Willdenowia 36
Willdenowia – Annals of the Botanic Garden and
Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem
ISSN 0511-9618
© 2006 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem.
Bigazzi, M., Nardi, E. & Selvi, F.: Palynological contribution to the systematics of Rindera and the
allied genera Paracaryum and Solenanthus (Boraginaceae-Cynoglosseae).
Willdenowia 36 (Special Issue): 37-46.
doi:10.3372/wi.36.36103
Abstract
The pollen of thirteen species of Rindera, ten of Solenanthus
and eight of Paracaryum was examined by light and scanning
electron microscopy. Two main pollen types are recognised, one
typical of most Rindera species (Rindera tetraspis
type) and one occurring in all but one species examined of
Paracaryum and Solenanthus (Cynoglossum officinale
type). Deviations from the Rindera tetraspis type in
Rindera were observed in R. tianschanica, which is
characterised by the Cynoglossum officinale pollen type, and
R. gymnandra, which shows the Pardoglossum atlanticum
type as already published. Within Paracaryum and Solenanthus
the only remarkable deviation from the Cynoglossum officinale
type was found in Solenanthus hupehensis from China. In the
constricted shape and the lack of an ectocingulus, the pollen of
this species approaches the Myosotis arvensis type, which is
rarely found in the tribe Cynoglosseae. Combined with other
morphological peculiarities, pollen characters support the placement
of S. hupehensis in a subgenus of its own, S. subg.
Silvestria, named after the discoverer of this species.
Key words:
angiosperms, micromorphology, pollen, scanning electron
microscopy, Solenanthus subg. Silvestria, taxonomy.
