Palynology oiMucuna pruriens (L.) DC. and its Bearing on the Systematics of the Taxon

摘要

Palynological study using LM and SEM were carried out in four varieties of the species Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. with an objective of using the data in dealing with the taxonomic ambiguity confronting the taxon. The species exists in the peninsular India in four varietal forms such as varieties pruriens, utilis, thekkadiensis and hirsuta. As regards the principal palynological attribute (pollen aperture), all the four varieties are similar with 3-zonocolporate grains. Noticeable degree of distinctionexists between and among them as regards exine ornamentation features as revealed from SEM observations. The exine is reticulate in varieties pruriens, hirsuta and thekkadiensis, while foveolo-reticulate in var. utilis. The variety pruriens is differentfrom utilis, by the former showing straight and non ridged muri, and the lumina floor with gemma like projections as against branched and ridged muri, and lumina absent in the latter. The varieties hirsuta and thekkadiensis are different from the other two by their lumina floor being sinuous. The difference between thekkadiensis and hirsuta is marginal. In both, the muri is branched, sinuous and not ridged, but the muri highly dissected and the lumina floor highly sinuous in the former. In view of the magnitude of palynological distinctions displayed, it is smuggested that the varieties pruriens, utilis and hirsuta may be assigned separate species status holding the var. thekkadiensis as a variety of hirsuta.