VARIATION IN ANTHER AND POLLEN MORPHOLOGY IN LEUCAENA BENTH (LEGUMINOSAE-MIMOSOIDEAE)

Variation in anther and pollen morphology is described and illustrated for species of Leucaena and a selection of species from closely relat ed genera. This is discussed in relation to the variation found in the closely related genera of the informal Leucaena, Dichrostachys and Xy lia groups of the tribe Mimoseae. A number of characters for cladistic analysis are identified and putative homologies assessed. Preliminary taxonomic conclusions about the status and relationships of L. multic apitula are discussed. Mode of anther dehiscence is also described and illustrated. The observation of persistant intact tapetal membranes a fter another dehiscence in some species of Leucaena is discussed in re lation to pollen unit. (C) 1997 The Linnean Society of London.