Abstract
A study of pollen morphology, in species of the genera Bauhinia and Phanera (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) which occur in the Brazilian caatinga, is presented. The pollen was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Samples were prepared by the KOH method; non-treated pollen grains were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains in Bauhinia species (11) are colpate, but porate in B. cheilantha and B. subclavata. All four species of Phanera present colporate pollen grains; P. outimouta is the only to have syncolporate pollen grains. Species of both genera present heteromorphism in the number of apertures. Excepting P. outimouta whose pollen grains are psilate, all species in the two genera present supratectal processes (gemmae/clavae), however the exine in the two genera are dif- ferent–semitectate, reticulate in Bauhinia species, and tectate, rugulate (or psilate) in Phanera ones. Pollen characters support the segregation of Phanera from Bauhinia.
Highlights
The family Leguminosae includes about 727 genera and 19,325 species, with cosmopolitan distribution and enormous economic importance [1]
Among Bauhinia species, pollen grain diameter can reach more than 160 μm in B. pentandra (Table 2)
Most species have angulaperturate pollen grains (e.g. Figures 1(B), (F); 2(K); 3(D), (I); 4(B); 5(B), (H), (K); 6(B), (I), (J)) whose size varies from medium (P. flexuosa, P. microstachya, and P. outimouta) to large (B. acuruana, B. catingae, B. bauhinioides, B. brevipes, B. cacovia, B. cheilantha, B. dumosa, B. forficata, and P. trichosepala) or very large (B. brevipes, B. catingae, B. cacovia, B. cheilantha, B. forficata, B. pentandra, B. pulchella, and B. subclavata) (Table 2)
Summary
The family Leguminosae includes about 727 genera and 19,325 species, with cosmopolitan distribution and enormous economic importance [1]. It is one of the most diverse families in most neotropical vegetation types, especially in the seasonally dry tropical forests [2]. It presents great morphological variation in both macro- and micro-morphological traits, including characters derived from pollen grains [1]. The tribe Cercideae is supported as monophyletic and has been found to be the most basal lineage within Leguminosae based on multiple datasets [3]. Muell., Gigasiphon Drake, Lasiobema (Korth.) Miq., Lysiphyllum (Benth.) de Witt., Phanera Lour., Piliostigma Hochst., and Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
