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POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF CARYOPHYLLACEAE SPECIES FROM TURKEY

KEMAL YILDIZ

Abstract: The pollen morphology of 45 species, 11 of which are endemic, belonging to 15 genera of Caryophyllaceae was investigated by light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the basis of exine structure, ornamentation and morphological data, 10 distinct pollen types viz., 1. Arenaria type, 2. Stellaria holostea L., 3. Cerastium type, 4. Dianthus type, 5. Gypsophila repens type, 6. Lychnis viscaria type, 7. Silene vulgaris type, 8. Silene caryophylloides subsp. subulata (Poiret) Otth, 9. Silene conica type and 10. Agrostemma githago L., were recognized. Pollen grains are tectate, spheroidal, polypantoporate, microechinate (spinulose), perforate, microperforate (punctate tubuliferous), reticulate and semireticulate. Significant differences in grain size and pore number are also found in all the species. The biggest grains are in Silene L., and Agrostemma L., species, whereas the smallest grains are in Petrorhagia (Ser.) Link. The most advanced species of Caryophyllaceae regarding evolution are found in Silene and Agrostemma.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Celal Bayar University, 45040 Muradiye-Manisa-Turkey. Fax: 90 0236 2412158