Study of Systematic Application of Morpho-Palynological Characterization of Medicinal Plants

Background: The present study was carried out to clear up the taxonomic position and delimitation of the taxa through palynological parameters. In the present study palynological investigation of some selected medicinal plants belonging to district Lahore was conducted. Materials and Methods: The distinguishing characteristics for the selected species were found using systematized methods by using LM and SEM. In this study important pollen morphological features of these medicinal species such as polar and equatorial outline and their diameter, P/E ratio, presence or absence of pore, sculpturing of pollen, exine thickness, intine thickness, intercellular distance of exine and intine, presence or absence of spines, length of spines, width of spines, presence or absence of colpi and length of colpi, were compared. Remarkable variations in these pollen characters had been observed among these medicinal plants. Results: Pollen grains were usually circular-semicircular (Calendula officinalis), spheroidal (Convolvulus arvensis), bilobed and trilobed (Convolvulus arvensis), spiny, (Abutilon indicum), oblate (Terminalia chebula) and elongated (Euphorbia pilulifera). In polar view Conyza bonariensis exhibited the highest pollen size ( 195.9 (211.6-180.2) µm) as compared to Parthenium hysterophorus (22.5 (20-25) µm). While in equatorial view Calendula officinalis and Euphorbia pilulifera had lowest value (22.5 (20-25) µm) whereas Carissa carandas (165 (140-179) µm) appeared to be the largest. Parthenium hysterophorus showed the highest P/E ratio i.e., 1.28. Colpi were reported in only 7 species. Interspecific differences varied from 3.5 µm to 17.5 µm. Most of the plants showed 100% fertility but Terminalia chebula showed the least value 35%. Conclusion: In the present project the diversity in pollen morphology has made such studies a valuable taxonomic tool and also through this work it is concluded that pollen features are helpful at the specific level as well as generic level and can provide us fruitful taxonomic solutions. Pollen are often produced in large quantities and can be preserved for millions of years so the present study also provides a basis for the archeobotany.