Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Field Experiments of Pollination Ecology: The Case of Lycoris sanguinea var. sanguinea
Published on: November 25, 2016
Comparative palynomorphological study of selected species of Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae): Taxonomic and evolutionary
Zoya M Tsymbalyuk1, Daniella Ivanova2, Lyudmila M Nitsenko1
1Department of Systematics and Floristics of Vascular Plants, M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Tereshchenkivska St, 2, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine.
Abstract:
Molecular phylogenetic studies of Dipsacales place Lonicera in a clade containing Leycesteria, Triosteum, and Symphoricarpos. Lonicera is the largest among these genera. Some species of Lonicera are commonly used in traditional medicine as well as food, cosmetics, or have other applications. Pollen morphology is often used to distinguish between taxa at different levels. The aim of the present research was to assess the taxonomical significance of data on pollen morphology for species-specific identification. Morphology of acetolysed pollen of seven Lonicera species (18 specimens) was studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Dry pollen grains were also examined. Pollen grains are 3(4)-colporate, medium- or large-sized, suboblate to subprolate in shape. Exine sculpture is echinate-microechinate-nanoechinate. The important diagnostic features of Lonicera at species level are the size of pollen grains, amb, details of the colpi and endoapertures, presence/absence of annuli, details of the exine sculpture and exine structure. UPGMA dendrograms, based on quantitative pollen traits, support the differentiation of most taxa at species and subgeneric level. UPGMA dendrogram, based on qualitative pollen traits, supports the differentiation of subgenera and sections. The palynomorphological diversity of exine structure described in the present work may have implications for the evolution of family Caprifoliaceae.
Related Concept Videos
Pollination and Flower Structure
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Phylogeny
Convergent Evolution

