Das Überdauern von Pollenkörnern an reifen Getreidesamen: Beitrag zur Präzisierung einer Interpretation der pollenanalytischen Ergebnisse

Abstract

In order to improve the interpretation of the results of pollen analyses concerning mediaeval anthropogenous sediments a set of recent seeds of the principal cereals was pollenanalytically elaborated. The aim was to find out whether pollen grains can be preserved on mature seeds. The pollen spectra obtained from the material of mediaeval anthropogenous sediments include, in most cases, a large amount of pollen of certain plants including cereals. It is suggested that part of the pollen spectra from anthropogenous sediments need not come from air transport, i.e. from the surrounding vegetation; it could get into waste pits in another way. Above all, some foodstuffs were considered to be the sources of pollen grains. The origin of some grains coming from honey and from plant infusions has, at least partly, been demonstrated (Jankovska 1987). As the next step, attention was paid to other products, mainly those of cereals. An experimental pollen analysis of recent seeds of selected cereals showed that pollen grains are preserved on their surface, often in high concentrations. This is due, above all, to the cleistogamy of most cereals. The highest values of pollen grains have so far been found inAvena sativa andPanicum milliaceum. Triticum aestivum andHordeum vulgare showed lower values of pollen grains. The lowest amounts were found in heterogamousSecale cereale. Simultaneously, the pollen of plants growing in a neighbourhood, above all the pollen of field weeds, was found sticking to the seeds.