Pollen atlas for selected subfamilies of Euphorbiaceae from Southern China: a complementary contribution to Quaternary pollen analysis

Abstract

In this paper we examine pollen types from four representative subfamilies of Euphorbiaceae in southern China, including 34 species (21 genera) of Crotonoideae, Euphorbioideae, Acalyphoideae and Phyllanthoideae. The morphology of the investigated species is described and illustrated with high-resolution photographs observed by transmitted light microscope. These descriptions and illustrations are presented at the species level, and pollen types and identifying features are also noted. This study is a complementary contribution to Quaternary pollen analysis, and should aid in the identification of pollen types assigned to Euphorbiaceae, especially in Southern China, as well as elsewhere in the tropical and subtropical regions of East Asia.

Keywords:

• pollen morphology
• comparative characteristics
• Crotonoideae
• Euphorbioideae
• Acalyphoideae
• Phyllanthoideae

Acknowledgements

This study was jointly funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, grant numbers 41876057, 41877437, 41606053), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (grant number 2016A030310364), the Key Program for International S & T Cooperation Projects of China (grant number 2016yfe0109600), China geological survey projects (grant numbers DD20160144, DD20189503) and the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province, China (grant number ts201511077). We deeply appreciate Prof. Henry Hooghiemstra and anonymous reviewer, and Editors Prof. James Riding and Dr Matthew Pound for their critical comments and constructive suggestions, all of which helped us improve the manuscript significantly.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Plate 6. Light microscopic photographs of some species of Phyllanthoideae. 1–4, Glochidion lanceolarium; 5–8, Glochidion zeylanicum; 9–12, Baccaurea ramiflora; 13–17, Bridelia tomentosa; 18–22, Bridelia balansae; 23–26, Antidesma japonicum.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shixiong Yang

SHIXIONG YANG received his PhD degree from Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China in palynology, and currently works at Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey. He is studying Quaternary pollen analysis, and now analyzing marine sediment palynologically in the eastern continental shelf of China, as well as modern pollen morphology and environmental archaeology.

Limi Mao

LIMI MAO received degrees from Lanzhou University in Gansu, China (BA in geology), Tongji University in Shanghai, China (MA in palynology) and Osaka City University in Japan (PhD in biogeoscience). He is currently based at Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, as a Cenozoic palynologist in Department of Palaeobotany and Palynology. He was awarded a full professorship in 2017 and his research interests mainly focus on pollen morphology for fossil taxa and extant plants in China, Quaternary palynology, and mangrove vegetation history and its past biogeography. He is one of the key contributors of the book Atlas of Quaternary Pollen and Spores in China (both Chinese and English edition).

Zhuo Zheng

ZHUO ZHENG received degrees from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China (BA in geology) and from University of Montpellier II in France (PhD in Earth Science). He currently teaches in the School of Earth Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University. He is a professor of Quaternary environment and palynology, and the director of Quaternary research team. He is also a vice director of Chinese palynological society and a managing member of council in Paleontological Society of China.

Bishan Chen

BISHAN CHEN received her PhD degree from Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China in palynology and now is based at the Department of Geography, Lingnan Normal University. Her research interests are mainly the mangrove palynology of South China.

Jie Li

JIE LI received her PhD degree from Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China in palynology, and now works at the Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey. Currently she is mainly undertaking palynology in the eastern continental shelf of China.