Commelinaceae Mirb. no Espírito Santo, Brasil

Abstract

Morphological and molecular characters have yielded variable results and thus conflicting interpretations regarding the monophyly of the subtribe have been proposed. Aiming to contribute to the morphological characterization of subtribe Dichorisandrinae, palynological characters were investigated. This study was based on the analysis of pollen grains from fresh and/or use herbarium material samples. Pollen grains of different species of Dichorisandra (12 species), Siderasis (four studied species), Cochliostema (two studied species), Geogenanthus (one studied specie) and Plowmanianthus (one studied specie) were studied. were qualitatively described and photographed under scanning electron microscopy. In general, the surface morpho-pollinic characteristics of the genera of the Dichorisandrinae subtribe are similar, varying from psilate, fossulate, regulate, with perfurate and / or microverrucate exine. Results revealed distinct pollen morphologies for each studied genera and indicates a substantial taxonomic potential at the generic level. Pollen characters analyzed were relevant and can support the arrangement of tribes and genera in the molecular trees.