In this article we will discuss about the palynotaxonomy of monocots and dicots.
Palynotaxonomy of Monocots:
Monocotyledoneae:
Pandanales:
The pollen grains are monoporate to monosulcate. Typha latifolia (Typhaceae) grains are in tetragonal tetrads, other species of Typha show monads, monoporate; exine granulate to reticulate. In Pandanaceae the grains are monoporate to monosulcate; exine psilate to echinate. In Sparganiaceae, grains are monosulcate, spheroidal, exine reticulate.
Helobiae:
In Potamogeton (Potamogeto- naceae), the pollen is non-aperturate, spheroidal; exine reticulate. In Alismataceae (Alisma, Burnatia, Caldesia, Damasonium, Sagittaria, Echinodorus, Limnophyton, Lophotocarpus), the grains are pantoporate (A. oligococcum 2-porate), spheroidal to rounded polyhedral, exine with supratectal granules.
In Butomus umbellatus (Butomaceae), the grains are bilateral, heteropolar, monosulcate; exine reticulate. In Aponogetonaceae, grains are monosulcate, exine spiniferous. In Hydrocharitaceae, pollen are inaperturate or monosulcate, exine mostly spinulate. In Najas (Najadaceae), pollen inaperturate, ellipsoidal, faintly reticulate.
Triuridales:
Andruris vitiensis (Triuridaceae) pollen grains are inaperturate, spheroidal, exine psilate.
Glumiflorae:
In Gramineae, the grains are monoporate (ulcerate), spheroidal, pore with annulus; exine psilate to scabrate. In Cyperaceae, the grains are inaperturate with 1- 3 aperturoid areas, subspheroidal to pear- shaped; exine with fine supratectal processes.
Synanthae:
Among Cyclanthaceae, Carludovica pollen is monosulcate, oblate. In C. chelidonum surface pattern obscure, while in C. mexicana surface reticulate. In Cyclanthus bipartitus pollen mono-sulcoidate, oblate, exine obscure.
Principes:
Palmae pollen grains are monosulcate (Borassus, Cocos, Areca, Caryota, Phoenix) or bisulcate (Calamus, Metroxylon, Nypa) or trichotomosulcate (Acanthorhiza, Astrocaryum); oblate to peroblate; exine verrucate to reticulate.
Spathiflorae:
In Araceae, pollen grains are monosulcate/2-4 sulculate/3-porate/inaperturate and in Lemnaceae, the grains are inaperturate, spheroidal; some grains show a depressed area simulating sulcus; exine spinulose or granulate.
Farinosae:
In Flagellariaceae, the grains are monoporate (ulcerate), spheroidal; exine reticulate. The Restionaceae grains are monoaperturate (1-treme) with three aperture types a more ‘primitive’ centrolepidoid type, an intermediate transitional type, and an ‘advanced’ graminoid type. Centrolepidaceae grains are monoaperturate with a large aperture, irregular in outline (circular to colpoid), surrounded by a constricted ring of loose granules or broken fragment of exine. In Eriocaulon (Eriocaulaceae) the grains are spiraperturate, spheroidal; exine with supratectal processes.
In Thurnia jenmani (Thurniaceae), the grains are united in tetrahedral tetrad. In Ananas comosus (Bromeliaceae), the grains are monosulcate, oblate; exine reticulate, homobrochate.
In Commelina, Aneilema, and Cyanotis (Commelinaceae), the grains are monosulcate (monocolpate), euobate to oblate-spheroidal; exine echinate, spinulose or striate. In Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae), the grains are dizonocolpate, subprolate to euprolate; exine psilate. In Cyanastraceae, grains are monosulcate to trichotomosulcate, oblate, tenui- exinous, surface baculate to subreticulate.
Liliiflorae:
Juncaceae grains are monosulcate, spheroidal to subspheroidal; exine psilate to scabrate. In Chlorophytum, Gloriosa and Iphigenia (Liliaceae) the grains are monocolpate, euoblate to peroblate; exine psilate to reticulate.
In Scilla the grains are di- to poly-porate, suboblate to oblate-spheroidal; exine psilate to very faintly perforate. Amaryllidaceae grains are dizonocolpate, subprolate to perprolate; exine echinate. In Dioscoreaceae the grains are dizonocolpate, subprolate to euprolate; exine psilate. In Croomia japonica and Stemona mairei of Stemonaceae, grains are monosulcate, oblate, surface reticulate. In Iridaceae pollen grains are monosulcate/2-sulcate/inaperture/spiraperture, oblate, exine variable reticulate to retipilate.
Scitamineae:
Musaceae grains are inaperturate (Musa, Strelitzia) or monoulceroidate (Heliconia), spheroidal to subspheroidal, surface psilate to gammate. In Marantaceae, grains are inaperturate, spheroidal, exine psilate, tenuisexinous. Carina indica (Cannaceae) grains are inaperturate, spheroidal; exine thick with gemmate processes. Hedychium coronarium (Zingiberaceae) grains are 2-sulcate, oblate; exine finely reticulate.
Microspermae:
Burmanniaceae grains are mono- to triporate, spheroidal to sub-spheroidal; exine psilate to granulate. Orchidaceae grains are monads, dyads, tetrads, pollinia, massulae, aperture not discernible; exine variable.
Palynotaxonomy of Dicotyledoneae:
Archichlamydeae:
Verticillatae:
Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) grains are 3-pororate, suboblate, pores aspidote, ora circular; exine psilate.
Piperales:
In Chloranthus (Chloranthaceae), the grains are 4-6 colpate, while in Sarcandra they are inaperturate; exine ornamented (reticulate). In Piperaceae the grains are inaperturate, spheroidal; exine thin, reticulate. In Saururaceae, grains are monosulcate, oblate, exine with obscure pattern.
Hydrostachyales:
In Hydrostachyaceae, grains are inaperturate, united in tetrahedral/rhomboidal tetrads.
Salicales:
In Salicaceae, grains are inaperturate (Populus) or tricolpate (Salix), spheroidal to prolate, exine granulate or reticulate.
Garryales:
In Garryaceae, grains are 3- colporate, sub-oblate to oblate-spheroidal, exine reticulate.
Myricales:
In Myricaceae, grains are 3- porate, oblate to oblate-spheroidal, crassisexinous.
Balanopsidales:
Pollen grains of Balanop-sidaceae are 3-5 colpate, sub-oblate to oblate- spheroidal, exine surface obscure.
Leitneriales:
Leitneriaceae grains are 3-6 colporate, oblate-spheroidal, exine reticulate.
Juglandiales:
Pollen grains of Juglandaceae 3-porate (Carya, Platycarya, Engelhardtia) or 6-7 porate (Pterocarya) or often with 3-7 porate (Juglans), oblate to sub-oblate, often with aspidote.
Julianiales:
In Julianiaceae, grains are 3-8 colporate, brevicolpate, sub-oblate to oblate- spheroidal, exine granulate.
Batidales:
Pollen of Batidaceae are 3-4 colporoidate, sub-prolate to oblate, exine with obscure pattern.
Fagales:
Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae) grains are 4-5 porate (with arcus), oblate; exine granulate. Betula alnoides grains are 3-porate (with aspidote), sub-oblate; exine scabrate. In Castanopsis hystrix, Quercus incana, Q. pachyphylla (Fagaceae) the grains are 3-colporate, prolate, exine scabrate.
Urticales:
The grains in Urticaceae, Ulmaceae and Moraceae are 2-7 porate, spheroidal to oblate-spheroidal; exine psilate to granulate.
Podostemales:
Pollen grains of Podoste- maceae are 3-colpate (Apinagia), 3-colporoidate (Weddellina), polyporate (Tristicha) or united in dyads (Cladoptus, Podostemon), prolate to sub- prolate, exine granulate or obscure.
Proteales:
In Proteaceae, pollen grains are 2-3 or 7-aperturate, generally porate or rarely colpoidate (Beaupre), pores large, peroblate to oblate-spheroidal, amb triangular or less often circular; often with aspidote, exine granulate to reticulate.
Santalales:
In Olacaceae, grains are 3- colpate (Chaunochiton), 3-colporoidate (Coula, Heisteria), 3-5 porate (Aptandra, Harmandia, Liriosma, Olax), 6-forate (Anacolosa, Cathedra); peroblate to oblate, amb triangular, exine granulate to reticulate.
In Loranthaceae, grains are 2-4 colpate or 2-4 colporate, often with syncolpate, amb triangular; peroblate to sub- prolate, exine obscure to spinulate. In Santalaceae, grains are 3-colpate / colporate / colporoidate / porate; amb triangular; oblate to prolate, exine reticulate to obscure.
Aristolochiales:
In Aristolochiaceae grains are inaperturate / 1-sulcate, spheroidal, exine reticulate / pilate / areolate. In Rafflesiaceae grains are inaperturate / 3-colpate / 2-poroid, exine psilate to obscure. In Hydnora africana (Hydnoraceae) pollen are 2-3 sulculate, oblate, exine obscure.
Balanophorales:
In Balanophoraceae, grains are 4-5 colpoidate, oblate-spheroidal to sub-oblate, exine obscure.
Polygonales:
In Polygonaceae, the grains are pantoporate, 3-colpate or 3-colporate, prolate, oblate to spheroidal; exine thick, mostly reticulate.
Centrospermae:
In Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae, the grains are pantoporate, spheroidal; exine punctitegillate with supratectal processes. Caryophyllaceae pollen is pantoporate, spheroidal to polygonal; exine punctitegillate with supratectal processes. Nyctaginaceae grains are pantoporate, spheroidal; exine reticulate with echinate processes.
In Portulaca (Portulacaceae), the grains are polycolpate, spheroidal, colpi arranged in the form of pentagon; exine reticulate with spinules. In Basella rubra (Basellaceae), grains are 6-colpate, amb rectangular, entire grain has the shape of a dice, 4-colpi are in equatorial zone and two are in two polar region giving an appearance of criss-cross shape, exine reticulate.
Ranales:
In Clematis (Ranunculaceae), the grains are 3-colpate, prolate-spheroidal to subprolate; exine reticulate. Menispermaceae grains are 3-colporate and 3-colporoidate (Cissampelos, Cocculus, Tinospora), shape variable; exine reticulate.
Magnoliaceae grains are monosulcate, boat-shaped, oblate; exine psilate. Annonaceae grains are monosulcoidate, in tetragonal tetrad, oblate in Annona, inaperturate in Polyalthia; exine with blunt echinate processes. Lauraceae grains are inaperturate, spheroidal; exine with supratectal processes.
Rhoeadales:
Papaveraceae grains are 3- colpate (Argemone), oblate-spheroidal; exine reticulate, head of bacula swollen. Capparidaceae grains are 3-colporate (Polanisia), subprolate; exine reticulate. Cruciferae grains are 3-colpate, prolate to oblate; exine reticulate.
Sarraceniales:
Droseraceae and Nepenthaceae grains are in tetrahedral tetrads, exine echinate. Sarraceniaceae grains are 5-6 or poly-colporoidate, exine obscure.
Rosales:
Rosaceae grains are 3-colporate, prolate to oblate; exine reticulate (Chaenomeles), striated (Fragaria), scabrate (Prunus), or striato- reticulate (Pyrus). In Mimosaceae, the grains are monad, tetrad, polyads, or pollinia, monad grains 3-colporate; exine psilate.
In Caesalpiniaceae, the grains are 3-colporate with variable shape, size, and exine ornamentations. In Fabaceae, the grains are 3-colpate, 3-colporate or 3 to pantoporate with variable size, shape, and exine ornamentations. In Crassulaceae, grains 3-colporate, prolate-spheroidal, striato- reticulate.
Pandanales:
Pandanaceae pollen are inaperturate or with one ulceroid aperture, exine spinulose or retipilate.
Geraniales:
Rutaceae grains are 3-4 colporate; exine psilate to reticulate. Meliaceae grains are 3-4 colporate; exine punctitegillate (Azadirachta) to reticulate (Amoora). Euphorbiaceae grains are inaperturate to 3- colporate, shape, size and exine variable. Oxalidaceae grains are 3-4 colpate or 3-4 colporate, exine generally reticulate. In Callitrichaceae, grains are usually inaperturate, spheroidal, exine reticulate.
Sapindales:
Anacardiaceae grains are 3- colporate or 3-colporoidate; exine reticulate to striato- reticulate. Celastraceae grains are 3- colporate; exine with baculate (Cassine) or psilate (Maytenus, Celastrus) columellae. Sapindaceae grains are 3-colporate (Litchi), oblate-spheroidal; exine reticulate. In Buxaceae, grains are polyforate/3-colpate, exine reticulate or punctitegillate with crotonoid pattern. Balsaminaceae grains are 3-4 colpate, amb rectangular (Impatiens) or triangular (Hydrocera), exine reticulate.
Rhamnales:
Rhamnaceae grains are 3- colporate, prolate-spheroidal to oblate- spheroidal; exine psilate. Vitaceae grains are 3- colporate, shape variable; exine psilate to microreticulate or retipilate.
Malvales:
Tiliaceae grains are 3-colporate, variable size; exine microreticulate to reticulate. Malvaceae grains are pantoporate, spheroidal; exine with echini. Bombacaceae grains are 3- colporate(Bombax), oblate; exine reticulate. In Sterculiaceae, the grains are 2-porate, pantoporate or 3-colporate, shape variable; exine psilate to reticulate. Elaeocarpaceae grains are 3-colporate, prolate to prolate-spheroidal, exine obscure or finely reticulate.
Parietales:
Dilleniaceae grains are 3-colpate (Dillenia), oblate-spheroidal; exine negatively reticulate. Guttiferae grains are 3-colporate (Hypericum), perprolate, exine psilate. In Tamaricaceae, the grains are 3-colpate (Tamarix), subprolate to euprolate, exine perforated. In Caricaceae the grains are 3-colporate, spheroidal; exine with obscure pattern.
Opuntiales:
Cactaceae grains are 3- colporate (Cereus) to pantoporate (Opuntia), oblate-spheroidal; exine echinate to foveolate.
Myrtiflorae:
In Lythraceae the grains are 3-colporate (Lagerstroemia, Lawsonia, Woodfordia), often with pseudocolpi (Rotala); exine psilate. Lecythidaceae grains are 3-colporoidate (Couroupita), often with syncolpate (Careya) or 3-colporate (Barringtonia), exine psilate: Combretaceae grains are 3-colporate, colpi alternate with pseudocolpi; exine psilate. Myrtaceae grains are 3-parasyncolporate, peroblate; exine psilate.
Umbelliflorae:
In Umbelliferae, the pollen is 3-colporate, prolate to perprolate, exine psilate to microreticulate. In Araliaceae, grains are 3- colporate (sometimes 2-4 colporate, 3-colpate, 6-rugate), oblate-spheroidal to prolate, exine reticulate. Cornaceae grains are 3-colporate, exine reticulate to retipilate.
Metachlamydeae:
Diapensiales:
In Diapensiaceae, grains are 3-colporate or 3-colporoidate, usually prolate, exine reticulate.
Ericales:
In Ericaceae, the grains are in tetrahedral tetrad, monad 3-colporate (Rhododendron, Agapetes), spheroidal; exine gemmate or finely reticulate.
Primulales:
In Myrsinaceae the grains are 3-colporate, prolate (Ardisia, Maesa); exine psilate to granulate. Primulaceae grains are 3- colporate, prolate to prolate-spheroidal; exine reticulate. In Clavija parvula (Theophrastaceae) grains are 3-colporate, oblate-spheroidal, exine finely reticulate.
Plumbaginales:
In Plumbaginaceae, grains are 3-5 colpate or 4-rupate or 6-rugate, sub- oblate to subprolate, exine verrucate to reticulate.
Ebenales:
Sapotaceae have 4-5 colporate, oblate-spheroidal pollen grains, exine punctitegillate. In Ebenaceae, grains are 3- colporate, prolate-spheroidal to prolate.
Contortae:
Oleaceae have 3-colporate, oblate-spheroidal grains; exine reticulate. Gentianaceae grains are 3-colporate, prolate- spheroidal to subprolate; exine striato-reticulate. Apocynaceae grains are 3-colporate (Alstonia, Plumeria) or 3-5 porate (Nerium, Plumeria), exine psilate to finely reticulate. In Asclepiadaceae, the grains are polyads in the form of pollinia; exine psilate.
Tubiflorae:
Convolvulaceae grains are pantoporate or 3-colpate, pantocolpate, spheroidal; exine echinate with variable spines. Boraginaceae pollen is 3-colporate or 3- colporoidate often with alternating pseudocolpi or heterocolpate, shape and exine variable. Verbenaceae grains are 3-colpate, 3-4 colporate (Lantana) or 3-colporoidate, shape and exine variable. Labiatae have 3-6 colpate, mostly oblate to oblate-spheroidal pollen grains; exine reticulate.
Solanaceae grains are 3-colporate, shape variable; exine psilate, reticulate or striato- reticulate. Scrophulariaceae pollen is 3-colpate, 3-colporate or 3-colporoidate, shape and exine variable. Bignoniaceae grains are 3-colpate, 3- colporoidate, 3-colporate, polyzonocolpate or 5- parasyncolpate, shape and exine variable. In Acanthaceae, the pollen grains are 3-colpate, 2- 3 colporate, pantoporate or spiraperture, shape variable; exine mostly reticulate or psilate.
Plantaginales:
Plantaginaceae grains are 3 to polyporate; sometimes apertures are slightly colpoid or rugoid types, exine psilate or baculate or granulate.
Rubiales:
Rubiaceae pollen is 3-colporate, polyzonocolpate or 3-porate, shape and exine variable. In Valeriaceae, grains are 3-4 colporoidate, suboblate to subprolate, exine spinulate.
Cucurbitales:
In Cucurbitaceae, the pollen grains are 3-colpate or 3-porate, shape variable, exine reticulate or retipilate (Edgaria).
Campanulatae:
Compositae pollen is 3- colporate or 3-porate, shape variable, exine echinate, spinulate or echinolophate. Campanulaceae grains are 2 to many colpate or colporoidate or colporate or porate or forate, peroblate to prolate, exine obscure, spinulate or punctitegillate.