Pollen Morphology of the Martyniaceae and Its Systematic Implications

The pollen morphology as shown with scanning and transmission electron micros- copy of a sample of 10 species of the Martyniaceae revealed three distinct types within this family: reticulate (in Martynia), areolate (ProboscidealIbicella), and ring-like (Craniolaria). Pollen mor- phology coincided with other characters and suggested that Proboscidea and Ibicella should be con- sidered congeneric. Neither SEM nor TEM resolved the aperture type. Intergeneric differences in pollen morphology may be associated with differences in pollinators. Comparisons of pollen sug- gested that the Martyniaceae and the Pedaliaceae should be maintained as separate families.