PALINOLOGIA DE HETERANTHIA DECIPIENS NEES & MART. (SCROPHULARIACEAE OU SOLANACEAE?)

Abstract

Whether the better familial placement of the
Brazilian endemic Heteranthia decipiens
Nees & Mart. Is in Scrophulariaceae or
Solanaceae is uncertain. The pollen
morphology of H. decipiens was compared
with that of several species of Solanaceae
(Salpiglossideae): Browallia americana L.,
Schwenckia americana Rooy. ex L., S.
cruviflora Benth. and S. grandiflora Benth.
Pollen grains underwent acetolysis and were
analysed under light (LM) and scanning
electronic (SEM) microscopy. H. decipiens
exhibited small-sized, subprolate, fastigiate 3-
colporate pollen grains, the exine psilate
under LM and pilate under SEM. B.
americana as characterized by its mediumsized, suboblate, 5(-6)-zonocolpate pollen
grains, with the exine striate-microreticulate.
The pollen grains of the Schwenckia species
are small to medium-sized; suboblate to
prolate spheroidal, fastigiate 3-colporate with
reticulate exine. The occurrence of fastigiate
apertures in H. decipiens pollen grains shows
its affinity to the Solanaceae
(Salpiglossideae).