Research Article

Comparative Study of Pollen Morphology of some members of Euphorbiaceae family

Paul E, *Essien BC, Idachaba SO, Edegbo E and Tamenku MM

Department of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria

*Correspondence Author E-mail: benjaminessien8@gmail.com

Accepted 19 May 2014en

Abstract

Pollen morphology is of great significance in taxonomy, phylogeny, palaeobotany, aeropalynology and pollen allergy. Five (5) species of the family Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia hyssopiifolia, Euphorbia heterophylla, Ricinus comminis and Jatropha gossypifolia) were studied palynologically to determine the morphological features and diversity as an aid in the classification of its members. Pollen analytical studies of these species showed a lot of variations in the types of apertures, shapes, sexine pattern, pollen size, colpi length and width. However, the variations above are generally reduced within species of the same genera. For instance, E. hirta, E. heterophylla and E. hyssopiifolia were observed to have tricolpate (C₃) aperture type giving reason for them being in the same genera. Similar form and symmetry observed in all the species studied also were reason for them being in the same family.

Keywords: Pollen morphology, Exine structure, Euphorbiaceae