MORPHOLOGY AND SYSTEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF BROMELIACEAE POLLEN

The pollen morphology of 31 genera (338 species) of the Bromeliaceae was investigated. The pollen grains are mostly reticulate, but also foveolate or rarely smooth. 3 main aperture types occur: porate pollen (restricted to subfamily Bromelioideae), inaperturate pollen, and (predominantly) sulcate pollen. In taxa with sulcate pollen, six different furrow types can be distinguished. Although there are overlaps between sulcus types, there are often conspicuous correlations with taxonomic groups. The pollen morphology in general reflects the systematic situation within the family. In well circumscribed taxa the pollen morphology shows little variability. On the other hand, the heterogenous taxa exhibit much pollen diversity.