Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
Open Access

Abstract

Systematic Significance of Pollen Morphology of Citrus (Rutaceae) from Owerri

Inyama CN, Osuoha VUN, Mbagwu FN and Duru CM

Palynological features of C. sinensis, C. limon, C. aurantifolia, C. paradisi, C. reticulata and C. maxima collected from various parts of Owerri were examined and evaluated in order to determine the taxonomic value of the observed internal peculiarities. Features related to pollen shape showed circular to elliptic shapes in all the taxa while rectangular shape distinguished C. limon, C. paradise and C. maxima. Polar view showed that C. paradisi and C. maxima have closer affinity than the other taxa studied. Palynological characters as observed in this study were found useful especially in delimiting the investigated taxa and thus could be exploited in conjunction with other evidences in specie identification and characterization.