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Hibiscus pollen

What is pollen?

The pollen grain is the structure used to transport the male gamete (i.e. male DNA) to the female part of a flower. Pollen must be strong to protect the male gametes on their journey. The outer wall of the pollen grain, called the exine, is composed of a very unusual substance called sporopollenin which is very tough. The inner layer is made of cellulose and is similar in construction to an ordinary plant cell wall. Pollen grains are microscopic - usually about 15 to 100 microns - and just a pinch of pollen powder contains thousands and thousands of grains.

 

General Structure of Pollen:

 

Ornemantation of Pollen Grains:

 

 

 

 

Layers of Pollen:

 

 

Light Micrographs of Pollen Grains

                    Pick a family:

Acanthaceae Clusiaceae Lamiaceae Papaveraceae Sapotaceae
Aceraceae Convolvulaceae Lilaceae Pinaceae Scrophulariaceae
Alismataceae Cornaceae Loganiaceae Plantaginaceae Smilaceae
Amaranthaceae Cucurbitaceae Lythraceae Platanaceae Solanaceae
Anacardiaceae Cyperaceae Magnoliaceae Poaceae Taxodiaceae
Apiaceae Ebenaceae Malpighiaceae Poleminiaceae Tiliaceae
Aquifoliaceae Ericaceae Malvaceae Polygalaceae Ulmaceae
Asteraceae Euphorbiaceae Meliaceae Polygonaceae Urticaceae
Betulaceae Fabaceae Menispermaceae Portulacaceae Utriculariaceae
Brassicaceae Fagaceae Moraceae Ranunculaceae Verbenaceae
Cactaceae Ginkgoaceae Myricaceae Rhamnaceae Vitaceae
Cannabaceae Grossulariaceae Nyctaginaceae Rosaceae
Caprifoliaceae Hamamelidaceae Nyssaceae Rubiaceae
Caryophyllaceae Hydrophyllaceae Oleaceae Rutaceae
Chenopodiaceae Juglandaceae Onagraceae Salicaeae

 

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