Pollen Morphology of the Martyniaceae and Its Systematic Implications

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Abstract
The pollen morphology as shown with scanning and transmission electron microscopy of a sample of 10 species of the Martyniaceae [Craniolaria annua, C. integrifolia, Ibicella lutea, I. parodii, Martynia annua, Proboscidea altheaefolia, P. louisianica fragrans, P. I. louisianica, P. parviflora parviflora var. Hohokamiana, P. P. sinaloensis, P. sabulosa, P. triloba triloba] revealed three distinct types within this family: reticulate (in Martynia), areolate (Proboscidea/Ibicella), and "ring-like" (Craniolaria). Pollen morphology coincided with other characters and suggested that Proboscidea and Ibicella should be considered congeneric. Neither SEM nor TEM resolved the aperture type. Intergeneric differences in pollen morphology may be associated with differences in pollinators. Comparisons of pollen suggested that the Martyniaceae and the Pedaliaceae should be maintained as separate families.