ANATOMICAL AND POLLEN CHARACTERS IN ACANTHOPHYLLUM C. A. MEY. (CARYOPHYLLACEAE) FROM NORTHEAST OF IRAN

Palynological and anatomical features of 11 species from NE Iran belonging to Acanthophyllum sect. Oligosperma were carried out and evaluated by numerical methods to determine the taxonomic value of endomorphic characters. The cross section of stems, peduncles and leaves were prepared and stained with Safranin and Fast-green and pollen morphology has been examined by light and scanning electron microscope. The principal component analysis and Cluster Analysis results showed that the type of stomata, shape and size of epidermal cells, trichomes, the number of epidermal cells and stomata, the shape of stem cross section, arrangment of xylem elements in peduncle, arrangment of mesophyll in leaf and the number of sclerenchymatous layers are significant to separating species. The pollen grains were spheroid, pantoporate, ornamentation was scabrate-punctate and exine structure was spinulose-punctate