POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF SOME ADONIS L. SPECIES (RANUNCULACEAE) FROM IRAN

The pollen grains of four species of Adonis consist of A. wolgensis Stev., A. aestivalis L., A. dentata Del. and A. flammea Jacq. were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In this work 10 different pollen characters were described, illustrated and compared. All pollen grains were tricolpate and exin ornamentation in two types, as echinate in A. wolgensis with small grains (mean = 19.40 µ) and in 3 other species with scabrate sculpturing and large grains. The result of SEM investigation of pollen chracteres revealed segregation of perennial Adonis wolgensis from other annual species. The pollen type of A. wolgensis is the first report in the world.