Reticulate Pollen Research Articles

Screening and optimisation of in vitro pollen germination medium for sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas)

BackgroundSweetpotato is an important vegetable and food crop that is bred through sexual crosses and systematic selection. The use of in vitro germination of sweetpotato pollen to test its viability has important theoretical and practical implications for improving the efficiency of sweetpotato crossbreeding by controlling pollination and conducting research on sweetpotato pollen biology.ResultsIn this study, we observed the morphological structure of sweetpotato pollen under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), developed an effective method for the in vitro germination of sweetpotato pollen, and examined the viability of sweetpotato pollen after treating plants at different temperatures before blossoming. Sweetpotato pollen grains are spherical, with an average diameter of 87.07 ± 3.27 μm (excluding spines), with multiple germination pores and reticulate pollen surface sculpture. We applied numerous media to sweetpotato pollen germination in vitro to screen the initial medium and optimised the medium components through single-factor design. The most effective liquid medium for in vitro sweetpotato pollen germination contained 50 g/L Sucrose, 50 g/L Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), 100 mg/L Boric acid and 300 mg/L Calcium nitrate, with a pH = 6.0. The optimum growth temperature for pollen development in sweetpotato was from 25 to 30 °C. Neither staining nor in situ germination could accurately determine the viability of sweetpotato pollen.ConclusionsIn vitro germination can be used to effectively determine sweetpotato pollen viability. The best liquid medium for in vitro germination of sweetpotato pollen contained 50 g/L Sucrose, 50 g/L Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), 100 mg/L Boric acid and 300 mg/L Calcium nitrate, with the pH adjusted to 6.0. This study provides a reliable medium for the detection of sweetpotato pollen viability, which can provide a theoretical reference for sweetpotato genetics and breeding.

Contribution to Celastraceae palynology from Cerrado forest fragments: a focus on shape, amb and exine ornamentation

Forest fragments in the Cerrado are areas of prominent biological importance due to their great species richness and biodiversity. These areas host endemic species of Celastraceae, the knowledge of which contributes to the preservation of this biome. This study aims to characterize the pollen morphology of 10 native species of Celastraceae found in forest fragments in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, contributing to the knowledge of the taxa for future taxonomic studies, and providing data for the conservation of the species in the forest areas. The pollen grains were acetolyzed, measured, described qualitatively and illustrated using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen characters referring to the pollen unit, polarity, type and number of apertures are similar in all the species studied. The shape, amb and exine ornamentation of pollen grains are the diagnostic qualitative morphological data for Celastraceae in this study. Microreticulate pollen grains were observed in Celastrus, Hippocratea and Pristimera; reticulate pollen grains with a very thick exine characterize the analyzed species of Plenckia; and reticulate and microreticulate ornamentation was observed among the species of Monteverdia. The results obtained here allow us to distinguish species of the analyzed genera and confirm the pollen diversity previously reported for Celastraceae.

One more piece to the puzzle: Diadorimia, a new monotypic genus in the Spermacoceae (Rubiaceae), endemic to the campo rupestre of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

AbstractSpermacoceae is the largest predominantly herbaceous lineage in the Rubiaceae, and regarded as one of its most taxonomically complex and controversial tribe, especially regarding generic delimitation. Molecular phylogenies have established the concept of a broadly circumscribed Spermacoceae, which includes the genera traditionally associated with the tribe, i.e., the Spermacoce clade, and the former Hedyotideae and Manettieae. A major challenge in the Spermacoce clade is related to the delimitation of Borreria and Spermacoce, which appeared intermingled with several smaller and morphologically well‐defined genera in more recent phylogenies, such as the Brazilian endemic Psyllocarpus. One of its species, P. densifolius, diverges morphologically from the others, as preliminary phylogenetic analyses have shown that it is not closely related to Psyllocarpus nor any other genus in the Spermacoce clade. We conducted a broad phylogenetic analysis, including ca. 63% of the genera in the Spermacoceae, using a variety of approaches to address incongruence among markers and lack of resolution and/or low support for branches, to accurately assess its position. We used nuclear ribosomal (ITS) and plastid (rps16 intron, trnL‐F intergenic spacer) DNA regions for Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses, as well as species tree inference. We identified incongruence not only between nuclear and plastid DNA but also between the plastid regions. We also showed that the topologies derived from the multispecies coalescent diverged from that of the concatenated analysis, even though the position of P. densifolius, as sister to the clade formed by the remaining Spermacoceae, remained stable across different datasets and inference methods. We here propose the recognition of the new genus Diadorimia to accommodate P. densifolius, which can be characterized by its cespitose habit arising from a well‐developed, woody subterranean system, triangular stipules with margins bearing four small lobes, heterostylous flowers subtended by a pair of hyaline bracteoles, double reticulate pollen grains, and capsules with longitudinal‐oblique dehiscence, with the two valves forming one single caducous diaspore keeping their respective seed trapped inside. We provide a taxonomic treatment with a key to the heterostylous genera of the Spermacoceae occurring in the Americas, a description of the new genus, and the new combination of its type, as well as comments on its distribution and conservation.

Pollen morphology in Brazilian species of Gloxiniinae (Gesneriaceae): variation in apertures and pattern of ornamentation

Gloxiniinae comprises herbs and subshrubs usually growing on rocky outcrops, rocky fields or gallery forests. For Gesneriaceae in some cases variations in pollen morphology allow the differentiation of genera and species. We studied the pollen grains of ten Brazilian species of Gloxiniinae (Gesneriaceae), including the genera Chautemsia, Gloxinia, Goyazia, Mandirola and Seemannia with the purposes of describing the pollen morphology of these genera, and contributing to the taxonomic characterization of the group and a better delimitation of genera and species of Gesneriaceae. The pollen grains were acetolyzed, measured, photographed and described qualitatively. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive and multivariate statistics. Non-acetolyzed pollen grains were observed in SEM and TEM in order to provide more details of the ornamentation and the structure of the exine. The analyzed species differ as to the pollen amb, shape, length, width and ends of colpi, presence or absence of margo, type of endoaperture and exine ornamentation. We found circular, subcircular and subtriangular amb, oblate spheroidal and subprolate shape, long or very long colpi, narrow, wide or very wide, with or without margo, lalongate or lolongate endoaperture in microreticulate or reticulate pollen grains. The reticulate ornamentation appears in the Gloxinia species’ pollen grains, and lolongate endoapertures represent the pattern for the subtribe pollen grains except in Chautemsia. The pollen grain metrics examined by principal component analysis allow generic distinction. We conclude that qualitative and quantitative pollen data help to delimit the genera and species of Gloxiniinae.

Correlative Evaluation of the Impact of Adaptive Plant Morphology on Bioactive Accumulation Based on Micro-Morphological Studies in Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottler ex Vahl) Wight

Does the adaptive plant morphology actually hint at its potential bioactive profile? To understand and decipher this, a micro-morphological investigation was conducted on an arid zone plant. Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rohl.ex.vahl.) Wight is a slightly bitter, acrid endemic herb with fair history of ethno-botanical use among different tribes of peninsular India. A. serpyllifolia was a highly evolved geophyte well-suited for high survivability in extremely harsh terrain. This plant was found to grow and perpetuate successfully under high-stress conditions of water deficit, high soil and atmospheric temperatures, poor nutrition and constant threat from herbivores. Under such circumstances, this plant possessed the potential to develop morphological adaptations that produce and accumulate a wide range of phytochemicals that could preserve, protect and defend its plant body. The twin objectives of this study were to investigate the micro-morphological features and their functional advantage that enabled the plant to flourish in adverse conditions and interpret by deductive reasoning, the potential phytochemical array of this plant given the observed features. Scanning electron microscope was used to explore surface morphologies of various vegetative and floral parts. Key findings of this micro-morphological study were presence of numerous diacytic stomata on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces, abundant glandular sessile trichomes on abaxial leaf surfaces, reticulate pollen ornamentation with echinate sulcus outlined with smooth morus and deeply reticulate, highly pitted spermoderm or seed testa reminiscent of human brain. These three features may serve as pharmacognostic markers aiding in accurate identification and quality control of this herb.

Morphological characteristics of major airborne pollen in Korea peninsula

【Although airborne pollen is invisible to the eye, it has been known as a major source to respiratory allergic reactions. For this reason, airborne pollen is monitoring in many countries to predict pollen concentration based on locality and season. However, the morphological characteristics of airborne pollen and their potential tendency as an allergen are still obscure. In the present study, we selected 52 airborne pollen samples based on previously reported data and investigated their detail pollen characteristics using LM and SEM. Major airborne pollen in Korea has sorted in 19 families (most angiosperms except four gymnosperm families), and all pollen grains are small to medium in size ( $P=17.34-49.86{\mu}m$ ) apart from the bisaccate pollen grains of Pinaceae ( $P=46.49-106.20{\mu}m$ ). The aperture number and shape vary from sulcate to polyporate. While the inaperture pollen has found only in gymnosperm (Cupressaceae and Taxaceae), triporate or polyporate is common pollen type in angiosperm. The sexine ornamentations could divide into several types, but the most sculpturing types are inconspicuous like psilate, rugulate and granulate. Reticulate pollen grains as a semitectum have occurred the species of genera Platanus and Fraxinus only. To estimate the possible relationships between pollen features and allergen, the results are discussed in botanical context.】

Unravelling the stylar polymorphism inMelochia(Malvaceae): reciprocity and ancillary characters

Heterostyly is a genetic polymorphism in which plant populations possess two (distyly) or three (tristyly) morphs with flowers differing reciprocally in stigma and anther height. Sex organ deployment has been described as being highly variable among and within species of several distylous taxa belonging to different taxonomic groups. However, the number of studies considering within-species disparities is still limited. For a better overview of the existing amount of variation that can occur within and between heterostylous species, we sampled 46 populations of six Melochia spp., a style-polymorphic genus in Cuba. We characterized the floral morphology in all populations and described a set of ancillary characters per species. All of these Melochia spp. are distylous, except for the monomorphic M. nodiflora. The S-morph produces fewer, larger pollen than L-morphs, and has verrucose ornamentation. The L-morph produces reticulate pollen and has larger stigmatic papillae than the S-morph. The monomorphic M. nodiflora shows ancillary characteristics that are similar to the L-morph individuals in the related species. As expected, there are differences in ancillary characters among species and also dissimilarities in reciprocity among and within species of Melochia. Our results highlight the importance of considering intraspecific variation in the morphometric characterization of heterostylous taxa. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, , ••‐••.

Reassessing Inflorescence and Floral Morphology and Development inHedyosmum(Chloranthaceae)

Hedyosmum (Chloranthaceae), one of the oldest angiosperm lineages, possesses some atypical reproductive features that remain poorly understood, including the inflorescence architecture, the stamen anatomy, and the perianth development around the allegedly inferior ovary. Our developmental survey of these characters with LM and SEM techniques showed that both staminate and carpellate partial inflorescences are indeterminate and suggests that each stamen corresponds to a single, ebracteolate flower. The tapetum is secretory and associated with orbicules; the connective apex is secretory, which—along with the reticulate pollen and the frequent visits of insects—suggests that entomophily should not be ruled out in Hedyosmum. The perianth is formed by three almost completely fused hypogynous tepals; the window is schyzogenous, unique among angiosperms, and according to the fossil record, it has been in the genus since the Early Cretaceous. Unlike any previous description, we found that the ovary is fully superior. The persistent perianth completely surrounds the fruit; in turn, they are tightly enclosed by the fused, acrescent, fleshy flower-subtending bracts, which appear to play a threefold role in protection, secretion, and dispersal.

A revision of the genus Dolichos (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae, Phaseoleae), including Lesotho and Swaziland

A revision of the genus Dolichos in South Africa (Lesotho and Swaziland included) is presented. This legume genus, belonging to the bean tribe Phaseoleae, mainly has an African distribution, extending into Asia. In South Africa it is represented by nine species, two ( D. sericeus and D. trilobus) of which extend into Tropical Africa. Dolichos is closely related to the genus Macrotyloma from which it can be distinguished by the short standard appendages, reticulate pollen and the generally purple flowers (standard appendages long, pollen tuberculate or spinulose and flowers yellow or orange in Macrotyloma). It also has affinities with the genera Dipogon and Lablab. The correct nomenclature, as well as complete synonymy, typification and distribution maps of all the species are provided.

Canrightia resinifera gen. et sp. nov., a new extinct angiosperm with Retimonocolpites-type pollen from the Early Cretaceous of Portugal: missing link in the eumagnoliid tree?

Canrightia resinifera gen. et sp. nov. is based on numerous fossils from several Early Cretaceous localities of western Portugal (Arazede, Buarcos, Catefica, Famalicão, Juncal, Vale de Agua, Vila Verde 2). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with non-destructive synchrotron radiation-based X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) has revealed critical external and internal features. Flowers are bisexual with a single whorl of tepals, laterally fused to form a hypanthium. The ovary is semi-inferior and syncarpous formed from two to five carpels, each carpel with a single pendant and orthotropous ovule. Ovules are endotestal-endotegmic with a distinct crystalliferous endotesta and an endotegmen that develops into a prominent endothelium. Pollen is of the Retimonocolpites-type with long extended colpus, semi-tectate reticulate pollen wall, homobrochate reticulum and columellate infratectal layer. Canrightia is in many respects similar to the extinct genus Zlatkocarpus, but is distinguished by its syncarpous organisation and up to five ovules per ovary. Pollen characters and many floral features in Canrightia are plesiomorphic indicating a basal position in the angiosperm phylogenetic tree. Comparison with extant and extinct taxa shows that Canrightia belongs to an extinct lineage and character optimisation suggests a position of Canrightia close to the root of the eumagnoliid tree with particular similarities to Chloranthaceae and Piperales.

Fevilleoideae pollen (Cucurbitaceae): a study in striate ornamentation

An exhaustive search into the Cucurbitaceae pollen literature and own observations were used to arrive at a sharper delimitation of the pollen of subfamily Fevilleoideae against that of the other subfamily, the Cucurbitoideae. Pollen data of 125 out of the 128 genera including all 19 Fevilleoideae genera were available. In view of a broad overlap, pollen grain size is not a reliable criterium to separate both subfamilies. Striate and microstriate ornamentation appeared to be very useful in identifying cucurbitaceous plants as Fevilleoideae. The perforate-rugulate type of Alsomitra is unique in the family. Gerrardanthus cannot be indicated as a member of the Fevilleoideae with pollen features alone, its relatively large (micro)reticulate pollen being similar to that of several Cucurbitoideae. On the basis of outgroup comparison, either striate or perforate-rugulate might be considered as the plesiomorphic ornamentation state in the family Cucurbitaceae. The (micro)reticulate type occurring commonly in the Cucurbitoideae evolved later, probably from a striate ancestral type and parallel to the (micro)reticulate type of the fevilleoid genus Gerrardanthus. The more or less striate (reticulate-striate) ornamentation found in seven genera in three Cucurbitoideae tribes probably evolved at least five times from (micro)reticulate ancestors.

Roraimaea (Gentianaceae: Helieae)—A New Gentian Genus from White Sand Campinas and Cerro de la Neblina of Brazil and Venezuela

Roraimaea (Gentianaceae: Helieae) is a new angiosperm genus from northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. This genus differs prominently from other taxa of the Gentianaceae tribe Helieae by its long-tubular, orange to red corollas, and deeply cleft styles with filiform lobes. Traditionally, pollen characters have been used as important traits to distinguish genera in the tribe Helieae. The pollen of Roraimaea is shed as tetrads and has an evenly thick, coarsely reticulate exine, which is similar to pollen occurring in Helia and Aripuana. Some similarities are also found with Aripuana cullmaniorum in the presence of dichasial inflorescences, erect flowers, and non-differentiated reticulate pollen tetrads. Phylogenetic studies have shown the distinctiveness of this taxon, as well as the need to move Rogersonanthus coccineus into this new genus. Roraimaea includes two species, Roraimaea coccinea comb. nov. from Serra de Neblina on the Brazil-Venezuelan border, and Roraimaea aurantiaca sp. nov. from lowland, white-sand campinas areas of Roraima State, Brazil.

Pollen morphology, leaf surfaces, mycobiota diversity and leaf spots of three species ofZygophyllumgrowing along Cairo‐Suez desert road, Eastern (Arabian) desert in Egypt

AbstractThree native species ofZygophyllum:Z. coccinumL.,Z. decumbensL.and Z. simplexL. (Zygophyllaceae) have been investigated morphologically, palynologically and mycologically. Twenty‐two fungal species belonging to 11 genera were collected from leaf surfaces (11 genera and 22 species) and anthers/ pollen grains (7, 13) ofZygophyllum coccinum, Z. decumbens and Z. simplexon Czapek‐Dox agar at 25 °C. Fungal diversity of the two microhabitats is basically similar and the most prevalent fungi wereAlternaria alternata/A. phragmospora, Cladosporium cladosporioides/C. herbarumandUlocladium botrytis/U. consortiale.Alternaria alternata,Cladosporium cladosporioidesandC. herbarum‐leaf spots were rarely recorded in the three studied plant species.Leaf lamina size and sculpture of the studied taxa almost seem to be the most reliable factors of the fungal biodiversity on the studied plant species. On the other hand, reticulate‐micro reticulate pollen type is the only pollen type recorded in the present study which reflects that the very narrow range of spectrum of fungal biodiversity between the studied plant species. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Reestablishment of the genus Sampaiella J.C. Gomes (Bignoniaceae)

Bignonia trichoclada DC. was originally described from flowering material, later being transferred to Arrabidaea as Arrabidaea trichoclada (DC.) Bureau & K. Schum. Gomes placed it in a monotypic genus Sampaiella, on account of its tomentose indumentum of branched hair and reticulate pollen grains. Sandwith placed Sampaiella in synonymy of Arrabidaea, the fruit of Sampaiella at that time being still unknown. The recent discovery of fruiting material enable the authors to distinguish Sampaiella from Arrabidaea on the basis of fruit and pollen characters. Sampaiella has a linear-oblong capsule with three inconspicuous ribs and a winged margin, quite distinct from the fruit type of Arrabidaea. The pollen is reticulate in Sampaiella, and is different from the microreticulate pollen found in Arrabidaea. These characters support the reestablishment of the genus Sampaiella J.C. Gomes, but leave unanswered its true relationships, which can hopefully be resolved by molecular studies.

The earliest occurrence of Angiosperms in southern Africa

Three outcrop localities and 28 onshore and offshore cores and wells were sampled from the east coast, Zululand and Durban Basins, the south coast onshore Algoa and the offshore Outeniqua Basins, and the west coast Orange Basin. Samples ranging in age from the Late Jurassic to the Late Cretaceous were examined for megafossils, microfossils, and fossilised wood to determine the first occurrence of angiosperms in southern Africa. In all three regions angiosperms first appear in the Aptian and they are represented by monosulcate, reticulate pollen genera, e.g. Clavatipollenites . Beginning in the Albian, tricolpate and tricolporate pollen types occur in low frequency with the monosul- cate angiosperm pollen. This first occurrence of angiosperms in South Africa is more than 25 million years later than the earliest global appearance of angiosperms in the Middle East and north Africa. The concurrent presence of monosulcate and tri-aperturate pollen suggests that angiosperms migrated to South Africa via dispersal corridors and that angiosperms did not originate in southern Africa.

Correlation between pollen morphology and pollination mechanisms in the Hydrocharitaceae.

The pollen morphology of 11 genera and 11 species of the Hydrocharitaceae and one species of the Najadaceae was studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and the exine structures and sculptures are discussed in relation to pollination mechanisms and the molecular phylogeny. The pollen grains of the Hydrocharitaceae are spherical, inaperturate, and form monads or tetrads, while those of the Najadaceae are elliptical, inaperturate, and form monads. The entomophilous genera Egeria, Blyxa, Ottelia, Stratiotes, and Hydrocharis share pollen grains that have projections like spines or bacula. The anemophilous genus Limnobium has reticulate pollen grains. The hypohydrophilous genera Thalassia and Najas are characterized by pollen grains with reduced exine structures. The pollen-epihydrophilous genera Elodea and Hydrilla have tightly arranged small spinous pollen grains, and the male flower-epihydrophilous genera Enhalus and Vallisneria have reduced reticulate or gemmate exines. Character state reconstruction of the exine structures and sculptures using a molecular phylogenetic tree suggests that variation in the exine is generally correlated with the pollination mechanism; the selective pressures acting on the pollination mechanisms have reduced the exine structure in hypohydrophilous plants and resulted in various exine sculptures that are adapted to the different pollination mechanisms in entomophilous, anemophilous, and pollen-epihydrophilous plants.

A taxonomic reassessment of the varieties of Oxalis minuta (Oxalidaceae) and the change of O. minuta var. callosa to specific rank as O. hygrophila

O . minuta Thunb. var. callosa Salter was included in section Sagittatae of the genus Oxalis L., based on superficial morphological resemblance to O . minuta var. minuta . We questioned this placement due to the reticulate pollen grains displayed by this taxon, whereas members of section Sagittatae have rugulate-reticulate pollen grains. A lack of good herbarium and living specimens prohibited a better taxonomic placement of this taxon. Living plants were recently found in the Pakhuis Pass (Western Cape, South Africa), which enabled this re-assessment of its taxonomic affinities. A suite of morphological and palynological characters were identified that differ significantly from both the typical variety and all other members presently included in section Sagittatae . These include the ovate to elliptic anthers, the orientation of long and mid-level reproductive organs, the absence of an indumentum on the leaves, the presence of calli on the leaflets, sepals and petals, reticulately deposited epicuticular wax on the leaves, the broadly funnel-shaped corolla tube and the basally fused anthers. We therefore raise Oxalis minuta var. callosa to specific rank as O . hygrophila Dreyer, and transfer it from section Sagittatae to section Latifoliolatae .

The earliest fossil evidence of the Hamamelidaceae: Late Cretaceous (Turonian) inflorescences and fruits of Altingioideae

Fossilized pistillate inflorescences, fruits, and pollen grains from the Turonian (∼90 million years before present) of New Jersey are described as a new genus, Microaltingia, in the family Hamamelidaceae. The fossils are remarkably preserved in exceptional detail. Several morphological and anatomical characters suggest affinities with Hamamelidaceae. These include capitate inflorescences, florets with a hypanthium, two-carpellate gynoecia, perigynous flowers, tricolpate reticulate pollen, a three-layered carpel wall, scalariform perforation plates with oblique end walls, and scalariform and opposite/alternate intervascular pitting. The gross morphology of pistillate inflorescences, unisexual flowers, phyllome structure, numerous ovules per carpel, and mode of carpel dehiscence indicate affinities with subfamily Altingioideae, which includes the modern genera Liquidambar and Altingia. Cladistic analysis using a previously published morphological matrix and scoring the fossil for available characters supports the position of the fossil as a sister taxon of modern Altingioideae. Although the fossil exhibits a mosaic of characters found within modern Hamamelidaceae, it is not identical to any modern taxon. Based on cladistic analysis, the fossil appears to be a basal "altingioid" that lacks the derived pollen found in extant Altingioideae and retains the more plesiomorphic tricolpate pollen found in the rest of Hamamelidaceae. The floral characters of the fossils, including phyllomes with stomata, short and straight styles, and small perprolate pollen grains, also indicate the possibility of insect pollination.

Inflorescence with tricolpate pollen grains from the Cenomanian of Tschulymo-Yenisey Basin, West Siberia

A new taxon Freyantha sibirica gen. et sp. nov. is erected for a delicate racemose inflorescence from the Cenomanian of the Tchulymo-Yenisey Basin, West Siberia. The inflorescence bears male flowers of partly connate stamens that produced tricolpate reticulate pollen grains. The flowers are subtended by calyptrate bracts. The taxonomically significant features of the general inflorescence morphology, prophylls, floral bracts, stamens and pollen grains are shared with different angiosperm groups, such as the Menispermaceae and Sargentodoxaceae. Prominent glands on the floral bracts indicate pollination by nectar-sucking insects.

Investigations on a fossil agavaceous axis from Neyveli Lignite, Tamil Nadu, India

Further anatomical observations on a fossil agavaceous axis from Neyveli lignite Mine-I, Neyveli, Tamil Nadu show the presence of anomalous secondary growth with amphivasal vascular bundles as well as other cell inclusions such as raphides. Simple perforation in the fossil vessel end plates suggests an advanced character of the plant. The Association of monosulcate reticulate pollen (cf. Liliacidites) in the same axis further supports its affinities with Liliaceae.