Comparative Study of Some Selected Members of the Families Malvaceae and Sterculiaceae

Present study aims to compare some selected members of Malvaceae and Sterculiaceae by giving special emphasis on their pollen morphology. The different taxa under investigation were Thespesia populena L. ,Sida cordifolia L. , Hibiscus schizopetalus Dyer. , H.rosasinensis Linn. of Malvaceae and , Melochia corchorifolia Linn. , Kleinhovia hospita Linn. of Sterculiaceae. Pollen morphological analysis was done using Scanning electron micrographs. The structural features of pollen grains are regarded as a more dependable tool in studies of comparative morphology Although these families show some degree of similarities, they differ in many features such as: axillary and solitary flowers in Malvaceae while terminal and inflorescence in Sterculiaceae;Presence of epicalyx in Malvaceae and absence of this in Sterculiaceae;anthers strictly monothecous in Malvaceae while dithecous in Sterculiaceae.numerous stamen in Malvaceae and definite on Sterculiaceae.