Pollen flora of Pakistan - LXVII: Acanthaceae

Pollen morphology of 30 species of the family acanthaceae belonging to 11 genera has been investigated using light and scanning electron microscope. acanthaceae is a eurypalynous family. pollen are usually radially symmetrical,isopolar,sub-prolate to prolate rarely prolate-spheroidal or sub-oblate to oblate-spheroidal,generally tricolporate or heterocolporate rarely colpate or porate. exine ornamentation varies from medium to coarse reticulate,or often lopho-reticulate with luminae perforated to baculate or scabrate. on the basis of apertural type,exine ornamentation and colpal membrane eight distinct pollen types have been recognized viz.,pollen type-i: barleria cristata-type,pollen type-ii: blepharis ciliaris-type,pollen type-iii: hygrophila polysperma - type,pollen type-iv: justicia adhatoda-type,pollen type-v: lepidagathis incurva-type,pollen type- vi:peristrophe paniculata-type,pollen type-vii: ruellia patula-type and pollen type-viii: strobilanthes atropurpureus - type. within the family pollen diversity is significant enough for delimiting the tribes,subtribes and genera.