Pollen morphology of the genus Fritillaria L. (Liliaceae) in Turkey

Pollen grains of 39 taxa of the genus Fritillaria L. in Turkey were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Detailed pollen morphological characteristics are given for these taxa. Our investigation shows that the sculpturing of the exine provides valuable characters for separating species. In particular, sculpturing of the exine at the proximal face turned out to be taxonomically important. Six types of ornamentation were determined: reticulate, reticulate-perforate, suprareticulate, rugulate-reticulate, psilate-perforate, and perforate. On the basis of exine sculpturing, the sulcus membrane, and the apex sulcus, 5 main pollen types are recognised.