Systematic importance of morphological features of pollen grains of species from Erica (Ericaceae) genus

The Erica genus has as yet not been investigated satisfactorily in terms of palynology. Its complicated taxonomic system, large number of species, as well as its extensive but disrupted range of occurrence, all contribute to the fact that few researchers have undertaken investigations of this species. It was assumed that the research results would be representative thanks to a complex comparative analysis of all diagnostical, morphological pollen features performed on properly selected plant material, representing the most important distinguished intrageneric taxons at the present time (45 species from all five subgenera and 22 sections), both discriminated pollen dispersal units (tetrads and monads) as well as the main centres of genus occurrence and diversification (species from Europe, the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and Madagascar). The study revealed that the diagnostic features of the pollen grains studied were: pollen dispersal unit, exine ornamentation, P/E ratio, tetrad diameter (D) and length of polar axis (P). On the basis of these traits, 14 Erica species (six creating monads and eight—tetrads) were distinguished which, in the case of pollen features, constitutes a significant number. Other heaths created small groups, usually containing two or three species, but up to seven species. The present study, based on the highest number of Erica species (45) analysed so far, corroborated the view that an examination of palynological features may assist in clarifying classification systems for the large and taxonomically very difficult Erica genus, in particular, at the level of the subgenus and section, but also at species level. The results obtained indicate the need to continue palynological investigations on the Erica genus.