Pollen morphology of Ukrainian species of the genus Pedicularis L. (Orobanchaceae Vent.)

Pollen grains of 10 species of Pedicularis occurring in Ukraine were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Palynological data on 6 species are reported for the first time. General pollen morphology of the genus Pedicularis is presented. Three types of apertures (2-syncolpate, 3-colpate, and 3-syncolpate) and seven subtypes of sculpture (3-syncolpate pilate, 3-syncolpate microscabrate-tubeculate, 2-syncolpate microscabrate, 2-syncolpate microscabrate-tubeculate, 2-syncolpate microscabrate-tubeculate-perforate, 2-syncolpate microfoveolate, and 2-syncolpate microscabrate-perforate) are indentified. The subgenus Pedicularis is heterogeneous in its types of apertures and sculpture of the surface, which indicates the need of further taxonomic revision of the group.