ANATOMÍA FOLIAR Y MORFOLOGÍA DEL POLEN DE DRIMYS GRANADENSIS VAR. MEXICANA (WINTERACEAE: MAGNOLIALES)

Abstract

A study of leaf anatomy and pollen
morphology of the poorly known taxon
Drimys granadensis var. mexicana
(Winteraceae) is presented. Although this
taxon of southern affinity is an element of the
cloud forests, occurring in a number of
localities from southern Mexico to Costa
Rica, its leaves present a mixture of
mesophilous features and adaptations to avoid
or decrease water loss, such as hypostomatic
leaves and sunken and obliterated stomata;
these latter are interpreted as relictual features
which were of adaptative value for
xerophilous ancestors. Pollen morphology is
similar to other Winteraceae, although some
distinctive features are discussed.