POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE GENUS OROBANCHE L (OROBANCHACEAE)

A comparative palynological study of 25 taxa of the genus Orobanche L. belonging to section Trionychon Wallr. and section Orobanche L. was c arried out. A clear difference between the pollen grains of section Tr ionychon and section Orobanche was observed. The grains of section Tri onychon are typically tricolpate, radially symmetrical, more or less o blate spheroidal, with a microreticulate or scabrate-perforate sculptu re. Section Orobanche on the other hand, had spheroidal, more or less inaperturate pollen grains, although some were tricolpate, but without any clear symmetry. The basic surface sculpture of the pollen in sect ion Orobanche was scabrate to rugulate-perforate. Palynologically, six groups can be recognized amongst the species of the genus Orobanche, for which a key is provided.