POLLEN MORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES OF 10 ENDEMIC LEGUMES FROM INDIA.

The pollen morphology of 10 endemic legumes of India belonging to 10 different genera was studied using Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Great variations observed in the apertural characters and exine ornamentations are found to be significantly helpful at generic as well as species level delimitation. The pollen grains are generally 3-zonocolporate or rarely 3-zonocolpate with ora lalongate or lolongate or circular. The exine ornamentation shows highest variation among genera, from psilate to foveolate, granulate, rugulate, reticulate, scabrate or verrucate. A brief plant description, habit and pollen images, details on nomenclature, phenology, habitat and distribution are also provided with pollen description of each species.