Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structure of the apertural sporoderm of pollen grains inEuphorbia andChamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae)

  • Published:
Plant Systematics and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The tricolporate pollen grains of 38 Mediterranean and Macaronesian species ofEuphorbia L. andChamaesyce S. F. Gray have a special apertural sporoderm not found in the other taxa of theEuphorbiaceae. At the apertural margo the ectexine is thinner because of shorter columellae and the thin, fragmented or even absent foot-layer. Ectexinous granules, mixed with endexinous material, are present near the ora. The endexine is homogeneous and thickened under the colpi (at the end and at the proximity of the end of colpus). Around the ora, the endexine is granulate and lamellar with irregular cavities. The apertural intine presents a characteristic structure with thickenings running along both sides of the colpi. The arrangement and structure of these intinous thickenings depend on the distance from the ora. This special morphology of the intine is present in all taxa studied here. The genusEuphorbia is considered to be the most evolved taxon of this family. The characteristic apertural sporoderm may be an adaptative modification to different physiological conditions, so it may present an apertural mechanism which is more adapted to harmomegathic changes and thus facilitate the germination and the formation of the pollen tube.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blackmore, S., 1982: A functional interpretation ofLatuceae (Compositae) pollen. — Pl. Syst. Evol.141: 153–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1986: Harmomegathic mechanisms in pollen grains. — InBlackmore, S., Ferguson, I. K., (Eds): Pollen and spores: form and function, pp. 137–149. — London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedi, C., Orell, J. J., 1992: Rapports 64–69. Mediterranean chromosome number reports. — Flora Mediterranea2: 239–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns-Balogh, P., Hesse, M., 1988: Pollen morphology of the cypripedioid orchids. — Pl. Syst. Evol.158: 165–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Ghazaly, G., 1989: Pollen and orbicule morphology of someEuphorbia species. — Grana28: 243–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1990: Development of pollen grains ofCataranthus roseus (Apocynaceae). — Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.64: 165–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1993: Pollen morphology of some species of the genusEuphorbia L. — Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.78: 293–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Gonzalez, D., Suarez-Cervera, M., Le Thomas, A., 1994: Ultrastructure du pollen deDysopsis Baill. Relations phylogéniques au sein desAcalypheae (Euphorbiaceae). — Acta Bot. Gallica141: 217–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frean, M. L., 1983: Sporoderm morphogenesis inEuphorbia obesa andCroton gratissimus. — Bothalia14: 849–856.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halbritter, H., Hesse, M., 1993: Sulcus morphology in some monocot families. — Grana32: 87–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heslop-Harrison, J., 1975: The physiology of the pollen grain surface. — Proc. Roy. Soc., LondonB199: 275–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1979a: Pollen walls as adaptative systems. — Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.66: 813–829.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1979b: An interpretation of the hydrodynamics of pollen. — Amer. J. Bot.66: 737–743.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1987: Pollen germination and pollen-tube growth. — Int. Rev. Cytol.107: 1–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1980: Cytochemistry and function of the Zwischenkörper in grass pollen. — Pollen & Spores22: 5–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1991: Structural and functional variation in pollen intines. — InBlackmore, S., Barnes, S. H., (Eds): Pollen and spores. Patterns of diversification, pp. 331–343. — Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heslop-Harrison, Y., 1977: The pollen-stigma interaction. Pollen tube penetration inCrocus. — Ann. Bot.41: 913–922.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, M., 1980: Ultrastruktur und Entwicklungsgeschichte des Pollenkitts vonEuphorbia cyparissias, E. palustris undMercurialis perennis (Euphorbiaceae). — Pl. Syst. Evol.135: 253–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, H. A., 1955: Oncus, a new term in pollen morphology. — New Phytol.54: 255–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobreau-Callen, D., 1987: Palynologie. — InMcPherson, G., Tirel, C., (Eds): Euphorbiacées. Flore de la Nouvelle Calédonie et dépendances. — Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat.14: 8–9, 34–37, 102–105, 187–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1989: Le pollen deMartretia Beille (Euphorbiacée africaine). — Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg.59: 333–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1993: Variations morphologiques et ultrastructurales du pollen deBischofia et d'autresPhyllanthoideae (Euphorbiaceae). — Palynosciences2: 223–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1994: Pollen ultrastructure ofHymenocardia Wallich exLindley and comparison with otherEuphorbiaceae. — Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.81: 257–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molero, J., Rovira, A., 1992:Euphorbia L. subsect.Esula (Boiss. in DC.)Pax in the Iberian Peninsula. Leaf surface, chromosome numbers and taxonomic treatment. — Collect. Bot., Barcelona22: 121–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murgia, M., Wilms, H. J., 1987: Ultrastructure of the tricellular pollen grains of diploidEuphorbia dulcis. — Caryologia40: 207–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1987: Ultrastructural comparison of pollen grains from 2n, 3n and 4n plants ofEuphorbia dulcis. — Amer. J. Bot.74: 1665–1671.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1986: Ultrastructure of pollen development inEuphorbia dulcis L. 1. Diploid plants. — Acta Bot. Neerl.35: 405–424.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowicke, J. W., 1994: A palynological study ofCrotonoideae (Euphorbiaceae). — Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.81: 245–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez de Paz, J., Roca-Salinas, A., 1977: Palinologia del generoEuphorbia L. en la Macaronesia. — Bot. Macaronésica4: 77–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Punt, W., 1962: Pollen morphology of theEuphorbiaceae with special reference to taxonomy. — Wentia7: 1–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1994: Glossary of pollen and spore terminology. — LPP Contributions Series1. — Utrecht: LPP Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, E. S., 1963: The use of lead citrate at high pH and electron opaque stain in electron microscopy. — J. Cell Biol.17: 208–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley, J. R., 1987–1988: Substructure within the endexine, an interpretation. — J. Palynol.23–24: 29–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1977: Pollen development inArtemisia vulgaris with special reference to glycocalyx material. — Pollen & Spores19: 169–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1981: A model of exine substructure based on dissection of pollen and spores exines. — Palynology5: 107–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saad, S. I., El-Ghazaly, G., 1988: Pollen morphology of some species ofEuphorbiaceae. — Grana27: 165–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seoane-Camba, J., Suarez-Cervera, M., 1986: On the ontogeny of the oncus in the pollen ofParietaria officinalis ssp.judaica (Urticaceae). — Canad. J. Bot.64: 3155–3167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schill, R., 1973: Palynologische (lichtmikroskopische) Untersuchungen an sukkulenten Vertretern der GattungEuphorbia L. aus Madagaskar. — Trop. Subtrop. Pflanzenwelt2: 151–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, J., 1993: Estudis biosistemàtics enEuphorbia L. subsect.Galarrhaei (Boiss.)Pax (grup d'E. flavicona i espècies afins) a la Mediterrània Occidental. — M. Sci. Thesis, University of Barcelona.

  • Smith, A. R., Tutin, T. G., 1968:Euphorbia. — InTutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H. Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M., Webb, D. A., (Eds): Flora Europaea2, pp. 151–165. — Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suarez-Cervera, M., Seoane-Camba, J., 1985: Étude du pollen deLavandula viridis L'Her. (Lamiaceae). — Sci. Geol. Bull.38: 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1987: Pollen morphology of Iberian species ofLavandula L. Functional and taxonomic significance. — An. Asoc. Palinol. Leng. Esp.3: 19–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1992: Pollen morphology and pollen-wall proteins (localization and enzymatic activity) inSesamothamnus lugardii (Pedaliaceae). — Pl. Syst. Evol.183: 67–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1994: An ultrastructural study of pollen grains consumed by larvae ofOsmia bees (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae). — Grana33: 191–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thanikaimoni, G., 1986: Pollen apertures: form and function. — InBlackmore, S., Ferguson, I. K., (Eds): Pollen and spores: form and function, pp. 119–136. — London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valles-Xirau, J., 1992: Rapports 79–82. Mediterranean chromosome number reports. — Flora Mediterranea2: 247–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vicens, J., 1994: Estudis biosistemàtics enEuphorbia L. subsect.Galarrhaei (Bois.)Pax a la Mediterrània occidental: el complex d'E. squamigera i espècies afins. — M. Sci. Thesis, University of Barcelona.

  • , 1992: Rapports 70–78. Mediterranean chromosome number reports. — Flora Mediterranea2: 243–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilatersana, R., Bernal, M., 1992: Rapports 83–91. Mediterranean chromosome number reports. — Flora Mediterranea2: 249–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber El-Ghobary, M. O., 1985: Pollen morphology of four succulent species ofEuphorbia (Euphorbiaceae). — Anal. Asoc. Palinol. Leng. Espan.2: 75–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, G., 1994a: Classification of theEuphorbiaceae. — Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.81: 3–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • , 1994b: Synopsis of the genera and suprageneric taxa ofEuphorbiaceae. — Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.81: 33–144.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain

    M. Suarez-Cervera, J. Marquez, J. Martin, J. Molero & J. Seoane-Camba

Authors
  1. M. Suarez-Cervera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Marquez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Molero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Seoane-Camba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Suarez-Cervera, M., Marquez, J., Martin, J. et al. Structure of the apertural sporoderm of pollen grains inEuphorbia andChamaesyce (Euphorbiaceae). Pl Syst Evol 197, 111–122 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984636

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984636

Key words

Search

Navigation