Pollen morphology of Patrinieae Hock (Valerianaceae)

Abstract

Pollen grains of 17 taxa (14 species with two additional subspecies and one variety) of genera Patrinia Juss. and Nardostachys DC. in tribe Patrinieae (Valerianaceae) were studied using light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Pollen grains are medium (37.41 × 43.60 ㎛ - 45.65× 48.50 ㎛) to large (54.88 × 59.41 ㎛ - 61.70 × 71.00 ㎛) in size, tricolpate (rarely tetracolpate) with the characteristic halo surrounding the aperture. In equatorial view, the pollen is oblate to subprolate, and in polar view, it is mostly circular or rarely 3-lobed. Two major pollen types are recognized on the basis of exine sculpturing patterns; Type I: Exine is composed of echinae together with sparse or dense microechinae, and verrucae shallow or rarely absent (Nardostachys and sections Paleopatrinia, and Monanadropatrinia of Patirinia). - Type II: Exine is composed of massive echinae together with dense microechinae, and prominent verrucae (section Centrotrinia of Patrinia). In TEM sections, columellae are extended from the footlayer into verrucae, and exine thickness is uniform at the pole and equator. Additionally, the infrageneric classification systems of the Patrinieae were evaluated on the basis of the present data.