New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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Starch in angiosperm pollen grains and its anthecological significance

Herbert G. Baker
Irene Baker

Department of Botany, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, U.S.A.

Abstract Pollen grains of almost 1000 species were examined and measured to test four predictions: (1) "Primitive" angibsperms will have pollen that is starch-containing at the time of anther-dehiscence; more advanced families will have starchless pollen. (2) Where Hymenopteraand Diptera use pollen nutritionally, there will be selection of starchless (oil-rich) pollen, particularly where pollen is the only reward for visitors. (3) Conversely, in autogamous species, anemophilous species, and those pollinated by Lepidoptera or birds who make no nutritional use of pollen, the energetically more economical accumulation of starch will be seen. (4) Small pollen grains will be more likely to be starchless (oil-rich); starch-containing grains will tend to be larger.

New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1979, Vol. 17:535

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (77K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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