New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Pollen morphology of the New Zealand species of Dacrydium Solander, Podocarpus L'Heritier, and Dacrycarpus Endlicher (Podocarpaceae)

D. T. POCKNALL

Department of Botany, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract The pollen morphology of the New Zealand species of Dacrydium, Podocarpus, and Dacrycarpus is described from observations made with the light microscope and scanning and transmission electron microscopes. An identification key is presented. Dacrydium pollen can be identified to the species level except for D. bidwillii and D. biforme which are inseparable. Podocarpus pollen is readily separated into two groups: (1) P. spicatus, P. ferrugineus and (2) P. totara, P. nivalis, P. hallii, P. acutifolius, P. totara var. waihoensis. Further identification, especially within group 2, is difficult. Dacrycarpus dacrydioides pollen is easily identified because it is the only modern trisaccate type in New Zealand. A zone of exine differentiation termed "region of weakness" is identified in Dacrydium colen-soi, D. intermedium, D. laxifolium, Podocarpus spicatus, and P. ferrugineus. This region is adjacent to the proximal roots of the sacci at the lateral margins of the cappaand may function during periods of water stress, facilitating collapse and invagination of the sacci to protect the furrow.

Keywords Dacrydium; Podocarpus; Dacrycarpus; Podocarpaceae; pollen morphology; "region of weakness"; identification key; New Zealand

Received 18 March 1980
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1981, Vol. 19:67-95

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (7454K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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