Exine Sculpture Research Articles

Pollen morphology of the genusPotentilla(Rosaceae) in Iran

The pollen morphology of 28 species of the genus Potentilla (Rosaceae) and four related genera from Iran was examined using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pollen grains are radially symmetrical, isopolar to subisopolar, trizonocolpate and colporate. The shape of pollen grains in all the studied taxa varies from prolate-spheroidal to subprolate and prolate. The outline of the pollen grains is elliptical in equatorial view and triangular-circular in polar view. The size of the pollen grains is small to medium. Our results showed two main types of exine sculpturing. Among the studied pollen grain characters, shape and size are helpful evidences for separating different sections, while the exine sculpturing type provides limited taxonomic value.

Morphological studies of pollen grains of the Polish endemic species of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae)

The pollen of six taxa of the genus Rubus endemic to Poland (R. capitulatus, R. chaerophylloides, R. ostroviensis, R. posnaniensis, R. seebergensis and R. spribillei)was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The study objective was to extend the knowledge of the species pollen morphology and to investigate whether pollen morphology may help to taxonomically distinguish a very rare bramble species. Study material was derived from six natural localities where the species occur in the Wielkopolska region (Poland). Ten quantitative pollen grain features were analysed as well as the following qualitative ones: outline, shape, type of bridge and exine sculpture. Only mature, correctly formed pollen grains (30 per specimen) were measured and 180 pollen grains were examined in total. It was found that R. capitulatus and R. seebergensis had the highest mean values of P, E and Le features. In addition, pollen grains of R. capitulatus were most flattened (mean P/E ratio equals 1.14), while those of R. seebergensis were most elongated (mean P/E ratio equals 1.27). R. spribillei was the only species with striae of similar width as muri, whereas striae in the remaining species were wider. R. chaerophylloides and R. posnaniensis were characterised by specific, similar exine sculpture. Nevertheless, it should be stated that differences between pollen features of the species studied are so small and the variability of these features are so large that it is difficult to clearly identify the species studied. Therefore, pollen grain morphology can serve only as an auxiliary feature for the determination of these species.

Investigation on the pollen morphology of traditional cultivars of Prunus species in Sicily

In this study pollen grains of 13 cultivars and 3 rootstocks belonging to 5 species (<em>P. armeniaca</em>, <em>P. domestica</em>, <em>P. dulcis</em>, <em>P. persica</em>, <em>P. avium</em>) of the genus <em>Prunus </em>collected from North-East Sicily were examined for the micromorphological characterization through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The length of polar axis (<em>P</em>) and the equatorial diameter (<em>E</em>) of grain, <em>P/E </em>ratio, the length of colpi (<em>C</em>), diameter of perforations (<em>DP</em>) and the number of perforations in 25 μm<sup>2</sup> (<em>PN</em>), the width of muri (<em>WM</em>), the distance between muri (<em>DM</em>) and their number in 25 μm<sup>2</sup> (<em>MN</em>), the width of grooves (<em>WG</em>) were measured and their variation was compared among studied taxa. Moreover multivariate statistical analysis was carried out to distinguish morphometric information from measured parameters. All pollen grains are trizonocolpate, isopolar, medium-large sized and their shape varies from prolate to perprolate. Regarding outline pollen grains are subtriangular in polar view and elliptic in equatorial view. Exine sculpturing is striate with perforations on grain surface. The arrangement of ridges appears roughly parallel but too sloped (sometimes curved) compared to polar axis, or branched and oriented in different directions, or perfectly parallel or more irregular with bifurcated ridges often sinuous. The analyses showed a great variability (particularly in <em>P. domestica </em>cultivars) related in some cases to the diversity in the morphological features of the leaves and the fruits of the investigated entities.

The occurrence of the fossil genus Graminidites in the Maastrichtian Scollard Formation, Alberta, Canada, and its palaeoecological and palaeogeographical significance

Fossil grass pollen is common in Late Tertiary sediments and its rare occurrence in the Early Tertiary led to the belief that its presence is restricted to Tertiary sediments. A literature survey shows that rare occurrences of Graminidites spp. have been reported from Campanian–Maastrichtian strata worldwide. All reported Graminidites spp. have been studied by transmitted light microscopes, which are inadequate to resolve their fine exine sculpture. Graminidites sp. occurs in the Maastrichtian Scollard Formation of Alberta, Canada, and is studied here with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A new species, G. ulkapites, occurs at the initiation of a temperate climate in the area. It occurs in post-dinosaurian beds locally but in pre-Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary strata, which implies that grasses could also be present in dinosaur inhabitations. Grass phytoliths, reported from dinosaurian coprolites from the Maastrichtian Deccan Intertrappean sediments of India, indicate that grasses were ingested by dinosaurs even if not included in the dinosaurian diet. A plot of worldwide Senonian occurrences of Graminidites spp. on a late Maastrichtian palaeogeographic map demonstrates that the data are inadequate to reveal the place of origin or migratory pattern. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 167, 235–248.

Characterization of a caleosin expressed during olive (Olea europaeaL.) pollen ontogeny

BackgroundThe olive tree is an oil-storing species, with pollen being the second most active site in storage lipid biosynthesis. Caleosins are proteins involved in storage lipid mobilization during seed germination. Despite the existence of different lipidic structures in the anther, there are no data regarding the presence of caleosins in this organ to date. The purpose of the present work was to characterize a caleosin expressed in the olive anther over different key stages of pollen ontogeny, as a first approach to unravel its biological function in reproduction.ResultsA 30 kDa caleosin was identified in the anther tissues by Western blot analysis. Using fluorescence and transmission electron microscopic immunolocalization methods, the protein was first localized in the tapetal cells at the free microspore stage. Caleosins were released to the anther locule and further deposited onto the sculptures of the pollen exine. As anthers developed, tapetal cells showed the presence of structures constituted by caleosin-containing lipid droplets closely packed and enclosed by ER-derived cisternae and vesicles. After tapetal cells lost their integrity, the caleosin-containing remnants of the tapetum filled the cavities of the mature pollen exine, forming the pollen coat. In developing microspores, this caleosin was initially detected on the exine sculptures. During pollen maturation, caleosin levels progressively increased in the vegetative cell, concurrently with the number of oil bodies. The olive pollen caleosin was able to bind calcium in vitro. Moreover, PEGylation experiments supported the structural conformation model suggested for caleosins from seed oil bodies.ConclusionsIn the olive anther, a caleosin is expressed in both the tapetal and germ line cells, with its synthesis independently regulated. The pollen oil body-associated caleosin is synthesized by the vegetative cell, whereas the protein located on the pollen exine and its coating has a sporophytic origin. The biological significance of the caleosin in the reproductive process in species possessing lipid-storing pollen might depend on its subcellular emplacement. The pollen inner caleosin may be involved in OB biogenesis during pollen maturation. The protein located on the outside might rather play a function in pollen-stigma interaction during pollen hydration and germination.

Comparative pollen morphology of the Iberian species of Pulicaria (Asteraceae, Inuleae, Inulinae) and its taxonomic significance

To better understand the taxonomy of Pulicaria, the pollen wall architecture of the six Iberian species were investigated using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The exine structure of Pulicaria odora was also investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Statistical analysis was performed to distinguish taxonomically significant morphometric information from all the measured parameters of pollen grains. It was found that the exine sculpture characters, with special importance paid to the spines, were the most useful of all characters to define Pulicaria pollen types and separate the species. Three pollen types distinguishable through the spines morphology and the inter-spinular sculpture are described: P. microcephala pollen type (incl. P. microcephala), P. vulgaris pollen type (incl. P. vulgaris), and P. dysenterica pollen type (incl. P. dysenterica, P. odora, P. paludosa and P. sicula). A dichotomous key to these Pulicaria pollen types is proposed. The distribution of P. dysenterica, P. odora, P. paludosa and P. sicula in more than one leaf node in the classification tree reveals that the pollen grains of these species are difficult to segregate. Therefore, the construction of a satisfactory dichotomous key to the P. dysenterica pollen type species is not feasible. Yet, the different spines apex morphology between P. microcephala and P. paludosa and the existence of significant differences in five of the eight studied quantitative pollen characters of these two taxa, supports the opinion that the Berlengas Islands endemic P. microcephala should be accepted as a separate species. In addition, the differences among the spines morphology of P. vulgaris, P. microcephala, and the other four Iberian (and European) species, strengthen the conclusion that the section Pulicaria is non-monophyletic.

Systematic importance of pollen morphological features of selected species from the genus Rosa (Rosaceae)

The aim of this study is verification of the taxonomic usefulness of the pollen grain features studied, based on pollen morphology of 32 wild species from all 4 subgenera and all 10 sections of the genus Rosa, mainly for delimitation of subgenera, sections, and species. The measurements and observations were carried out with both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Only correctly formed pollen grains (30 per specimen) were measured, and 960 pollen grains were examined in total. They were analyzed for 14 quantitative features of pollen grains and exine sculpturing and the following qualitative ones: outline, shape, and operculum structure. Our study revealed that the diagnostic features of pollen grains studied were: exine sculpture, length of polar axis, and pollen shape (P/E ratio). On the basis of the above characters, five species were isolated and the remaining ones were included in several groups isolated on the basis of exine sculpture types. The following three exine sculpture types occurred in the species studied: granular-verrucate (in R. stellata), striate-psilate (in R. multibracteata and R. multiflora), and striate (the remaining species). R. banksiae is characterized by small pollen grains, while R. setigera has strongly elongated pollen with P/E ratio >1.5. Exine sculpture features considered to be diagnostic should be treated as auxiliary because they fail to differentiate individual species, although they can be helpful in distinguishing groups of species of similar exine sculpture. The arrangement of the species examined on a dendrogram only slightly corroborates division of the Rosa genus into subgenera and sections currently adopted in taxonomy (Rehder 1940). An interesting result was reported for the species studied from the Caninae (R. agrestis, R. canina, R. dumalis, R. jundzillii, and R. rubiginosa) section which, despite hybrid nature, with the exception of R. villosa, grouped in the same, most separated group of species.

Pollen Diversity and its Systematic Implications in Lespedeza (Fabaceae)

Abstract The genus Lespedeza (Fabaceae) contains about 41 species distributed disjunctly in East Asia and North America. The pollen morphology of 46 samples representing 39 species of Lespedeza and three species of the two most closely related genera from China, Japan, and America was examined with both a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. Pollen morphology in Lespedeza is diverse in germination organs and exine sculptures. The germination organs in Lespedeza can be divided into three types based mainly on the size of the colpi and the morphology of ora. Most species in subgen. Lespedeza have either type II or III germination organs and species in subgen. Macrolespedeza have only type I or II germination organs. The pollen morphology in Lespedeza is stable at the infraspecific level. The pollen data support the division of Lespedeza into two subgenera. In detail, the polar axes in subgen. Macrolespedeza (18.94–23.07 µm long) and are normally shorter than those in subgen. Lespedeza (25.04...

Pollen morphology of Amygdalus L. (Rosaceae) in Iran

Pollen grain of 16 species and three hybrids of the genus <em>Amygdalus</em> L., representing two subgenera and two sections distributed in Iran were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. All pollen grains are tricolporate. The shape of grains varies from subprolate through prolate. Regarding outline, in polar view, pollen grains are triangular-circular and in equatorial view, elliptic. Regarding sculpturing of exine, the frequent type like many members of family <em>Rosaceae</em> is striate with or without perforations that can be subdivided into three subtypes: type I (A-B), type II (A-B) and type V. In three species, <em>A. trichamygdalus</em>, <em>A. spinosissima</em> and <em>A. orientalis</em>, exine sculpture type is completely different. In the first species is rugulate, in the second species is reticulate and in <em>A. orientalis</em>, it is gemmate-perforate. Ornamentation of ridges (muri) in the striate sculpture is parallel to ectocolpus. Number of perforations in tectum, diameter of them, striae intervals and the thickness of ridges varies among studied taxa. The striae have different depth and slope. Results showed that among pollen grain characters, shape is useful character solely for separating of taxonomic ranks in Iranian Amygdalus specially in subgeneric or section level.

Pollen morphology of Polish native species of the Rosa genus (Rosaceae) and its relation to systematics

The morphology of pollen grains of 16 species from the <em>Rosa </em>L. genus were studied (i.e. <em>R. agrestis</em>, <em>R. canina</em>, <em>R. dumalis</em>, <em>R. gallica</em>, <em>R. inodora</em>, <em>R. jundzillii</em>, <em>R. kostrakiewiczii</em>, <em>R. majalis</em>, <em>R. micrantha</em>, <em>R. mollis</em>, <em>R. pendulina</em>, <em>R. rubiginosa</em>, <em>R. sherardii</em>, <em>R. tomentosa</em>, <em>R. villosa</em>, and <em>R. zalana</em>). The material came from 16 native localities of those species in Poland. The measurements are based on at least 30-50 randomly selected, fully developed pollen grains per specimen. In total, 500 pollen grains were examined. They were analysed for 13 quantitative features of pollen grains and exine sculpturing and the following qualitative traits: outline, shape, "operculum" structure. The diagnostic features of pollen grains of studied species were: length of polar and equatorial axes and length of ectocolpi. The above-mentioned pollen grain morphological features make isolation of one species possible: <em>R. gallica</em>. <em>R. gallica </em>is distinguished for its highest values of the length of polar and equatorial axes, and the length of ectocolpi. The obtained analytical results of operculum and exine sculpture features, considered as diagnostic, corroborated only slightly their priority significance for the isolation of the examined species and sections. The collected data failed to confirm fully the current taxonomical division of the <em>Rosa </em>genus into sections (only section <em>Gallicanae</em> from <em>R. gallica </em>is isolated) as well as consanguinity relationships between the examined species from the <em>Caninae </em>section. On the dendrogram, both species closely related with each other as well as those from other developmental lines were found in the same group. These equivocal results are by no means surprising because the <em>Caninae </em>section is the most polymorphic group in the <em>Rosa </em>genus, and contemporary <em>Caninae </em>are of the nature of a swarm of <em>R. canina </em>hybrids as a link combining all taxons of the section.

Pollen morphology of the genus Seseli L. (Umbelliferae) in Turkey

Morphological features of pollen of 11 Turkish taxa belonging to the complex genus Seseli L. were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of exine sculpturing, 3 main types were recognised in Seseli: Type 1, rugulate at equator, psilate-perforate at pole; Type 2, striate-reticulate at equator, rugulate at pole; and Type 3, rugulate at equator, striate at pole. The study revealed that palynological characters display taxonomic significance in the genus.

Submicroscopic Morphology Comparisons between Hybrid F1 by Wheat and Octoploid Triticale and the Parental Generation

F1 hybrid generation comes from the hybridization of common wheat Jingdong 8 as the female parent and octoploid triticale Jinsong 5 as the male parent. It can be clearly seen from the submicroscopic morphology comparisons of pollen grains, leaf epidermis and stomas between hybrid F1 and the parents that most of the shapes of the parents’ pollen grains are nearly circular, while those of the F1 hybrid pollen grains are irregular and severely wizened. In addition, the pollen grains of the F1 hybrid and parents are significantly different in the submicroscopic features of exine sculptures and germ pores. The common features of the three tested materials are stomatal apparatus, long cell and hair cell, and the cells are arranged in parallel with the vein. Leaf epidermal cells of the female parent which is the common wheat are clear outline, and they are also arranged tidily and smoothly, Pores are arranged in a straight line. Guard cells are dumbbell-shaped with bristles of different lengths. Pores of the male parent which is octoploid triticale have ridge-like heaves with horizontal and vertical alignment around them, and they are rectangular and large, also the general arrangement type is linear. Guard cells is very obvious, but with very few and short bristles. Both of the submicroscopic morphologies of leaf epidermises and stomas of the hybrid F1 are more similar with those of the male parent, while the leaf epidermises have bristles and the size of pores ranges between the two parents. The F1 hybrids and parents are significantly different in submicroscopic morphologies on pollens, leaf epidermises and stomas, so that the distinctions of submicroscopic morphologies can be used as a basis in the indicators and identification of the distant hybrids and their parents.

Pollen morphology of the genus Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) in Turkey

Pollen grains of 30 taxa of the genus Salvia, belonging to sections Salvia, Horminum, Drymosphace, Plethiosphace and Hemisphace from Turkey were examined by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Detailed pollen morphological characteristics are provided for these taxa. Among the studied taxa, S. verticillata subsp. verticillata from sect. Hemisphace has the smallest pollen grains, and S. pachystachys from sect. Salvia possesses the largest ones. The basic shape of the pollen grains in most taxa is suboblate, oblate–spheroidal or prolate–spheroidal. However subprolate pollen grains are recorded for S. macrochlamys from sect. Salvia. The grains are hexacolpate in all taxa, but in S. recognita from sect. Salvia also octacolpate pollen was found. Three distinct exine sculpturing types exist, reticulate–perforate (the common type), reticulate–granulate and bireticulate. The reticulate–perforate and bireticulate sculpturing patterns can be divided into subtypes based on the number of perforations and the number of secondary lumina in each primary lumen. Pollen morphological characteristics of the taxa studied are compared and discussed on the basis of taxonomical concepts. In some cases, these characters are useful in distinguishing the sections. For instance, the presence of 1–2 large central secondary lumina per primary lumen is a significant character of sect. Horminum separating it from the other sections. As well, the presence of holes on colpus membrane ornamentation can be used as a diagnostic taxonomic character for sectional division between sect. Hemisphace and others. S. ballsiana from sect. Salvia is clearly distinct from the other taxa examined by its unique pollen morphology. Further, for several macromorphologically similar taxa pollen structures provide additional evidence to delimite them from each other.

Pollen morphology and infrageneric classification of Alstroemeria L. (Alstroemeriaceae)

Pollen morphology of 53 taxa of the South American genus Alstroemeria was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy (LM and SEM, respectively), or SEM alone, in search of new characters that might contribute to infrageneric classification of the genus. The Alstroemeria species are stenopalynous and characterised by monosulcate and large monads with striate-reticulate exine sculpture. Pollen with auriculae-like structures at each end of the sulcus is reported for the first time in Alstroemeria. Based on exine sculpture, the studied taxa were divided into two major groups; one with striate-reticulate exine (Type I) and the other with finely to coarsely rugulate-psilate exine (Type II). Type I exine sculpture can be further divided into two sub-types based on the width of the muri. Although species from Brazil show relatively closer positions in principal component analysis of quantitative data, agglomerative hierarchical clustering of palynological features does not support a subdivision of this genus into a Brazilian and a Chilean species group. The infrageneric classification of Alstroemeria can be reliably achieved by combined analyses of morphological, palynological and molecular data from a larger number of specimens of all species.

Pollen morphology of selected Central European species from subgenera Vignea and Carex (Carex, Cyperaceae) and its relation to taxonomy

This study analysed the taxonomic utility of selected features of pollen grains of 45 Central European species of subgenera Vignea and Carex of the genus Carex. Seven quantitative features were analysed: [length of polar axis (P), length of equatorial axis (E), exine thickness on the pole (Exp), exine thickness on the equator plane (Exe), P/E ratio and the relative thickness of exine (Exp/P and Exe/E ratio)] and outline, shape and exine sculpture. Among the biometrical features, the most important for Carex taxonomy (particularly at the level of subgenus) is the thickness of exine (Exp). Marked differences in the morphological structure of inflorescences at the subgenus level are reflected in the differences of pollen features. Results of our studies clearly show an explicit (and not previously described in the palynological literature) taxonomic division of the genus Carex on the basis of pollen biometrical features into two units corresponding exactly to the subgenera (Vignea and Carex). However, the features of pollen grains analysed did not contribute any essential taxonomic criteria at levels lower than subgenus (e.g. sections). An exception was for C. disticha, where it was observed that the poroid areas occurred in pairs, a new feature for sedges. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 164, 422–439.

Pollen morphology and diversity in some Nigerian species of <i>Jatropha</i> L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Pollen morphology and diversity were studied in five Nigerian species of Jatropha L. (Euphorbiaceae) using acetolysis method and Light Microscopy (LM) with a view to assessing the taxonomic importance of pollen characters in the classification and delimitation of members of genus Jatropha L. Overall results showed that pollens in this genus are generally inaperturate or monocolpate. Occasionally, bicolpate grains are observed in J. curcas and J. podagrica. Exine sculpturing generally consists of rounded depressions/ornamentation across the taxa while triangular pattern on the pollen wall is common to some of the taxa. Pollen attributes like pollen diameter, pollen wall thickness, depth of colpi and distance between colpi vary significantly (p

Classification of Chinese Wintersweet ( Chimonanthus praecox) Cultivars Supported by Pollen Morphology

To classify the Chinese wintersweet ( Chimonanthus praecox) cultivars and to study their evolution based on pollen morphology. Pollens of 12 representative wintersweet cultivars were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Q-cluster analysis was carried out based on the observation results. Results are as follows: (1) The pollen grains were 2- lobed circular in polar view, elliptic in equatorial view. The pollen shapes were spheroidal or super-spheroidal by P/E (polar axis length/equatorial axis length) criteria. (2) According to pollen exine ornamentation, it was indicated that white wintersweet is most original. Yellow floral group could be classified into three subgroups: purple-hearted, halo-hearted and yellow-hearted type. Their evolutionary relationship was purple-hearted→halo-hearted→yellow-hearted. (3) Different wintersweet cultivars showed a different exine sculpture. Palynological analysis could be used in the classification of wintersweet cultivars. The result of cluster analysis indicated that the cultivars could be classified into three groups with a similarity coefficient of 0.41. Each group had similar pollen exine sculpture. It was found that the palynological classification coincided well with morphological classification. Our results support the suggestion that purple streaks or patches of inner-petals should be served as the first-order criteria in wintersweet classification.

Morphological characterization of the pollens of the selected species of Genus Prunus Linn. from Northern Pakistan

A total of 6 species of Prunus were studied for the morphological characterization of the pollens through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The species were collected from various parts of Northern Pakistan. The species included Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus bokhariensis Royle ex C.K. Schn, Prunus avium L., Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Prunus domestica L. and Prunus cornuta (Wall. ex. Royle) Steudel. In the SEM of the pollens, variations were found in the shape and exine sculpturing. The pollen class ranged from trizonocolpate to obtus-triangular, and the exine sculpturing varies from striate-scabrate-reticulate. The pollen shape varied from triangular-acute-convex to triangular-obtuse-convex to circular in polar view and elliptic-acuminate-acute to elliptic-acuminate-obtuse in the equatorial view. All these variations were very useful in the identification of the species with respect to their pollen shape and class. Key words: Palynology, scanning electron microscopy, Prunus species, Northern Pakistan.

Pollen morphology, ultrastructure and taphonomy of the Neuradaceae with special reference to Neurada procumbens L. and Grielum humifusum E.Mey. ex Harv. et Sond.

Pollen morphology and sporoderm ultrastructure of modern Neurada procumbens L. and Grielum humifusum E.Mey. ex Harv. et Sond. were studied using light (LM) and electron (SEM and TEM) microscopy. Additionally late Holocene pollen of the Grielum-type was studied using LM. Systematic and ecological aspects have been discussed for the family Neuradaceae. The pollen grains of the studied species are characterized by similarities in size, shape, aperture type and differences in exine sculpture (reticulate semitectate exine in Neurada and finely reticulate to foveolate in Grielum) and sporoderm ultrastructure. The cavea in the exine is situated between the ectexine and endexine which are connected near the aperture region only. A combination of the palynological characters of the Neuradaceae (semitectate exine, rather loose columellae, interrupted foot layer, the cavea in the exine) increases the pollen plasticity, allowing considerable changes of the pollen grain volume but still remains insufficient to survive sharp fluctuations in hydration level.

Pollen morphology and its phylogenetic significance in tribe Sanguisorbeae (Rosaceae)

Pollen grains of tribe Sanguisorbeae (Rosaceae, Rosoideae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy to identify useful characters, test taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses among genera, and elucidate pollen character evolution based on a molecular phylogeny. Aperture number, aperture structure, pollen shape, and exine sculpturing were variable within Sanguisorbeae and were used to delineate six pollen types. Four types (I–IV) were observed only in subtribe Sanguisorbinae whereas two types (V–VI) were found only in subtribe Agrimoniinae. Pollen grains of tribe Sanguisorbeae were generally subprolate to spheroidal in shape, had operculate or pontoperculate apertures, and had three apertures, except for Margyricarpus (tetraperturate). Exine sculpturing within Sanguisorbinae represented variations of striate, verrucate, rugulate, and perforate patterns often with microechinate sculpturing. Striate exine patterns and prolate shapes characterized the pollen of the Agrimoniinae, except for the microechinate-verrucate pattern and subprolate to spheroidal shapes observed in Hagenia. Pollen characters are most useful at the generic level and, when mapped on to a molecular phylogenetic tree of the tribe, are concordant with a monophyletic Agrimoniinae and a clade comprising Margyricarpus + Acaena + Polylepis + Cliffortia + Sanguisorba in the Sanguisorbinae. Outgroup comparison indicated that operculate colpi, three apertures, and polymorphism for striate or microverrucate exines represented primitive states for tribe Sanguisorbeae.