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Pollen morphology of the genus Iris L. (Iridaceae) from the southern European area - taxonomic and evolutionary trends

On the territory of Southern Europe the genus Iris is represented with Alpine-Dinaric, Mediterranean and Pannonian taxa, from the subgenera Iris and Limniris. The aim of this study was to investigate the taxonomical and evolutionary significance of their pollen morphological features and therefore pollen grains of 20 taxa were studied by scanning electron microscopy. All pollen grains are sulcate, but at least four pollen types were recognized and taxonomically delimited to the series level: two characterize the subgenus Iris, section Iris (series Elatae and Pumilae) and two the subgenus Limniris, section Limniris (series Laevigatae, Sibiricae and Spuriae). Possible evolutionary implications of pollen morphology of the genus Iris were suggested: the subgenus Iris is more advanced than the subgenus Limniris ; I. graminea seems to be the most primitive member of the subgenus Limniris on the European territory ; pollen morphology of the population of the subspecies I. sibirica subsp. erirrhiza from the Mountain Bjelolasica could represent a link between the subgenera Limniris and Iris on the territory of Southern Europe. The possible pathway of evolution of the genus Iris on the territory of Southern Europe was suggested: from the subgenus Limniris, through the “linked taxon” I. sibirica subsp. erirrhiza from the Bjelolasica Mountain, to the subgenus Iris, series Pumilae and finally to the series Elatae.

Iris; Southern Europe; pollen morphology; taxonomical and evolutionary significance

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