MICROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF MICROSPORES OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY FABACEAE, LAHORE, PAKISTAN.

Abstract

Some selected plant species of the Family Fabaceae were collected from Lahore, Pakistan for palynological studies. Ten plant (10) species belonging to seven (07) genera of the family Fabaceae were collected in different seasons and palynologically examined. The represented pollen types were tricolporate and tetracolporate types. Palynomorphographic features were measured carefully. Pollen diameter in polar and equatorial view was measured. Largest pollen was found in Cassia glauca (60µm) and smallest in Millettia ovalifolia (18µm). Colpi length in colporate pollen ranged between 48 µm (Cassia glauca) to 10µm (Albizia julibrissin) while colpus width from 15µm (Cassia glauca) to 02 µm (Albizia julibrissin). Largest pores 20µm were measured in Cassia glauca and smallest (2µm) in Albizia Julibrissin respectively. Pollen exine thickness in various plant species varied from 1µm (Caeselpinia pulcherima) to 5µm (Bauhinia purpurea). Shape of pollen in different species was prolate, spheroidal, oblate spheroidal or semi rounded. Exine ornamentation was found to be microreticulate in seven species while four (04) species (Acacia modesta, Bauhinia purpurea, Caeselpinia pulcherima and Milletti ovalifolia) showed coarsely reticulate to intra reticulate. All of these palynological characteristics were used to develop a dichotomous key.