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Pollen and seed morphology of Ruellia L., Phaulopsis Willd. and Dyschoriste Nees (Acanthaceae: Ruellioideae: Ruellieae) of Yemen

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Abstract

Pollen and seed morphology of five species of Ruellia L. and one species each of Phaulopsis Willd. and Dyschoriste Nees (Acanthaceae: Ruellioideae: Ruellieae) of Yemen have been examined using light and scanning electron microscopes. Pollen descriptions were provided with three shapes distinguished, spheroidal in Ruellia, prolate in Phaulopsis and subprolate to spheroidal in Dyschoriste, pseudocolpi are absent in all the triporate pollens of Ruellia species but present in the tricolporate pollens of Phaulopsis and the heterocolpate pollens of Dyschoriste the latter with 5–7 pseudocolpi. Surface ornamentation in Ruellia is reticulate and perforate in Phaulopsis and Dyschoriste. The seed morphology of all genera is discoid and the testa covered with hygroscopic hairs but in Ruellia and Phaulopsis the seeds are suborbicular and orbicular in outline, respectively, and ovate in Dyschoriste.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mr. Idris Sharif, electron microscopy unit for his assistance rendered during pollen preparation for SEM analysis and scanning and Mr. Abdulwahab Ahmed for his cooperation during the field collection of the specimens in Yemen. The UKM-OUP-PLW-13-56-2011 is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Natural Resource, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Anisa S. Al-Hakimi & A. Latiff

  2. Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Taiz University, Taiz, Yemen

    Anisa S. Al-Hakimi

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  1. Anisa S. Al-Hakimi
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  2. A. Latiff
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Correspondence to Anisa S. Al-Hakimi.

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Al-Hakimi, A.S., Latiff, A. Pollen and seed morphology of Ruellia L., Phaulopsis Willd. and Dyschoriste Nees (Acanthaceae: Ruellioideae: Ruellieae) of Yemen. Plant Syst Evol 301, 1–13 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1035-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1035-7

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