Pollen morphology of the dichapetalaceae with special reference to evolutionary trends and mutual relationships of pollen types

Abstract

Pollen grains of all three genera of Dichapetalaceae (Dichapetalum, Stephanopodium and Tapura) comprising about 150 species have been studied. Twenty-nine pollen types were recognized and the family has to be considered eurypalynous. A key to the pollen types is added. Based on evolutionary trends it was possible to give a scheme to the mutual relationships of the pollen types. It is concluded that the centre of origin of the family may be Africa. It was pot possible to point to distinct relationships with other families on pollenmorphological data alone.