecaceae subfamilies of the oceanic Pacific islands. These are most common for the genus Pritchardia but also many sedis fossil palm types were recorded representing groups lacking diagnostic morphological characters.

Pollen grains of New Zealand dicotyledonous plants

Article

Feb 1995
REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO

Mary E. Dettmann

Triporate pollen in Arecaceae

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2003
GRANA

Triapertury is rare in monocotyledons. The well-defined, regularly spaced, circular porate apertures that occur in Arecaceae: Areca klingkangensis from Borneo, and species of the West African genus Sclerosperma, appear to be unique in monocotyledons. There is evidence to suggest that tripory in Arecaceae has been derived from trichotomosulcy, although in Areca equatorial zonosulcy may have an important role. The apical triporate, and zonosulcate pollen of Areca are described, as well as examples of mono- and trichotomosulcate pollen within the genus. The sub-apical distal triporate pollen of Sclerosperma gilletii and S. mannii are described. Notably, in Sclerosperma pollen, aperture position at post-meiotic tetrad stage follows the rare 'Garside's rule' (four groups of three apertures), previously only demonstrated for Proteaceae and Olacaceae. Possible reasons for the occurrence of these rare triporate pollen phenomena in palms are considered. The bearing this may have on the transition from the distal polar position of the single sulcus, to the radial symmetry of the triaperturate condition in many dicotyledons is discussed in comparison with other examples of triapertury in monocotyledons.

Beiträge zur Pollenmorphologie der Iridaceae und ihre Bedeutung für die Taxonomie

Article

Apr 2008

W. Schulze

Es wurden 55 Gattungen der Iridaceae pollenmorphologisch untersucht. Die festgestellten Besonderheiten in den Aperturen, sowie der Struktur und Skulptur der Exine sind brauchbare Merkmale für die Taxonomie der Familie. Auf der Grundlage der pollenmorphologischen Untersuchungsergebnisse und unter Berücksichtigung zahlreicher weiterer Merkmale, wird folgende Gliederung der Iridaceae vorgeschlagen. Fifty-five genera of the Iridaceae were pollen morphologically investigated. The particularities stated in the apertures as well as the structure and sculpture of the exine are useful characteristics for the taxonomy of the family. On the base of the results of pollen morphological investigations and considering numerous further characteristics, a new arrangement of the Iridaceae is proposed.

Evolutionary significance and botanical relationships of Cretaceous angiosperm pollen in the western Canadian interior

Article

Aug 2010

A sequence of angiosperm pollen from the subsurface of southeastern Alberta can be grouped into six distinct palynofloral suites that span Albian to Campanian age strata. These angiosperm pollen species were a part of a terrestrial flora that often was dominated by pteridophyte and gymnosperm taxa. Marine phytoplankton is abundant throughout most of the interval studied, and it provides accurate dating of certain evolutionary or migrational events of the terrestrial flora.The proposed botanical relationships suggest that at least 60% of the total angiosperm flora is represented by taxa whose extant counterparts are distributed in tropical to subtropical regions of the world.Certain evolutionary trends, including aperture type and major exine morphology, suggest that by Middle Campanian time, angiosperm pollen had evolved most of the principal aperture configurations and surface features presently observed in extant angiosperm pollen. These two trends are consistent and distinct enough to establish an evolutionary sequence of pollen morphology for western Canadian Cretaceous sediments.

Pollen diversity in Cyperaceae

Article

Apr 2008
S AFR J BOT

A Preliminary Investigation of a Lower to Middle Eocene Palynoflora from Pine Island, Florida, USA

Article

Dec 2010

A small but diverse assemblage of pollen, spores and marine phytoplankton recovered from a single, lignitic clay sample of the lower to middle Eocene strata from a deep injection well on Pine Island, Florida represents the oldest land flora described from the state. The assemblage contains 17 terrestrial forms and four to five brackish to marine forms of dinoflagellate cysts or algal taxa. Angiosperm pollen forms are comparable to extant taxa including the palms, Bombacacidites (Bombacaceae), Corsinipollenites (Onagraceae), Milfordia (Restioniaceae), Tiliaepollenites (Tiliaceae), and Retitricolporites sp. (Lisianthius Gentianaceae). These suggested affinities point to a mild, warm-temperate to subtropical, probably lowland, environment. No new pollen taxa are described. This is the earliest report of terrestrial vegetation and near marine vegetation of Florida and documents the presence of a Florida landmass during the early Eocene.

On the Pollen Morphology of the Centrolepidaceae, Restionaceae and Flagellariaceae, with Special Reference to Taxonomy

Article

Jan 1966

Sunirmal Chanda

New Zealand pollen studies. The monocotyledons

No full-text available

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