Morphology of Flower, Pollen and Orbicules of Meghalayan Dioscorea L. (Dioscoreaceae), North-East India:A Pivotal Taxon in the Evolution of Monocot

Flowers, pollen and orbicules morphology is an important source of information for systematic and evolutionary studies among different species, genera and families level. In the present study the floral, pollen and orbicules morphology of 80 samples of the genus Dioscorea L. representing 8 species native to Meghalaya were studied. Trichopus and Tacca, the allied genera with Burmannia of Burmanniaceae, nearest family of Dioscoreaceae were selected as an outgroup for the present study. Variation in floral, pollen and orbicules characters were observed and 62 descriptors or traits were selected for morphometric analysis. Pollen of Dioscorea is monosulcate or bisulcate with perporate or microrecticulate sexine sculptures. Orbicules were mostly spherical with smooth surface.