Ultrastructure and Pollen Micromorphology of Three Endemic Bellevalia (Asparagaceae) Species in Turkey

Abstract

The pollen morphology of Bellevalia kurdica Firat, B. siirtensis Firat, B. hakkariensis Firat species (Asparagaceae) was examined using Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The taxa are similar in some aspects, such as pollen size and reticulate exine sculpturing. Pollen grains are shed as monads. They are monosulcate, ellipsoidal, isopolar and bilateral symmetric. The exine is semitectate and the tectum is perforate. Sulcus extends from distal to proximal in some pollen of this genus. Besides, this study is the first report dealing with the palynological features of three endemic Bellevalia Lapeyr. species.