POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF CAROPHYLLACEAE IN NO RDIC QUEBEC, ADJACENT TERRITORIES AND THE CANADIAN ARCTIC ARCHIPELAGO

Pollen grains of 38 species (12 genera) of Caryophyllaceae from nordic Quebec, adjacent territories, and from the Canadian Arctic archipelag o were studied in light microscopy. Thirteen pollen forms have been re cognized, of which 11 are pantoporate (Cerastium-Stellaria type, Lychn is alpina, Melandrium affine type, Melandrium apetalum, Minuartia groe nlandica, Minuartia rubella type, Sagina caespitosa - Sagina nivalis, Sagina nodosa, Sagina procumbens - Sagina saginoides, Silene acaulis, and Silene vulgaris) and 2 others colpate (Spergula arvensis and Sperg ularia canadensis). The data confirm the taxonomic value of the ratio (distance between two adjacent pores)/(grain diameter). A more precise d identification of pollen grains of Caryophyllaceae, which is conside red a rather uniform family, will allow a better pollen data interpret ation whichever the samples studied.