PJB-2025-1508
Palynological investigation for taxonomic authentication of medicinal flora from the Hindukush range of northern Pakistan
Iqra Qayyum, Mushtaq Ahmad, Zabta Khan Shinwari, Nizomova Maksuda Usmankulovna, Maria Hamayun, Sarwar Khawaja, Aroosa Habib and Muhammad Idrees
Abstract
The current study sought to evaluate the morphological variations in pollen grains between 38 species of the Hindukush range of Northern Pakistan. A total of 38 taxa have been analyzed using microscopic techniques to examine the qualitative and quantitative characters of pollen. Pollen size, shape, ornamentation, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, exine thickness, colpi length, colpi width and mesocolpium were studied. Pollen grains of the most taxa studied were tricolporate and prolate. Majority of the pollen recorded have small-medium size and its shape were oblate, peroblate. The study declared that people living in the rural areas were primarily dependent on the medicinal plants. In this study 150 peoples were interviewed through random sampling technique. These medicinal plants were used for the treatment of different diseases i.e digestive, respiratory and dermatological problems in Gilgit. Under a Scanning electron microscope reticulate, echinate, psilate, and perforate have been examined. In addition to being a useful tool for specific delimitation, palynological studies can be used as a key for identifications of taxonomic characters on species, genus and family level. Exine ornamentations provide useful identifying traits to differentiate closely related species. Thus, it is evident that pollen morphological characteristics can both be helpful in distinguishing between taxa at a particular level
To Cite this article:
Qayyum, I., M. Ahmad, Z.K. Shinwari, N.M. Usmankulovna, M. Hamayun, S. Khawaja, A. Habib and M. Idrees. 2025. Palynological investigation for taxonomic authentication of medicinal flora from the Hindukush range of northern Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot., 57(2): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2025-2(2)
Download
