Pollen Morphology and Taxonomic Position of the GenusPentaphragmaWall. (Pentaphragmataceae)

Abstract

The pollen morphology of some Pentaphragma Wall, species has been studied by light- and electron microscopy. To improve the rehydration of the dried material used, compound fixatives have been applied. Intine-held vesicles and fibrillar network in gaps and spaces of the exine stain positively for protein. The pollen morphology of the genus differs strongly from that of Campanulaceae, and shows distinctive characters of its own. Hence from a palynological point of view it appears correct to place the genus in a separate family.