Pollen characteristics of New Zealand Gnaphalieae (Compositae) and their taxonomic significance I. LM and SEM

Abstract

The external pollen morphology has been investigated in 45 taxa of Gnaphalieae (Compositae), predominantly from New Zealand, by means of light microscopy and SEM. Pollen grains of all taxa examined are more or less spheroidal and echinate. Features regarded as particularly distinctive include size, spine density, spine length, spine shape and nature of perforations. It is shown that the pollen grains provide characters which are taxonomically useful in classification of New Zealand Gnaphalieae. Based on pollen morphology, Haastia does not belong to the tribe Gnaphalieae, and Gnaphalium (including the Tasmanian Ewartia planchonii) is distinct from the other New Zealand genera.