Pollen morphological studies on the Monimiaceae in the Malagasy region

Abstract

Abstract Twenty species belonging to the six genera of Monimiaceae from the Malagasy region (southwest Indian Ocean) are examined and described palynologically. Phylogenetic relationships of the genera are discussed. Pollen morphological evidence is supportive of existing floral morphological and anatomical evidence and suggests the following conclusions: 1), Monimia (Monimioideae sensu Thorne) is not closely allied to the other five genera in the region (all Mollinedioideae sensu Thorne); 2) Ephippiandra and Hedycaryopsis appear to be more closely allied to each other than to the remaining genera; 3), Tambourissa pollen displays a wide range of exine patterns which readily accomodates the pattern found in Phanerogonocarpus. Thus, pollen morphological evidence fails to support the continued generic segregation of Hedycaryopsis from Ephippiandra, and of Phanerogonocarpus from Tambourissa.