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ULTRASTRUCTURE OF EXINE‐LESS POLLEN: HELICONIA (HELICONIACEAE)
Author(s) -
Kress W. John,
Stone Donald E.,
Sellers Susan C.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1978.tb06172.x
Subject(s) - biology , pollen , ultrastructure , botany , protoplast
Pollen of Heliconia and many of its relatives in the Zingiberales is virtually devoid of a conspicuous, protective exine. The exine is relegated to a few spinules and a thin, electron‐dense layer (0.08 μm), whereas the intine can be up to 100 times as thick (8 μm) and structurally complex. Comparative ultrastructural observations on the sporoderm and protoplast are presented for three species and discussion focuses on the possible adaptive significance of the elaborated intine and its potential usefulness in systematic studies.