Palyno-morphology of Hedera L. (The ivy genus, araliaceae) and their systematics implications

Abstract

The palynomorphological characteristics of 5 species belonging to Hedera of the Araliaceae family were studied in detail. These plant species were collected from various phytogeographical regions of Iran and Hungary. The palynological investigation was accomplished using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Pollen grains of the species are reticulate, prolate, sub-prolate, tricolporate, isopolar, radially symmetrical, and monad. The largest pollen grain was in the Hedera colchica species (72.24?1.6 ?m) and the smallest pollen grain was in Hedera helix (28.63?2.1 ?m). The research carried out by the TEM showed that the species were different in terms of exine thickness, tectum thickness, foot layer thickness, the diameter and length of the Columella, the thickness and shape of the Caput, the tectum to foot layer )T/F( ratio, the absence or presence of the Endexine and the thickness of the Intine layers. The main purpose of this study was the importance of the relationship between pollen grain size and the number of chromosomes and ploidy level in Hedera species.