Aspects of pollen morphology in the cupressaceae

The pollen grains of seven genera in the Cupressaceae were examined by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen is spheroidal, intectate, monoporate and scabrate, microverrucate to microgemmate. The uniformity of the pollen morphology supports the systematic unity of this family. The single pore with an annulus and the sexinous elements (orbicules) are here considered as the characteristic traits. A further subdivision at the generic or sectional level, based on pollen morphology, is impossible.