Pollen Morphology and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Berberidaceae

摘要

Pollen from 68 collections representing 14 genera and 40 species of the family Berberidaceae was examined by light microscopy, SEM, and TEM. In part, the pollen data reinforce the traditional view of closely related pairs or small groups of genera. In Berberis and Mahonia the pollen morphology would support separate family status as well as congeneric treatment. The unusual exine structure in Nandina would reinforce its treatment as a monotypic family, Nandinaceae. The distinction of Bongardia from Leontice and of Dysosma from Podophyllum is confirmed by pollen data. The presence of a fundamentally similar tectum in Achlys, Dysosma, Epimedium, Jeffsonia, Podophyllum peltatum, P. hispidun, and Vancouveria suggests closer relationship among these genera than has been previously thought. The close similarity of the pollen in Jeffersonia and Plagiorhegma confirms their congeneric treatment, Palynologically, Bongardia, Caulophyllum, and Leontice are more closely related to each other than to any remaining genera. In three taxa, Diphylleia, Podophyllum hexandrum, and Rantania, certain characteristic(s) of the pollen render it unique and for the most part nullify any systematic value within the family.