POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE GENUS MALUS (ROSACEAE)

Abstract

Pollen morphology of some species of the genus Malus (Rosaceae) was investigatedtaxonomically. All species are characteristic by tricolpate pollens. Exine sculpturing is variable but is mostlystriate. However, species may differ in degree of density of ridges and their orientation. The exine patterns inM. trilobata and M. florentina are very similar and were characterized by short and very branched ridges.These show clear differences from other species, which have pollen grains with long and unbranched orslightly branched ridges.