The Study of the Pollen Grains of Various Species Belonging to the Genus Cousinia Cass. (Asteraceae) in Iraq

Abstract

The genus Cuosinia Cass. is among the most common genera within the Asteraceae family. This genus contains an approximate range of 500 to 600 taxa. Pollen morphology analysis has proven to be a significant tool in the categorization of the Asteraceae, in addition to helping in the classification of specific genera and species under the family. An extensive examination of the pollen morphological features of six species belonging to the Cuosinia genus was carried out using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen features that are beneficial for distinguishing various species of Cousinia based on characteristics instance form, dimension of the polar diameter and equatorial diameter, polar to equatorial axis ratio (P/E), exine thickness, sculpturing, and quantity of verrucae. Examination using light microscopy revealed that pollen grains were monads, tricolporate, isopolar, prolate-spheroidal, prolate, Sub-prolate. Using scanning electron microscopy, we categorized the pollen grains into three groups based on their exine ornamentation: group I (densely verrucate), group II (verrucate), and group III (loosely verrucate). Micrographs illustrating the morphology of pollen grains are accompanied by comprehensive descriptions of their structural characteristics. The pollen traits, such as morphology, exine thickness, and surfaces sculpturing, were found to be highly useful for classifying purposes.