Pollen morphology of the Polish species of the genus Ribes L.

Abstract

This paper presents results of studies on pollen morphology of 6 Polish species of the genus Ribes L. (family Grossulariaceae). Observations were carried out with LM and SEM. Pollen diagnoses were illustrated by series of microphotographs. Grains of examined species are small to medium-sized and prolate spheroidal or subprolate in shape, rarely prolate. They represent three pollen classes: zonocolporate, pantoaperturate and pantoporate. Three types of ectoapertures have been observed: colpi, pori and colpoids. Endoapertures are pori, in number (4-) 6-7-8 (-14) per grain. Ornamentation is psilate or fossulate, with the exception of the ectoaperture areas, which are granulate. According to the author, the polarity or apolarity, type of pollen class and ectoaperture, number of endopori and ratio of exine thickness to grain diameter are the main diagnostic features of the pollen grains of the native species of Ribes. The key to Polish species, basing on the morphological characters of grains is given too.