ABSTRACT The palynological diversity of Blechnaceae in the Atlantic Forest was investigated. While the monophyletic family belongs to the group of leptosporangiate ferns, a new classification proposed by recent phylogenetic study reorganizes the family and adds new genera. To expand palynological knowledge of the group, the spore morphology of 23 species and a hybrid, distributed among 10 genera, was described. Material from herbarium collections were submitted to acetolysis and mounted on slides, with subsequent statistical analysis of spore measurements. Photomicrographs of the material were taken under both light and scanning electron microscopy. Perine ornamentation varied among psilate, rugulate and scabrate; granules and gemmae were present along with thin, smooth cristae. Species of Blechnum and Austroblechnum exhibited the greatest diversity. The attributes of the spores obtained here were able to differentiate the analyzed species, although the spore morphology of some taxa was found to be very similar. Multivariate analysis assessed the relevance of quantitative data for differentiating the taxa.

ABSTRACT The subgenus Astrophea is one of the most critical and neglected subgenera of the genus Passiflora. Seven Brazilian species of P. subg. Astrophea were found to be in need of typification. Lectotypes are designated for the following names: Passiflora cauliflora, P. leptopoda, P. ceratocarpa, P. faroana, P. rhamnifolia, P. sclerophylla and P. tessmannii. An epitype was also designated for the name P. tessmannii. In addition, Passiflora alliacea was synonymized with Passiflora pentagona.

Abstract There are nine species of the plant genus Verbesina in Brazil, which are distributed in the Northeast, Center-West, Southeast and South regions of the country. The objective of the present study was to describe the pollinic morphology of eight of these species to better characterize them and evaluate potential species-level taxonomic characters. Acetolysed pollen material was measured within seven days under light microscopy, while non-acetolyzsed pollen grains were used for scanning electronic microscopy. The pollen grains were found to be oblate-spheroidal, medium-sized, isopolar, monads that are 3-colporate with a subtriangular amb, a small polar area, a long colpus, a lalongate endoaperture, a caveate exine and an echinate sexine. Although the shape of the pollen grains of these Brazilian species of Verbesina is homogeneous, some attributes were observed to be useful for characterizing the species, such as exine thickness, distance between spines and side of the apocolpus.

ABSTRACT The procedures for a set of techniques to recover grains of pollen 26 and spores from liquid samples are described. Liquefied samples of matrices, such as melting lakes, snow and ice, can provide a record of climatic and environmental events at different geographic and temporal scales. The need for standardization of techniques was demonstrated in research carried out with matrices of snow and water of thawing lakes and snow collected on King George and Joinville islands (Antarctica). The use of the methods described can permit increased rescue of palynomorphs from liquid matrices, thereby adding greater reliability to palynological data and its use as a biotracer of environmental events. Methods of sieving and centrifugation were tested, and sieving proved more efficient for the matrices analyzed.

ABSTRACT Based on molecular data, the tribe Chironieae (Gentianaceae) is divided into three subtribes. This study aims to describe the pollen morphology of representatives of two of the three subtribes that occur in the Atlantic Forest in order to contribute to a better understanding of the palynology of these taxa and to clarify the taxonomy of the family: subtribe Chironiinae (Centaurium erythraea and Zygostigma australe) and subtribe Coutoubeinae (Coutoubea ramosa, C. spicata, Deianira chiquitiana, D. damazioi, D. erubescens, D. nervosa and D. pallescens). Botanical material was obtained from exsicates and treated by acetolysis for light microscopy. Pollen grains were measured and photomicrographed, and the results statistically analyzed. For SEM study, non-acetolyzed pollen grains were sprayed onto metal stubs. The results show that the pollen grains in Chironiinae are medium-sized, prolate-spheroidal or subprolate, 3-colporate, monads, with striate-reticulate ornamentation. In Coutoubeinae the pollen grains are large or medium-sized tetrads with aperture varying between 3-porate or 3-hemicolpates and the sexine microreticulate (D. erubescens) or varied reticulate (the other species). Pollen morphology proved to be an important tool for the systematics of the family since it corroborated the existing placement of species into subtribes based on molecular data.

ABSTRACT The center of diversity for Passiflora subg. Astrophea is in low altitude areas of northern South America. The majority of species of this group are difficult to find in nature. Seed morphology was described in detail for 25 species of Passiflora subgenus Astrophea, a subgenus that until now did not exist. For morphological analysis, 20 seeds per species were measured for length, width and thickness, and the arithmetic means calculated. The seeds varied in length, width and thickness. Eight types of ornamentation were found. The margins varied among crestate, dentate, parted, entire and parted-crestate. The seed apex can be distinguished by the shape and position of the apical appendage. Seed shape varied among obovate, lanceolate, cordiform, and oblong to elliptical. An identification key was developed and a PCA was performed both using the principal morphological characters. Morphological characters of seeds are a new source of data for delimiting taxa with quite conflicting morphological boundaries, such as seen here with the Passiflora subgenus Astrophea. Furthermore, seed morphology is especially useful for the identification of specimens with only fruits and, consequently, seeds available.

Resumo A andiroba (Carapa) representa uma importante fonte de recursos naturais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a morfologia polínica das três espécies de Carapa (Meliaceae) registradas na Amazônia brasileira. Os grãos de pólen foram obtidos de botões florais, flores pistiladas e estaminadas de Carapa guianensis, C. surinamensis e C. vasquezii. A fim de explorar as implicações taxonômicas do estudo de pólen para estas espécies de Carapa, o material foi preparado de acordo com o método de acetólise láctico, permitindo a utilização de estudos de microscopia de luz. Além disso, o material não-acetolisado foi utilizado no estudo da microscopia eletrônica de varredura. O estudo mostra que as três espécies de Carapa apresentam pequenas variações na morfologia polínica. Comparada com as outras espécies deste estudo, Carapa vasquezii têm valores mais elevados para o comprimento e largura da endoabertura, entretanto, tem valores inferiores para diâmetro polar, equatorial, diâmetro equatorial em vista polar e lado do apocolpo.

Abstract The crabwood (Carapa) represents an important source of natural resources. The objective of this work was to study the pollen morphology of the three species of Carapa (Meliaceae) registered in the Brazilian Amazon. The pollen grains were obtained from floral buds, pistillate and staminate flowers of Carapa guianensis, C. surinamensis and C. vasquezii. In order to explore the taxonomic implications of the pollen study for these species of Carapa, lactic acetolysis method was used for light microscopy study. Furthermore, the non-acetolyzed material was used in the study of the scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the three Carapa species present little variations in pollen morphology. Compared to the other species this study, Carapa vasquezii has higher values for the length and width of endoaperture; however, it has lower values for polar and equatorial diameter, equatorial diameter in polar view and apocolpium side.

Pollen grains from twelve species of the Passifloraceae family from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest were analyzed: Passiflora subg. Astrophea (1sp.), P.subg. Decaloba (1sp.) and P.subg. Passiflora (10spp.). The current study aims to acquire additional information and feature the pollen morphology of the herein studied species to help setting a more precise taxa delimitation. Acetolyzed pollen grains were measured, described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains were medium or large sized, oblate spheroidal, suboblate, prolate spheroidal and subprolate; 4-colpate (P. kermesina), 6-12-pantocolporate (P. mediterranea), 6-colpate (P. mucronata), 6-colporate (P. pentagona), 12-colporate (P. misera) or 6-syncolpate (in most species). The presence of reticulate sexine, pseudopercula, pontopercula and/or opercula was observed. The endoaperture was just found in P. pentagonaand P. misera. It was concluded that pollen morphology is an important source of taxonomic features useful for distinguishing species and characterizing the three subgenera. The current study provides additional information that, along with other previously published studies, will enable a better understanding of phylogenetic relations among these strains.

Com a finalidade de avaliar a importância da morfologia polínica para a taxonomia de Eremanthus (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) em nível genérico e infragenérico e fornecer dados adicionais para a sua reconstrução filogenética, os grãos de pólen de 20 das 23 espécies do gênero foram examinados usando a microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscópio de luz. Para a análise em microscópio eletrônico de varredura foram utilizados grãos de pólen com e/ou sem tratamento químico. As espécies apresentaram grãos de pólen isopolares, oblato-esferoidais, na maioria dos táxons, mais raramente prolato-esferoidais ou suboblatos, âmbito subtriangular, tricolporados e subechinolofados. A variação entre os caracteres quantitativos não se correlacionam com a subdivisão macromorfológica do gênero nem com os limites genéricos ou específicos.

In order to evaluate the significance of the pollen morphology for generic and infrageneric taxonomy of the genus Eremanthus (Vernonieae, Asteraceae), and to provide additional data for its phylogenetic reconstruction, the pollen of 20 of the 23 species of the genus was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Acetolysed pollen grains were measured, described, and illustrated using light microscopy, while non-acetolysed pollen grains were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains of these species are isopolar, oblate-spheroidal in most of the species, more rarely prolate spheroidal or suboblate, subtriangular amb, tricolporate and subechinolophate. The variation among quantitative characters does not correlate with the macromorphological subdivision of the genus or with the generic or specific limits.

Com a finalidade de obter subsídios para a delimitação interespecífica do gênero Viguiera Kunth no Brasil, foi efetuado um estudo palinológico com 27 táxons, representando cerca de 77% das espécies ocorrentes. As amostras foram obtidas de material herborizado e o grão de pólen foi analisado sob microscopias óptica e eletrônica de varredura. Os grãos de pólen foram caracterizados quanto à forma, às dimensões e tipo da abertura, à ornamentação da superfície e à espessura da exina. Os grãos de pólen são médios (25 - 50mm), isopolares, oblato-esferoidais (prolato-esferoidais em V. aspilioides Baker), tricolporados, endoabertura lalongada, sexina espinhosa. Os valores obtidos corroboraram a sinonimização de algumas espécies e diferenças micro-morfológicas, tais como os valores do diâmetro polar, as dimensões do colpo e da endoabertura confirmaram algumas delimitações de grupos de espécies obtidas em análises filogenéticas de morfologia.

With the aim of improving inter-specific delimitation of the genus Viguiera Kunth in Brazil, a palynological analysis was undertaken with 27 taxa, representing around 77% of all occurring species. Samples were obtained from herbarium specimens and the pollen grains were analyzed through light and scanning electron microscopy. Characteristics, including the shape of the pollen grains, polar and equatorial diameter, aperture measurements, surface ornamentation and exine thickness, were registered and compared. The pollen grains were medium-sized (25 - 50 mm), isopolar and oblate spheroidal (prolate spheroidal in V. aspilioides Baker). The observed values corroborated the synonymity of some species and also highlighted certain micro-morphological differences, such as polar diameter and the dimensions of the colpus and endoaperture, thus confirming the groups of species delimitation obtained by morphologic and phylogenetic analyses.

Stifftia é um gênero Sul-americano, com espécies ocorrentes no Brasil e na Guiana Francesa (uma única espécie), em um total de oito táxons reconhecidos até o momento. No Brasil, o gênero é encontrado do Pará e Amapá ao Paraná, principalmente, em borda de floresta. O presente trabalho propõe novos sinônimos para Stifftia chrysantha J.C.Mikan e Stifftia parviflora (Leandro) D.Don.

Stifftia is a South-American genus, with species occurring in Brazil and French Guiana (only one species) totaling eight taxa recognized at the moment. In Brazil, the genus is present from Pará and Amapá to Paraná, mainly at forest edges. The present work suggests new synonyms for Stifftia chrysantha J.C.Mikan and Stifftia parviflora (Leandro) D.Don.

Foi realizado um estudo palinológico de 21 espécies da família Gesneriaceae reunidas em seis gêneros e três tribos: tribo Beslerieae -Besleria L. (4 spp.); tribo Episcieae - Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst. (3 spp.), Nematanthus Schrad. (5 spp); tribo Sinningieae -Paliavana Vand. (1 sp.), Sinningia Nees (6 spp.) e Vanhouttea Lem. (2 spp.) ocorrentes no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Objetivou-se caracterizar e ampliar os dados morfológicos da família, em nível genérico ou específico, contribuindo assim, para uma delimitação mais precisa dos táxons. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscopia de luz. Para observar detalhes da superfície e abertura, grãos de pólen não acetolisados foram analisados em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). Os grãos de pólen das espécies estudadas variaram de pequenos a médios, suboblatos a prolatos; apresentaram cólporos ou colpos e o número de aberturas foi constante para todas as espécies analisadas (3-aperturados). A ornamentação da sexina variou entre escabrada, perfurada, rugulada, microrreticulada e reticulada. Os resultados mostraram que a morfologia polínica é bem definida entre as espécies estudadas, variou dentro e entre as tribos e gêneros, podendo ser usada para identificar os táxons e sustentar o caráter euripalinológico de Gesneriaceae.

This work deals with the study of pollen of 21 species from the family Gesneriaceae found in six genera, divided into three tribes: Beslerieae tribe - Besleria L. (4 spp.) Episcieae tribe - Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst. (3 spp.) Nematanthus Schrad. (5 spp); Sinningieae tribe - Paliavana Vand. (1 sp.), Sinningia Nees (6 spp.) and Vanhouttea Lem. (2 spp.), occurring in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. We aim to characterize and expand the morphological data of the family, at the general or specific level, thus contributing to a more precise delimitation of taxa. The pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described and illustrated using light microscopy. To see details of the surface and opening, non-acetolysed pollen grains were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The pollen grains of the species studied ranged from small to medium, suboblate to prolate; they had colpores or colpes and the number of openings was constant for all species (3-aperture). Ornamentation of the sexine ranged from scabrous to perforated, rugulate, microrreticulate and reticulated. The results showed that pollen morphology is well defined for the species studied; it varied within and between tribes and genera, can be used to identify taxa and maintains the eurypalynological character of the family Gesneriaceae.

Foram estudadas oito espécies de Nyctaginaceae Juss., com o objetivo de caracterizá-las palinologicamente e, assim, contribuir para a elaboração de um catálogo polínico da flora das restingas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As espécies examinadas foram Boerhavia diffusa L., Bougainvillea glabra Choisy, B. spectabilis Willd., Guapira obtusata (Jacq.) Little, G. opposita (Vell.) Reitz, G. pernambucencis (Casar.) Lund., Leucaster caniflorus (Mart.) Choisy e Mirabilis jalapa L. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, mensurados, descritos e fotomicrografados. A análise de microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi utilizada em grãos de pólen não acetolisados, para confirmar as descrições feitas sob microscopia de luz e, em alguns casos para confirmar as descrições de abertura e ornamentação. Constatou-se que os grãos de pólen da espécie B. diffusa L. são grandes, apolares, esferoidais, 12-18-porados, com sexina espiculada; as espécies de Bougainvillea possuem grãos de pólen médios, isopolares, suboblatos, âmbito subtriangular, área polar grande, 3-colpados, sexina reticulada contendo espinhos diminutos sobre o muro e báculos livres no interior dos lumens; em Guapira os grãos de pólen são médios, isopolares, prolato-esferoidais, âmbito subtriangular, área polar grande, 3-colpados, colpos apresentando opérculo, sexina espinhosa em G. obtusata e G. pernambucensis, e microrreticulada em G. opposita; L. caniflorus apresenta grãos de pólen pequenos, isopolares, prolato-esferoidais, âmbito subtriangular, área polar pequena, 3-colpados, sexina reticulada; M. jalapa apresenta grãos de pólen muito grandes, apolares, esferoidais, pantoporados (ca. 32 poros), sexina espinhosa. Pela análise dos resultados obtidos pôde-se concluir que as espécies analisadas apresentam certa heterogeneidade polínica quanto à forma, aos atributos das aberturas e à ornamentação da sexina, podendo-se usar estes caracteres na taxonomia da família.

In this study eight taxa of Nyctaginaceae Juss. were investigated for palynological characterization and to contribute to the Pollen Catalog of the Flora of the Rio de Janeiro restingas. The taxa analysed were Boerhavia diffusa L., Bougainvillea glabra Choisy, B. spectabilis Willd., Guapira obtusata (Jacq.) Little, G. opposita (Vell.) Reitz, G. pernambucencis (Casar.) Lund., Leucaster caniflorus (Mart.) Choisy and Mirabilis jalapa L. Pollen grains were measured, described and illustrated using light microscopy. Non-acetolysed pollen grains were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy to confirm descriptions of aperture and sexine ornamentation. The pollen grains of Boerhavia are large, apolar, spheroidal, 12-18 porate, sexine spinose; Bougainvillea species have medium-sized pollen grains, isopolar, suboblate, subtriangular ambit, large polar area, 3-colpate, reticulate sexine, muri with spines and lumina with bacula; Guapira species have medium-sized pollen grains, isopolar, prolate spheroidal, subtriangular ambit, large polar area, 3-colpate, colpes with operculum, spinose sexine in G. obtusata and G. pernambucensis, and microreticulated in G. opposita reticulate sexine, except for G. pernambucensis, (granulate sexine); Leucaster caniflorus pollen grains are small, isopolar, prolate spheroidal, subtriangular ambit, small polar area, 3-colpate, reticulate sexine; Mirabilis jalapa has very large pollen grains, apolar, spheroidal, pantoporate (c. 32 pores), sexine spinose. The results show that the pollen of these taxa are rather heterogeneous in shape, aperture attributes and sexine ornamentation which can be used in the taxonomy of the family.

Foi realizado o estudo polínico de 23 espécies de Lepidaploa (Cass.) Cass. (Vernoniinae-Compositae) ocorrentes no Sudeste do Brasil, com o objetivo de contribuir para a caracterização polínica dessas espécies, bem como avaliar sua posição taxonômica. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscópia de luz. Para observar detalhes da superfície e da abertura, grãos de pólen não acetolizados foram analisados em microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV) e, em seguida, eletromicrografados. Foram estudadas as características dos grãos de pólen como forma, tamanho, constituição da exina e abertura. As espécies analisadas nesse estudo possuem grãos de pólen de tamanho médios ou grandes, isopolares, suboblatos, oblato-esferoidais ou prolato-esferoidais, âmbito subtriangular, área polar pequena ou grande, 3-colporados de superfície equinolofada. Foi confeccionada uma chave para identificação das espécies estudadas com base em dados polínicos. Pôde-se concluir que os grãos de pólen do gênero Lepidaploa apresentam quatro padrões principais de organização das malhas da exina equinolofada e três desses padrões podem ser divididos em subtipos de acordo com a forma da lacuna apertural.

The pollinic study of 23 species of Lepidaploa that occur in southeastern Brazil was done with the objetive of contributing to the pollinic characterization of these species and also evaluating its taxonomic position. The pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described and ilustrated under light microscopy. For further details of pollen surface and aperture, non acetolysed pollen grains were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and, subsequently, electron-micrographed. Characteristics of pollen grains like shape, size and constitution of exine and aperture were studied. The pollen of the species analysed in this study varies from medium or large in size, isopolar, suboblate, oblate spheroidal or prolate spheroidal, subtriangular ambit, small or large polar area, 3-colporate with echinolophate surface. A key to identify the studied species was made based on pollinic data. Pollen grains from Lepidaploa have four main brochus organization pattern of the echinolophate exine. Three of these patterns can be divided into subtypes according to the apertural lacune shape.

Foram analisadas 17 espécies subordinadas a oito gêneros ocorrentes nas restingas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, com o objetivo de contribuir para a caracterização polínica dessas espécies e para o catálogo polínico das restingas do Rio de Janeiro. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, analisados e fotomicrografados sob microscopia de luz. Para observar detalhes da superfície, grãos de pólen não acetolisados foram analisados em MEV. Apenas Byrsonima sericea possui grãos de pólen isopolares, pequenos e tricolporados. Nas demais espécies os grãos de pólen foram apolares e apresentaram atributos que foram utilizados na chave polínica sendo as principais caraterísticas utilizadas, o tamanho dos grãos de pólen, a quantidade e dimensões dos poros, a ornamentação da sexina e dos colpóides. Conclui-se que as espécies são palinologicamente distintas e as características polínicas mostraram ser um bom recurso disponível aos pesquisadores que poderão utilizar na taxonomia e demais áreas afins.

It were analyzed 17 species subordinate to eight genera that occur in Rio de Janeiro "restingas", aiming to contribute to the pollinic characterization of this species and to the pollinic catalog of "restingas" of Rio de Janeiro. The pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described and illustrated under light microscopy to observe details of surface, non acetolysed pollen grains were analysed under SEM. Only Byrsonima sericea has small, tricolporate and isopolar pollen grains. On other species were apolar pollen grains and presented characteristics that were used in the pollinic key. The main characteristics employed were size, number and dimension of the apertures, sexine and colpoid ornamentation. It conclude that analyzed species were palylonologically distinct and the pollinic characteristics were considered to be a good available resource to the researchers that will be able to use in the Taxonomy and in other related areas.