Studies in the southern African species of <i>Justicia</i> and <i>Siphonoglossa</i> (Acanthaceae): palynology

Abstract

The gross morphology of the pollen of all southern African species and subspecies of Justicia and Siphonoglossa was investigated, as well as that of eight tropical African species of Justicia. The following pollen types were found in the southern African species of Justicia: two- or three-colporate, each with the margocolpus either entire or broken up into areolae, and two-porate areolate pollen. One tropical African species had the colpus very short, and in another tropical African species it was replaced by an extra row of areolae. All Siphonoglossa species had two-colporate pollen with areolae and long colpi. The southern African species of Justicia could be separated from Siphonoglossa on pollen characters, and some sections of Justicia could also be distinguished on the same basis.