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POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE FAMILY LABIATAE FROM PAKISTAN

ANJUM PERVEEN AND M. QAISER

Abstract: Pollen morphology of 79 species representing 27 genera of the family Labiatae from Pakistan have been examined by light and scanning electron microscope. Labiatae is a eurypalynous family. Pollen grains are generally free, radially symmetrical, isopolar, mostly colpate (3-8), rarely colporate. Shape of pollen grains are prolate-spheroidal to oblate-spheroidal or sub-oblate. Sexine may be thicker or thinner than nexine. Reticulate tectum is the most common type. Other tectum types viz. rugulate, foveolate, striate and fossulate are also found. Shape, aperture types and exine ornamentation are found to be more significant pollen characters where seven distinct pollen types viz. Elsholtzia densa - type, Marrubium marrubiastrum - type, Nepeta laevigata - type, Scutellaria prostrata - type, Salvia aegyptiaca - type, Stachys parviflora - type and Teucriunm scordium - type are recognized. The pollen morphology of the family Labiatae does not support the infra familial classification but at the species level it is quite helpful in delimitation of various taxa.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan