The systematic value of pollen morphology in trees and shrubs species of Bauhinia L. (Caesalpinioideae- subg. Bauhinia - sect. Pauletia) occurring in Brazil

Fábio De França Moreira,Vania Gonçalves-Esteves,Ângela Maria Studart Da Fonseca Vaz,Claudia Barbieri Ferreira Mendonça

doi:10.1590/s0102-33062013000200014

Abstract

We analyzed the pollen grains of 30 taxa of the genus Bauhinia L., within five series: Aculeatae (9 species); Acuminatae (1 species); Cansenia (17 species); Pentandrae (2 species); and Perlebia (1 species). The pollen grains were acetolysed, after which they were photographed and analyzed under light microscopy. Non-acetolysed pollen grains were analyzed under scanning electronic microscopy. Characters such as shape, size, exine and aperture constitution were studied. The species were separated by a dichotomous key, which showed pollen grains that were classified as very large; isopolar or apolar; oblate, suboblate, oblate spheroidal or spherical; large or small in terms of the polar area; inaperturate, 3-porate or (3-7)-colpate; and microreticulate or reticulate, with or without supratectal elements (gemmae, bacula, clavae). The variation in pollen morphology confirms the eurypalynous status of the genus Bauhinia.

Highlights

Bauhinia L. is a pantropical genus, a member of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae), with approximately 300 species. Wunderlin et al (1987) divided Bauhinia into 4 subgenera, 22 sections and 30 series
We evaluated the pollen of 30 tree and shrub species of Bauhinia L. sect
Isopolar pollen grains were found in members of the series Aculeatae, Cansenia, Pentandrae, and Perlebia

Summary

Introduction

Bauhinia L. is a pantropical genus, a member of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae), with approximately 300 species. Wunderlin et al (1987) divided Bauhinia into 4 subgenera, 22 sections and 30 series. Bauhinia L. is a pantropical genus, a member of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae), with approximately 300 species. Wunderlin et al (1987) divided Bauhinia into 4 subgenera, 22 sections and 30 series. Six sections of three subgenera have native representatives in the neotropics: Bauhinia

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