Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pollen morphology in relation to floral types and pollination syndromes in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae)

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

Abstract

Floral diversification in the genus Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae) is remarkable among flowering plants. In this genus, floral morphology and pollinator behavior are closely co-adaptive. In the current paper, pollen grains of 23 representative species of Pedicularis mainly from North America, with two species from Japan and two species from China, whose pollination ecology was previously studied, were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Two pollen aperture types and three kinds of exine ornamentation were recognized among these species. In addition, pollen data from previous and the current studies of Pedicularis were integrated and analyzed, together with some pollination characters. There was a significant association between pollen aperture types and corolla types, as well as between pollination syndromes and corolla types. However, there was no association of exine ornamentations with corolla types. The relationships and evolution of this genus were discussed with regards to pollen morphology, corolla types and pollination syndromes.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aluri RJS, Robart BW (1991) Pollination ecology and endemic trends in Pedicularis bracteosa var. atrosanguinea Pennell and Thompson (Scrophulariaceae) in North America. Pl Spec Biol 6:95–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belkina KV (1972) New palynological data on taxonomy of Yakutian species of Pedicularis L. Bot Zhurn 57:822–825

    Google Scholar 

  • Beug HJ (1961) Leitfaden der Pollenbestimmung für Mitteleuropa und angrenzende Gebiete. Lieferung, 1. Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart, pp 1–63

  • Cai J, Liang HX, Wang H (2003) Floral organogenesis of Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae) with erostrate corolla. Acta Bot Yunn 25:671–679

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronquist A (1981) An integrated system of classification of flowering plants. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutta NM, Chanda S (1979) Pedicularis Linn.: taxonomically an advanced genus but palynologically primitive. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany. Proc IV Int Palynological Conf. vol 1. Lucknow, pp 539–541

  • Erdtman G (1960) The acetolysis technique, a revised description. Svensk Bot Tidskr 54:561–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen B, Molau U, Svensson M (1993) Reproductive strategies in two arctic Pedicularis species (Scrophulariaceae). Ecography 16:154–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse M (2000) Pollen wall stratification and pollination. Pl Syst Evol 222:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong DY (1983) The distribution of Scrophulariaceae in the Holartic in reference to the floristic relationships between eastern Asia and eastern North America. Ann Missouri Bot Gard 70:701–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson J (1969) Evolution and phylogeny of flowering plants. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Inceoğlu Ö (1981) Pollen grains in some Turkish Rhinantheae (Scrophulariaceae). Grana 21:83–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwak MM (1977) Pollination ecology of five hemiparasitic large-flowered Rhinanthoideae with special reference to the pollination behavior of nectar-thieving, short-tongued bumblebees. Acta Bot Neerl 26:97–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwak MM (1979) Effects of bumblebee visits on the seed set of Pedicularis, Rhinanthus and Melampyrum (Scrophulariaceae) in the Netherlands. Acta Bot Neerl 28:177–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Li HL (1951) Evolution in the flowers of Pedicularis. Evolution 5:158–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1968a) Pollination adaptation in Pedicularis canadensis. Amer J Bot 55:1031–1035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1968b) Pollination adaptation in Pedicularis groenlandica. Amer J Bot 55:927–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1969) Pollination adaptation in Pedicularis lanceolata. Amer J Bot 56:853–859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1970) The pollination ecology of Pedicularis in Colorado. Amer J Bot 57:716–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1973) The pollination ecology of Pedicularis on Mount Rainier. Amer J Bot 60:863–871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1975) The pollination ecology of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) in the Yukon Territory. Amer J Bot 62:1065–1072

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1977) The pollination ecology of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) in the Sierra Nevada of California. Bull Torrey Bot Club 104:148–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1982) Plant community and pollinator dynamics in the evolution of pollination mechanisms in Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae). In: Armstrong JA, Powell JM, Richards AJ (eds) Pollination and evolution. Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, pp 29–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1983) The pollination dynamics of sympatric species of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae). Amer J Bot 70:844–853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1986) Floral resource sharing by bumblebees and hummingbirds in Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) pollination. Bull Torrey Bot Club 113:101–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1988) A preliminary study of the pollination ecology of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) in Japan. Pl Spec Biol 3:61–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1990) Pollination ecology of Pedicularis punctata Decne. (Scrophulariaceae) in the Kashmir Himalaya. Pl Spec Biol 5:215–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1993) Pollination ecology of Pedicularis palustris L. (Scrophulariaceae) in North America. Pl Spec Biol 8:35–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW (1996) Pollination ecology of Pedicularis bracteosa in the montane-subalpine ecotone. Pl Spec Biol 11:165–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW, Sood SK (1991) Pollination ecology of Pedicularis megalantha D. Don (Scrophulariaceae) in the Himachal Himalaya. Pl Spec Biol 6:75–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW, Tang Y (1997) A preliminary study of the pollination ecology of Pedicularis in the Chinese Himalaya. Pl Spec Biol 12:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macior LW, Tang Y, Zhang JC (2001) Reproductive biology of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) in the Sichuan Himalaya. Pl Spec Biol 16:83–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maximovicz CJ (1888) Diagnoses des plantes nouvelles asiatiques. VII. Bull Acad Sci St Petersburg 32:477–629

    Google Scholar 

  • Mill RR (2001) Notes relating to the flora of Bhutan: XLIII. Scrophulariaceae (Pedicularis). Edinburgh J Bot 58:57–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Minkin JP, Eshbaugh WH (1989) Pollen morphology of the Orobanchaceae and rhinanthoid Scrophulariaceae. Grana 28:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olmstead RG, de Pamphilis CW, Wolfe AD, Young ND, Elisons WJ, Reeves PA (2001) Disintegration of the Scrophulariaceae. Amer J Bot 88:348–361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Proctor M, Yeo P, Lack A (1996) The natural history of pollination. Harper Collins, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Punt W, Hoen PP, Blackmore S, Nilsson S, Le Thomas A (2007) Glossary of pollen and spore terminology. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 143:1–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ree RH (2001) Homoplasy and the phylogeny of Pedicularis. Ph D thesis, Harvard University, Cambridge

  • Ree RH (2005) Phylogeny and the evolution of floral diversity in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae). Int J Pl Sci 166:595–613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Risch C (1939) Die Pollenkörner der in Deutschland wild Wachsenden Scrophulariaceen. Ber Dtsch Bot Ges 57:108–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprague EF (1962) Pollination and evolution in Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae). Aliso 5:181–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka N, Uehara K, Murata J (2004) Correlation between pollen morphology and pollination mechanisms in the Hydrocharitaceae. J Pl Res 117:265–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang Y, Xie HS (2006) A pollination ecology study of Pedicularis Linnaeus (Orobanchaceae) in a subalpine to alpine area of Northwest Sichuan, China. Arct Antarct Alp Res 38:446–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsoong PC (1963) Pedicularis. In: Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae Tomus. vol 68. Science Press, Beijing

  • Tsoong PC, Chang KT (1965) Palynological study of Pedicularis and its relation with the taxonomic systems of the genus. Acta Phytotax Sin 10:257–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H (1998) The pollination syndrome of Pedicularis rex (Scrophulariaceae) and its biogeographic significance. Acta Bot Sin 40:781–785

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Li DZ (1998) A preliminary study of pollination biology of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) in northwest Yunnan, China. Acta Bot Sin 40:204–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Li DZ (2005) Pollination biology of four Pedicularis species (Scrophulariaceae) in northwestern Yunnan, China. Ann Missouri Bot Gard 92:127–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Mill RR, Blackmore S (2003) Pollen morphology and infra-generic evolutionary relationships in some Chinese species of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae). Pl Syst Evol 237:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang HB, Holmgren NH, Mill RR (1998) Pedicularis Linn. In: Wu ZY, Raven PH (eds) Flora of China, Scrophulariaceae–Gesneriaceae, vol 18. Science Press, Beijing, pp 97–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang CF, Guo YH, Giture RW, Sun SG (2002) Variation in stigma morphology—how does it contribute to pollination adaptation in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae). Pl Syst Evol 236:89–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu WB, Wang H (2008) Pollen morphology of Pedicularis sect. Cyathophora, a group endemic to the eastern Himalaya-Hengduan mountains region. J Integr Pl Biol 50:224–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu WB, Zhang SD, Wang H (2008a) New taxa of Pedicularis from the Hengduan Mountains, Southwestern China. Novon 18:125–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu WB, Cai J, Wang H, Chen JQ (2008b) Advances in floral divergence and reproductive adaptation in Pedicularis L. (Orobanchaceae). Chin Bull Bot 25:392–400

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SD, Wang H, Mill RR (2006) A new species of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) from the Yaoshan Mountains, north-eastern Yunnan, China. Novon 16:286–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the herbaria at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (E) and Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (KUN) for allowing us to collect pollen samples. We also thank X. K. Fan for SEM technical assistance. This study was supported by grants from National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, No. 2007CB411603), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30570115), the Keynote Project of the Knowledge Innovation Program, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KSCX2-YW-Z-034), and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China

    H. Wang & J. Q. Chen

  2. Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biogeography, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 650204, Kunming, Yunnan, China

    H. Wang & W. B. Yu

  3. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 8BZ, UK

    S. Blackmore

Authors
  1. H. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. B. Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Q. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Blackmore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, H., Yu, W.B., Chen, J.Q. et al. Pollen morphology in relation to floral types and pollination syndromes in Pedicularis (Orobanchaceae). Plant Syst Evol 277, 153–162 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0112-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0112-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation