Pollen Morphology of the Family Cistaceae in Relation to its Taxonomy

Abstract

Results of the examination of pollen grains of 65 species of eight genera (Cistus, Crocanthemum, Fumana, Halimium, Helianthemum, Hudsonia, Lechea, and Tuberaria) of the family Cistaceae Juss, are presented. A set of morphological characters including the type of aperture structure, the shape and size of the pollen grains and the exine structure and sculpturing, allowed the recognition of six pollen types (Cistus type, Crocanthemum type, Fumana type, Helianthemum type, Hudsonia type and Lechea type). These six types of pollen grain form three groups, which correspond well with the three main evolutionary trends of the tribes within the family. The palynological data presented here agrees well with the systems suggested by Janchen (1925) and Takhtajan (1987) in which the family Cistaceae is divided into three tribes, namely Cisteae, Hudsonieae and Lechidieae.