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POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF SOME ALPINE-DINARIC TAXA OF THE GENUS CROCUS L. - TAXONOMICAL IMPLICATIONS

The objective of this study was to research pollen morphological features of the Genus Crocus L. and their possible taxonomical and evolutionary significance. For that purpose several taxonomically interesting Alpine-Dinaric groups of the genus Crocus were selected. Their pollen grains were studied by scanning electron microscopy, prepared according to standard palynological procedure (Halbritter 1998). Pollen terminology and descriptions follow Hesse et al. (2009). Results showed that pollen grains of the researched taxa of the genus Crocus are spiraperturate monads, in general with echinate and perforate exine ornamentation. All investigated pollen grains are spheroidal, large (51-100 µm), and with different and variable number of apertures. Generally, dry pollen grains are circular with sunken apertures. However, several different pollen types were recognized and taxonomically delimited to the specific taxonomic sublevels. Furthermore, some peculiar palynological features suggested possible hybridogenous origin of some taxa. Palynological features of the genus Crocus which could have taxonomical importance on different classification levels are: shape of dry pollen grains ; shape, outline and approximate size of hydrated pollen grains, ornamentation of the aperture membrane and ornamentation of the exine. Possible taxonomic and evolutionary implications of pollen morphology of the genus Crocus will be suggested and briefly discussed.

SEM, Iridaceae, evolutionary implications of pollen morphology

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