COMPARATIVE PALYNOLOGY AND ANATOMY OF PINUS HENRYI, PINUS MASSONIANA AND PINUS TABULAEFORMIS (PINACEAE) AND THEIR TAXONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

In the present study, micromorphological and anatomic characteristics of 3 Pinus L. taxa (Pinus henryi, P. massoniana and P. tabulaeformis) were compared. These taxa have both endemic and limited distribution in China. For the micromorphological studies, the pollens were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). For the anatomical studies, needle anatomy characteristics of the 3 taxa were studied. After the studies, new characteristics of corpus exine ornamentation had been found. Spiny on the regulate of corpus exine is presented in P . henryi while baculate on the rugulate of corpus exine is existed in P. tabuliformishave. However, there is not ornamentation on rugulate in P. massoniana. The features of pollen size, corpus exine ornamentation, number of microperforations, cappula ridges are significant to distinguish the 3 taxa. Number of resin canals, stomatal rows, epithelial cells and sheath cells, dimensions of cross section, dimensions of resin canals and width of needle are also important in separating these taxa. These studies give taxonomic support for recognizing P. henryi as an independent species closely related to P. massoniana.