MICROMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF POLLENS OF THE GENUS PSYCHROGETON BOISS. FROM PAKISTAN AND KASHMIR

Abstract

This genus has not been examined yet either by Light Microscopy or by Scanning Electron Microscopy, not only in Pakistan but all over the world. This is the first time that its micromorphological study of the pollens has been carried out. Systematic studies of this genus Psychrogeton Boiss. have been done and six species are found in Pakistan & Kashmir (Qaiser et al, 2021). Psychrogeton has been placed in the family Asteraceae, Tribe Astereae, Sub-tribe Asteranae, Erigeron-Conyza group, (Bremer, 1994). In this paper we are discussing about the palynological attributes of five species of Psychrogeton and their systemic implication in their identification and circumscription of species. P.alexeenkoi is reported from Pakistan but we couldn’t find any herbarium material for the micromorphological studies.Pollens are Sub-oblate, Oblate-spheroidal, radially symmetrical, isopolar, tricolporate. Tectum is perforate/non-perforate and echinate. Spines apices are rounded blunt – acuminate with variable interspinal distance. On the basis of pollen shape, twsix distinct pollen types are recognized. P.aucheri type and P.andryaloides-type.