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<p>This study highlights a comprehensive micromorphological analysis of pollen from 25 Malvaceous species using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), integrating both qualitative and quantitative parameters to evaluate taxonomic utility. Pollen grains were predominantly spheroidal to globular with echinate exine sculpturing and variable aperture types. Substantial interspecific variation was observed in polar and equatorial diameters (ranging from 29.25 to 164.10&#xa0;µm), P/E ratios (0.97–1.33), spine length (0–66.6&#xa0;µm), and exine thickness (1.20–7.65&#xa0;µm). Shape diversity included circular, triangular, and quadrangular forms in polar view and subprolate to elliptical in equatorial view. Aperture diversity spanned from tricolporate to pantoporate and inaperturate, with <i>Grewia</i> spp. and <i>Hibiscus</i> taxa showing advanced aperture elaboration. Spine morphology proved highly diagnostic, ranging from echinate to scrobiculate or entirely absent, as seen in <i>Ceiba</i> and <i>Bombax</i>. Exine ornamentation varied from microreticulate to rugose, with taxa-specific sculpturing patterns aiding species delimitation. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that spine traits and grain size accounted for the majority of variance (PC1: 37.9%, PC2: 23.2%), while hierarchical clustering grouped species into morphologically coherent clades. Descriptive statistics confirmed the high variability and diagnostic potential of pollen traits, supporting both genus- and species-level differentiation. Taxa such as <i>Malvaviscus arboreus</i>, <i>Sida alba</i>, and <i>Malvastrum coromandelianum</i> displayed distinctive trait combinations, reinforcing their taxonomic distinctiveness. The presence or absence of mesocolpium, variation in colpi dimensions, and spine indices further enhanced species resolution. A taxonomic key constructed from micromorphological characters offers reliable species identification. The integration of multivariate statistics and detailed morphological profiling highlights the value of palynological data in clarifying phylogenetic relationships and ecological adaptations within the Malvaceae family.</p>

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Taxonomic significance of pollen micromorphology in family Malvaceae from subtropical ecosystems

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月12日

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  • Prem Kumar,
  • Mushtaq Ahmad,
  • Syed Waseem Gillani,
  • Muhammad Manzoor,
  • Shazia Sultana,
  • Lixin Zhang,
  • Sokhib Islamov,
  • Jamil Raza

摘要

This study highlights a comprehensive micromorphological analysis of pollen from 25 Malvaceous species using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), integrating both qualitative and quantitative parameters to evaluate taxonomic utility. Pollen grains were predominantly spheroidal to globular with echinate exine sculpturing and variable aperture types. Substantial interspecific variation was observed in polar and equatorial diameters (ranging from 29.25 to 164.10 µm), P/E ratios (0.97–1.33), spine length (0–66.6 µm), and exine thickness (1.20–7.65 µm). Shape diversity included circular, triangular, and quadrangular forms in polar view and subprolate to elliptical in equatorial view. Aperture diversity spanned from tricolporate to pantoporate and inaperturate, with Grewia spp. and Hibiscus taxa showing advanced aperture elaboration. Spine morphology proved highly diagnostic, ranging from echinate to scrobiculate or entirely absent, as seen in Ceiba and Bombax. Exine ornamentation varied from microreticulate to rugose, with taxa-specific sculpturing patterns aiding species delimitation. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that spine traits and grain size accounted for the majority of variance (PC1: 37.9%, PC2: 23.2%), while hierarchical clustering grouped species into morphologically coherent clades. Descriptive statistics confirmed the high variability and diagnostic potential of pollen traits, supporting both genus- and species-level differentiation. Taxa such as Malvaviscus arboreus, Sida alba, and Malvastrum coromandelianum displayed distinctive trait combinations, reinforcing their taxonomic distinctiveness. The presence or absence of mesocolpium, variation in colpi dimensions, and spine indices further enhanced species resolution. A taxonomic key constructed from micromorphological characters offers reliable species identification. The integration of multivariate statistics and detailed morphological profiling highlights the value of palynological data in clarifying phylogenetic relationships and ecological adaptations within the Malvaceae family.