Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The tribe Inuleae is widely distributed within Asteraceae and exhibits considerable morphological variation, which complicates species classification. Pollen morphology provides relatively stable features for species delimitation, yet comprehensive palynological data for many species remain limited. In this study, the pollen morphology of 19 species from eight genera of Inuleae was investigated using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with a focus on 10 quantitative traits. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), showed that both pollen size and exine ornamentation contribute to interspecific differentiation. Differences were especially notable between Blumea and Carpesium, with the latter showing larger pollen grains and more slender, scattered spines. This research also presents first-time palynological descriptions of Blumea, Carpesium, Inula, Laggera, Pentanema, and Pterocaulon. Overall, the findings indicate that pollen morphological traits are informative for species differentiation and lay a foundation for further palynological classification within Inuleae.
Source: PhytoKeys
Authors: Tianmeng Qu, Xinyu Chen, Xinyi Zheng, Yanru Zhang, Yizhen Shao, Hongze Sun, Bing Zhang, Gan Xie, Zhixi Fu
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $754
Awards: G5586739561, G8492477856
OpenAlex ID: W4414960414