J Syst Evol ›› 2001, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (3): 234-247.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Pollen morphology of the genus Rubus from China

LI Wei-Lin, HE Shan-An, GU Yin, SHU Pu, PU Zu-Mao   

  • Published:2001-05-10

Abstract: Pollen morphology of 103 species belonging to twenty-three subsections of seven sections of Rubus L. was examined with SEM. The pollen grains are usually 3-colporate, spheroidal, subspheroidal, prolate and perprolate, though occasionally rhombic and hexagonal, 16.0~38.0 μm × 12.0~30.0 μum in size. The exine ornamentation can be divided into rugulate, striate, cerebroid and perforate-reticulate types, which include 11 subtypes: rugulate-subpsilate, rugulate-striate, rugulate-perforate, striate, striate-perforate, striate-reticulate, cerebroid, cerebroid-perforate, perforate, perforate-reticulate and reticulate. The pollen morphology is of some significance for a better classification of the genus Rubus, but seems to be of little help for a better understanding of thephylogeny of the genus.

Key words: Rubus L., Pollen morphology, Systematics