Pollen morphology of some selected plant species from Horton Plains, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The pollen morphology of four species: Gaultheria leschenaultii (Ericaceae), Psychotria zeylanica (Rubiaceae), Rubus leucocarpus (Rosaceae) and Symplocos bractealis (Symplocaceae) from Horton Plains, Sri Lanka was investigated using LM and SEM. Psychotria zeylanica is endemic to Sri Lanka and the other three taxa are common in Horton Plains. Gaultheria leschenaultii has tetrads with 3-colporate, coarsely granular to granulo-rugulate pollen grains; in the polar region and at the colpus margin the exine is smooth with micro-rugulate structure. Psychotria zeylanica has 3- (or 4-) colporate, reticulate-spinulose to granular pollen grains. Rubus leucocarpus has 3-colporate, striate-perforate pollen grains and Symplocos bractealis has 3- (or 4-) colporate pollen grains with a verrucate-perforate exine. Pollen grains of these four species are very indicative of human impact and palaeoclimate.