Table III.
Tabulation of differentiating pollen features in ‘basal’ Loranthaceae/Loranthaceae with ambiguous phylogenetic affinities (unresolved using current molecular data).
| Classification | Genus | PT | Apertures | Size, shape, outline (e.v., p.v.)a | Sculpturing | Special exine features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuytsieae | Nuytsia | B | Syn(3)colpate | Small, oblate, elliptic, trilobate | M: distinct, mostly psilate MC: (micro)echinate |
Hexagonal thickening of polar nexine (LM) |
| Gaiadendreae | Atkinsonia | B | Syn(3)colpate | Small, oblate, elliptic, triangular (straight to concave) | Micro-rugulate, margo indistinct | Sexine thickened in MC (LM) |
| Gaiadendron | B | Syn(3)colpate | Small, oblate, elliptic, trilobate | M: distinct, striate MC: nano-baculate/-echinate |
Hexagonal thickening of polar nexine (LM) | |
| Psittacantheae: Ligarinae | Ligaria | B | Syn(3)colpate | Medium, distinctly oblate, emarginate, concave-triangular |
Micro-baculate, margo indistinct and indifferent | Triangular thickening of polar nexine (LM), polar sexine reduced (SEM) |
| Tristerix | B | Syn(3)colpate | Small or medium, distinctly oblate, emarginate, modified trilobate | M: distinct, striate, forming triangular polar protrusions MC: nano- to micro-echinate/-baculate |
Triradial thickening of polar nexine between colpi (LM), polar sexine reduced (SEM) | |
| Notantherinae | Desmaria | B | Syn(3)colpate | Medium, distinctly oblate, elliptic, trilobate | M: distinct, striate, forming triangular polar protrusions MC: micro-baculate/-echinate (?) |
Polar ectexine and endexine thickened (TEM) |
| Notanthera | B | Syn(3)colpate | Small, oblate, outline in e.v. unknown, concave-triangular | M: weakly striate, forming triangular polar protrusions MC: micro(?)echinate/-baculate |
Inconspicuous | |
| Tupeinae | Tupeia | A | Zono(3–4)-colpate | Small to medium, ± spheroidal | Uniform: (micro)echinate, echini widely spaced | Inconspicuous |
Note: Abbreviations: PT, pollen type; e.v., equatorial view; p.v., polar view; M, margo; MC, mesocolpium; most diagnostic features in bold font; a Size: small, < 25 µm; medium, 25–50 µm; shape: oblate, less than two-times wider than high; distinctly oblate, more than two-times wider than high.