Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae)
In southern Africa, Boerhavia L. and Commicarpus Standl. are the most species-rich genera of the Nyctaginaceae. Hitherto, the pollen morphology of only three southern African species of each of these genera has been described. A palynological study of the remaining species is therefore necessary to...
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doaj-484b53155bb7475599ff60fa96c5582c2020-11-25T03:59:16ZengSouth African National Biodiversity InstitutBothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation0006-82412311-92842013-01-01431152210.4102/abc.v43i1.8280Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae)M. Struwig0S. J. Siebert1A. Jordaan2Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, PotchefstroomUnit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, PotchefstroomLaboratory for Electron Microscopy, North-West University, PotchefstroomIn southern Africa, Boerhavia L. and Commicarpus Standl. are the most species-rich genera of the Nyctaginaceae. Hitherto, the pollen morphology of only three southern African species of each of these genera has been described. A palynological study of the remaining species is therefore necessary to complete the information for the taxa. The pollen morphology of sixteen species was studied with light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. Pollen grains of Boerhavia and Commicarpus are uniform in shape and sculpturing. Grains are spheroidal and pantoporate, and the tectum tubuliferous and spinulose. Pollen grains of the Boerhavia are 52–91 μm in diameter and those of Commicarpus 52–129 μm. Spinules in both genera are 1–5 μm long. Pore plates have one or two spinules. In both genera the exine is 3.5–11.5 μm thick, the tectum 0.9–3.9 μm thick and the collumellae 0.6–2.8 μm long. Foot layers are 0.9–5.1 μm thick and the endexine is barely visible. Size variation of the pollen grain, pore diameter and exine thickness overlap and cannot be used to distinguish between the two genera or the individual species.https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/82AcetolysisBoerhaviaCommicarpusNamibiaNyctaginaceaePollen MorphologySEMSouth AfricaTEM |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
M. Struwig S. J. Siebert A. Jordaan |
spellingShingle |
M. Struwig S. J. Siebert A. Jordaan Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae) Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation Acetolysis Boerhavia Commicarpus Namibia Nyctaginaceae Pollen Morphology SEM South Africa TEM |
author_facet |
M. Struwig S. J. Siebert A. Jordaan |
author_sort |
M. Struwig |
title |
Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae) |
title_short |
Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae) |
title_full |
Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae) |
title_fullStr |
Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pollen morphology of members of southern African <i>Boerhavia</i> and <i>Commicarpus</i> (Nyctaginaceae) |
title_sort |
pollen morphology of members of southern african <i>boerhavia</i> and <i>commicarpus</i> (nyctaginaceae) |
publisher |
South African National Biodiversity Institut |
series |
Bothalia: African Biodiversity & Conservation |
issn |
0006-8241 2311-9284 |
publishDate |
2013-01-01 |
description |
In southern Africa, Boerhavia L. and Commicarpus Standl. are the most species-rich genera of the Nyctaginaceae. Hitherto, the pollen morphology of only three southern African species of each of these genera has been described. A palynological study of the remaining species is therefore necessary to complete the information for the taxa. The pollen morphology of sixteen species was studied with light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. Pollen grains of Boerhavia and Commicarpus are uniform in shape and sculpturing. Grains are spheroidal and pantoporate, and the tectum tubuliferous and spinulose. Pollen grains of the Boerhavia are 52–91 μm in diameter and those of Commicarpus 52–129 μm. Spinules in both genera are 1–5 μm long. Pore plates have one or two spinules. In both genera the exine is 3.5–11.5 μm thick, the tectum 0.9–3.9 μm thick and the collumellae 0.6–2.8 μm long. Foot layers are 0.9–5.1 μm thick and the endexine is barely visible. Size variation of the pollen grain, pore diameter and exine thickness overlap and cannot be used to distinguish between the two genera or the individual species. |
topic |
Acetolysis Boerhavia Commicarpus Namibia Nyctaginaceae Pollen Morphology SEM South Africa TEM |
url |
https://abcjournal.org/index.php/abc/article/view/82 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT mstruwig pollenmorphologyofmembersofsouthernafricaniboerhaviaiandicommicarpusinyctaginaceae AT sjsiebert pollenmorphologyofmembersofsouthernafricaniboerhaviaiandicommicarpusinyctaginaceae AT ajordaan pollenmorphologyofmembersofsouthernafricaniboerhaviaiandicommicarpusinyctaginaceae |
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