Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint Catherine, Sinai, Egypt

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eISSN: 2357-044X Taeckholmia 38 (2018): 40-60
Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
Catherine, Sinai, Egypt
Abbas A. El-Ghamery2; Hasnaa A. Hosni1; Ahmed, M. Sadek2*
1Botany Dept., Herbarium, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt
2Botany and Microbiology Dept., Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
*Corresponding Author: asbotanist@azhar.edu.eg.
Abstract
Macro- and micro-morphological features of seeds and pollen grains of 12 endemic taxa belonging to seven
families collected from Saint Catherine area, South Sinai, Egypt were examined by light microscope (LM) and
scanning electron microscope (SEM). Macro- and micro-morphological characters, of seeds including shape,
colour, size, brightness, seed surface, epidermal cell shape, anticlinal boundaries, and periclinal cell wall are
presented. Pollen description includes shape, size, apertures and exine ornamentation. Seeds of eight taxa and
pollen of three taxa have been described for the first time in this study.
Key words: Endemics, Pollen, Seed morphology, Sinai, Saint Catherine
Introduction
Sinai Peninsula is located on the
boundaries of Asia and Africa and comprises
an area of about 61000 km2 or 6.1% of the
surface of Egypt. Contribution to the flora of
Sinai have been reviewed by many authors
(Abdallah et al. 1984, Ayyad et al. 2000; El
Hadidi 1989, Danin et al. 1985, Danin 1986;
El Hadidi et al. 1970; Kamel et al. 2002;
Täckholm 1932 & 1969).
Saint Catherine area encloses most of the
mountainous area of South Sinai, occupies
about 4350 km2, including the country's
highest mountain, Mount Catherine (2641m,
asl) which was declared as protected area in
1988. The geomorphological features of
mountainous southern Sinai provide ideal
conditions for the endemic species (El Hadidi
& Hosni, 2000); most of these species extend
to a very small area, so they are under the threat
of extinction by both natural and human
factors (Omar 2014).
According to Danin (1986), there are 28
endemic species in Sinai, of which 25 occur in
the mountainous district of Sinai. El Hadidi &
Fayed (1994/95) recorded 27 species endemic
to S Sinai, while El Hadidi & Hosni (2000)
recorded 30 endemic taxa from Sinai, of these
20 taxa are restricted to mountainous area of
southern Sinai. Boulos (2009) recorded 29 taxa
from Sinai, of which 22 are restricted to S
Sinai. Recently Hosni et al. (2013) recorded 38
taxa endemic to Sinai, of which 14 are
confined to St. Catherine area. However, until
now, no comprehensive survey of seeds and
pollen of endemic taxa in Sinai have been
carried out. Most studies on endemic flora
focused mainly on their morphological
identification, biodiversity, growth
morphology and conservation (Ayyad et al.
2000; Danin 1983, 1986; Cairo University
Herbarium staff 1989; Abd El-Wahab et al.
2006; Hosni et al. 2013; Omar 2014; Kamel et
al. 2002). To the best of our knowledge, there
is no previous complete data available on seed
and pollen morphology of endemic taxa in
Saint Catherine. Pollen grains of some
endemic species in Sinai have been a subject
of study by some authors either in the context
of the endemic flora of the country (Shehata &
Kamel 2007; Ibrahim 2015; El Gamal 2017) or
as a taxon within special group (Shehata &
Loutfy 2006). Whereas, few studies on seed
coat of endemics have been done within the
revision of some other taxa (Kamel 2003,
Hosny & Zareh 1992/93). It has been shown
Received on 12/03/2018 and accepted on 03/07/2018

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
that macro- and micmorphological characters
of seeds and pollen are useful and significant
for the delimitation of species and genera in
many groups of flowering plants (Shehata &
Loutfy 2006; Banks et al. 2008; Shamso &
Toshiyuki 2012; Jagodziński et al. 2016;
Bazarragchaa et al. 2012). The aim of this
study was to provide seed and palynological
information about some of the endemic taxa of
Saint Catherine area; the description of the
seed and pollen characteristics may be helpful
for identification of these taxa.
Materials and Methods
The present study was based on fresh
materials as well as Herbarium specimens kept
in Cairo University Herbarium (CAI) and Al
Azhar University Herbarium. For plant
specimen’s collection, field trips in different
regions of Saint Catherine Protected area have
been made in 2016. The identification of the
specimens was confirmed by using keys in the
available references (Täckholm, 1974, Boulos
1999-2002), and comparing them with
specimens housed at the herbarium of Cairo
University; affiliation of taxa to families
followed the approach of the Angiosperm
Phylogeny Group (Stevens 2001 onwards,
APG IV 2016); taxonomic concept for species,
subspecies or varieties followed Boulos
(2009). The specimens are deposited at Cairo
University Herbarium (CAI) and Al Azhar
University Herbarium; list of the material
studied, with relevant information are shown
in Table 1.
For Light Microscopy (LM) specimens
were examined under a stereo- microscope, for
measurements and calibration stage
micrometer was used as well as image J
software. Photographs were taken with
Premiere MA88-900 digital camera. For
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dry
seeds and acetolyzed pollen grains were
mounted on stubs using double-sided adhesive
tape, then coated with Nano gold then
examined and photographed with JIOL JSM
SEM at the Electron Microscope unit at The
Regional Center for Mycology and
Biotechnology, Al Azhar university, Cairo,
Egypt.
For seed study: Studied seeds were either
collected in the field or obtained from
herbarium specimens; at least 3 to 4 mature
seeds were examined to analyze
morphological variation (shape, size,
brightness, hilum position and testa
ornamentation ). The main features of seeds
were summarized in Tables (2 & 3); LM and
SEM photographs for each taxon, showing
seed character variation were given in (Plates I
& II). The terminology used followed Barthlott
(1981 & 1990) and Stearn (1992).
For pollen grain study: Pollen material was
obtained from flowers at full flowering stage;
at least 10 – 15 pollen grains from three- five
specimens of each taxon (if available) were
selected to cover the range of variation; and
were prepared for SEM microscopy according
to the technique of Erdtman (1952). For pollen
grains characteristics include shape, polarity,
measurements and exine ornamentation were
given in Table (4); SEM micrographs of pollen
were given in Plate (III). The terminology was
adopted from Punt et al. (2007) and Hesse et
al. (2009).
Results and Discussion
Twelve taxa belonging to seven families
were included in this study collected from
Saint Catherine Protected area, S Sinai (Table
1). Seeds of eight taxa and pollen of three taxa
had been described for the first time in this
study.
Seed Characters:
Morphological characters of examined
taxa were given (Table 2), and the
photographed obtained were shown in (Plate
I). The photographs of the seeds obtained from
SEM were analyzed and testa characteristics
shown in Table 3 and Plate II.
41

3
42
El-Ghamery et al.
Table 1: List of the studied taxa and their locations
NO.
Taxa
Family
Location
1
Anarrhinum pubescens
Fresen.
Plantaginaceae
s.l.
Wadi Al Talah , 1/5/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
- Wadi Meserdy 4/5/2016; A. M. Sadek. (CAI, Al Azhar
Univ.)
2
Bufonia multiceps Decne.
Caryophyllaceae
Wadi Al Ferah 30/4/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
Wadi Al Arbiaen 30/4/2016, A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.) –
Ain Shekia 2/5/2016; A. M. Sadek (CAI, Al Azhar Univ.)
3
Euphorbia obovata Decne.
Euphorbiaceae
Wadi Talah 1/5/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.) -
Ain Shekia 2/5/2016; A. M. Sadek (CAI), Al Azhar Univ.) –
Wadi Taboq 3/5/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
4
Origanum syriacum L.
subsp. sinaicum (Boiss.)
Greuter & Burdet
Lamiaceae
Shag El Gragenia, 29/4/2016; A. M. Sadek (CAI, Al
Azhar Univ.) - Wadi Al Ferah, 30/4/2016; A.M. Sadek
(Al Azhar Univ.) Shag Mus,a 30/4/2106; A. M. Sadek
(Al Azhar Univ.)
5
Phlomis aurea Decne.
Lamiaceae
Shag Musa, 30/4/2106; A. M. Sadek (CAI, Al Azhar Univ.)-
Shag El Gragenia 29/4/2016; A. M. Sadek (CAI, Al Azhar
Univ.); Wadi Al Ferah, 30/4/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar
Univ.)
6
Plantago sinaica Decne.
Plantaginaceae
Wadi Al Ferah (N: 28.54440 E: 33.96410), 30/4/2016; A.M.
Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.) - Wadi Al Arbiaen, 30/4/2016, A.
M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.) – Ain Shekia, 2/5/2016, A. M..
Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
7
Polygala sinaica Botsch.
var. sinaica
Polygalaceae
Hamatet Abada, 29/4/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
-Shag Musa, 30/4/2106; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
8
Primula boveana Decne.
ex Duby
Primulaceae
Shag Musa , 30/4/2106; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
9
Rosa arabica Crép.
Rosaceae
Shag Musa , 30/4/2106; A. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)-
Wadi Talah, 1/5/2016; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
10
Silene leucophylla Boiss.
Caryophyllaceae
Wadi Meserdy, 4/5/2016, A. M. Sadek; (Al Azhar Univ.)-
Ain Shekia , 2/5/2016, A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.) –
Wadi Abo Kasaba 5/5/2016, A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar Univ.)
11
Silene oreosinaica
Chowdhuri
Caryophyllaceae
Shag Musa 30/4/2106; A. M. Sadek.(Al Azhar Univ.) –
Ain-Shinar, Gebal Catherine, Sinai, 9/10/1983, A.Hosny
(CAI)
12
Silene schimperiana Boiss.
Caryophyllaceae
Shag Musa , 30/4/2106; A. M. Sadek (Al Azhar niv.)-
Wadi Al Arbiaen 30/4/2016, A. M. Sadek (CAI, Al Azhar
Univ.)

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
Hosny & Zareh (1992/93) studied
the seed morphology of Silene species
native to Egypt including two of the
present studied taxa: Silene oreosinaica
and S. schimperiana, while El Gamal
(2017) described seed and pollen of
Silene species of Saint Catherine area.
Kamel (2003) and Shehata & Loutfy
(2006) studied the micromorphology of
the seed coat in Plantaginaceae from
Egypt including Plantago sinaica.
However, until now, there has been no
morphological study of seed of the
following taxa: Anarrhinum pubescens
(Plantaginaceae s.l.), Bufonia multiceps
(Caryophyllaceae), Euphorbia obovata
(Euphorbiaceae), Origanum syriacum
subsp. sinaicum, Phlomis aurea
(Lamiaceae), Rosa arabica (Rosaceae),
Polygala sinaica var. sinaica
(Polygalaceae) and Primula boveana
(Primulaceae).
In the present study the largest
seeds have been measured in Phlomis
aurea (5 - 7 × 1.5 – 3 mm), and the
smallest seed in Primula boveana (0.7 -
1.2 × 0.4 - 1.2 mm). This study
demonstrated the high diversity of seed
morphology in terms of seed shape,
colour, hilum character, seed coat
ornamentation and epidermal cell
characters. Most of the studied taxa can
be distinguished by their shapes which
show considerable variation, it was
irregularly cuboid in Primula boveana
(Plate I, Figure 8) or ellipsoid-
trigonous with rounded end and short
projection in Phlomis aurea (Plates I,
Figure 5), to reniform or ellipsoid in the
studied taxa of Caryophyllaceae (Plate
I, Figures 2,10,11,12). However, the
most fascinating shape was observed in
Plantago sinaica (Plate I, figure 6)
being cymbiform. The colour of seeds
ranged from dark or light brown to
yellow in Origanum syriacum subsp.
sinaicum (Plate I, Figure 4). However,
black seeds were observed in Polygala
sinaica var. sinaica in addition to the
presence of areol and long soft hairs
(Plate I, figure 7). Seed coat surface
shows great variation among the studied
taxa; it varies from reticulate,
tuberculate, colliculate, ruminate or
striate. However, some taxa have a quite
distinct seed surface; it was ruminate in
Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum
(Plate II, Figure 4b) and lineolate in
Plantago sinaica (Plate II, Figure 6b).
Euphorbia is well known as a genus
with a great diversity of seed characters
with several different kinds of seed
ornaments and the presence or absence
of caruncles in the genus are important
characters that are widely used to
delimit species and sections within the
genus (da Silva et al. 2016, Pahlevani
et al. 2015). In the present study, seeds
of Euphorbia obovata were described
for the first time. However, the
characteristics of seeds of Euphorbia
obovata followed the general
characters of the genus Euphorbia
section Helioscopia described by
Pahlevani et al. 2015, namely: broadly
oblong to ellipsoid seeds, dorsal face
slightly concave with longitudinal
furrow transversely grooved,
ecarunculate (Plate I, Figure 3; Plate II,
Figure 3a, b). Hong et al. (1999), Yildiz
(2002) and Dadandi & Yildiz (2015)
43

5
El-Ghamery et al.
pointed out that the identification of
Silene species based on morphological
characters may be difficult, especially
when they show great variation. Seed
macro- and/or micromorphology is an
alternative or additional tool to delimit
taxa are of great diagnostic and
systematic value and sometimes the
seed characters alone are satisfactory.
Caryophyllaceae was represented in this
study by 4 species viz.: Bufonia
multiceps, Silene leucophylla,
S.oreosinaica and S. schimperiana; the
last three species were studied among
other species of Silene in Egypt (Zareh
& Hosny 1992/93, El Gamal 2017). To
the best of our knowledge no studies on
Bufonia multiceps have been done
before. The seed shape of the studied
taxa of Caryophyllaceae were mostly
reniform, with inconspicuous ridges and
slightly concave lateral faces (Plate I,
Figures 10,11,12), whereas it was
orbicular in Bufonia multiceps (Plate I,
Figure 2); testa cell shape was
isodiametric to elongated, parallel to
each other and radiating from the center
with sinuate wall. (Plate II, Figures 2,
10, 11, 12); seed coat showed wide
range of variation, it was colliculate in
Bufonia multiceps, whereas it was
tuberculate in studied Silene species.
However, S. oreosinaica showed
isodiametric cell pattern, aculeate
especially toward the periphery, with
finely granulated, sinuate- stellulate
periclinal wall; while in the other two
species it was elongated and
isodiametric cells with acutely-
obtusely sinuate wall, and coarsely
granulated surface.
Pollen characters
The summary and photographs
were represented in (Table 4) and (Plate
III, Figures 1-12). Shehata and Kamel
(2007) studied pollen morphology of
seven endemic and five near endemic
species collected from Sinai. Their
study although considered as prelimi-
nary, has shown that the pollen
characteristics of each taxon are highly
specific and diagnostic at the generic
level. They did not took into account
Euphorbia obovata, Origanum
syriacum subsp. sinaicum, Polygala
sinaica, Rosa arabica, Silene
leucophylla, S. oreosinaica and S.
schimperiana. Ibrahim (2015) described
the pollen grains of 12 endemic species
of which Silene oreosinaica and
Plantago sinaica were not included in
his treatment. Our findings indicate that
all studied taxa share some common
features, such as polarity and symmetry;
they are all isopolar and radiosymmetry.
Size exhibits a wide range of variation it
ranged from small, to medium; main
polar axis ranged from 13.16 µm in
Primula boveana (Plate III, Figure 8a)
to 33.75 µm in Silene schimperiana
(Plate III, Figure 12a). Apertures were
mostly Trizonocolporate –
Trizonocolpate to Polypantoporate or
Polyzonocolporate. Exine
ornamentation ranged from fossulate in
Origanum syriacum. subsp. sinaicum
(Plate III, Figure 4b) , psilate in
Polygala sinaica var. sinaica (Plate III,
Figure 7b), striate in Rosa arabica
(Plate III, Figure 9b), microechinate in
Bufonia multiceps (Plate III, Figure 2b)
44

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
and was biretculate in Phlomis aurea
(Plate III, Figure 5b), verrucate-
granulate to reticulate, microechinate,
or microreticulate in the rest of the
studied taxa. According to Banks et al.
(2008) the pollen morphology of
Polygalaceae has long been recognized
as distinctive, and it has been used as a
valuable diagnostic character at the
family level. The pollen of Polygala
sinaica var. sinaica was
polyzonocolporate, oblate spheroidal,
with psilate surface and granulate colpal
membrane (Plate III, Figure 7 a,b),
which correlate with other species of
Polygala. The shape of the studied
pollen varied from prolate in
Antirrhinum pubescens (Plate III,
Figure 1a), to prolate spheroid in Rosa
arabica (Plate III,Figure 10a) whereas
the rest of the studied taxa exhibit
oblate-spheroid to spheroidal grains.
The characters of pollen grains are
important and deciding factor for the
systematic study of various genera
under the family Lamiaceae. In the
present study the hexazonocolpate
pollen was observed in Origanum
syriacum subsp. sinaicum (subfamily
Nepetoideae) with fossulate exine (Plate
III, figure 4a, b), whereas trizonocolpate
was observed in Phlomis aurea
(subfamily Lamioideae) with
bireticulate ornamentation (Plate
III,Figure 5a, b); these results coincide
with that of the family Lamiaceae
recorded earlier (Acylacin 2003,
Bazarragchaa et al. 2012). In
Caryophyllaceae, the number and
position of apertures as well as the
sculpturing pattern are found to be of
taxonomic value and useful in species
delimitation (Yildiz 2005). Pollen of the
studied taxa of Caryophyllaceae showed
superficial resemblance, they were all
spheroidal and polypantoporate, exine
ornamentation were mainly
microechinate- microperforate, pores
were circular and operculate, operculum
surface was granulate - microechinate.
However, the pores were distinctly
sunken in Bufonia multiceps (Plate III,
Figure 2, a) or completely prominent in
the other species. The studied Silene
speciecs can be easily distinguished by
exine ornamentation being verrucate,
granulate in S. oreosinaica, and
foveolate microechinate in S.
leucophylla while in S.schimperiana,
exine was punctate, microechinate.
Additionally, operculum surface was
echinate in S.schimperiana and
granulate in the other two taxa (Plate
III, Figures 10, 11, 12). These finding
were in accordance with pollen
description of Caryophyllaceae
(Ghazanfar, 1984, Yildiz 2005; Kaplan
2008; Shamso &Toshiyuki 2012;
Mostafavi & Mehregan 2014).
In conclusion, the characteristic
features of pollen and seeds of taxa
included in this study were useful in
identification and were new addition to
the flora of the endemic species of Sinai,
Egypt; some of these taxa have not been
studied before.
45

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El-Ghamery et al.
Table 2: Morphological characters of the seeds of the studied taxa
No
Seeds
Characters
Shape
Length × Width mm
Seed lateral face
Brightness
Color
Hilum
Taxa
dorsal
ventral
position
level
1
Anarrhinum
pubescens
narrowly
ellipsoid
0.7 – 0.9 × 0.3 – 0.4
convex
concave
dull
Brown, dark-
brown
sub-basal
Semi-
depressed
2
Bufonia
multiceps
orbicular
1.3 - 1.5 × 0.8 – 1
slightly
concave
slightly
concave
dull
light brown
median
depressed
3
Euphorbia
obovata
oblong - ellipsoid
2 – 2.2 × 1.2 – 1.4
convex
slightly
concave
dull
whitish brown
sub-basal
raised
4
Origanum
syriacum L.
subsp.
sinaicum
broadly obovoid
0.8 - 1 × 0.5 – 0.6
convex
convex
dull or faint
lustrous
yellow
basal
raised
5
Phlomis
aurea
Ellipsoid,
trigonus with
Obtuse apex
5 - 7 × 1.5 - 3
flat
concave with
central
elevated
ridge
lustrous
brown,
whitish at apex
basal
excavate
6
Plantago
sinaica
cymbiform
3 – 3.5 × 1 – 1.5
convex
deeply
concave
lustrous
dark-brown
ventral
flat
7
Polygala
sinaica var.
sinaica
ellipsoid - oblong
3 – 3.5 × 0.8 - 1
flat
convex
shiny
black
sub-basal
flat with
areol
8
Primula
boveana
irregular cuboid
0.7 - 1.2 × 0.4 - 1.2
flat
flat
dull
whitish dark-
brown
sub-basal
slightly
raised
9
Rosa arabica
prolonged
ellipsoid
4 × 1.5
convex
convex
dull or faint
lustrous
Brown, dark -
brown
basal
raised
10
Silene
leucophylla
reniform
0.6 – 0.9 × 0.5 – 0.7
slightly
concave
slightly
concave
lustrous
dark-brown
ventral
depressed
11
Silene
oreosinaica
orbicular -
reniform
0.93–0.98 ×0.76-0.81
slightly
concave
slightly
concave
lustrous
light brown
ventral
depressed
12
Silene
schimperiana
reniform
1 - 1.5 × 0.8 – 1
slightly
concave
slightly
concave
slightly
lustrous
dark-brown
ventral
depressed

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
Table 3: Micromorphological characters of seed coat of the studied taxa
NO.
Taxa
Surface Pattern
Epidermal
cells shape
Anticlinal wall
Periclinal wall
level
shape
level
surface
1
Anarrhinum
pubescens
pappillate -
tuberculate
polygonal
raised
straight
concave
centrally
papillate-
tuberculate
2
Bufonia
multiceps
colliculate
isodiametric
channeled
sinuate
convex
colliculate
3
Euphorbia
obovata
irregularly and
shallowly
tuberculate -
rugulose
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
4
Origanum
syriacum L.
subsp.
sinaicum
ruminate
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
5
Phlomis aurea
striate - rugose
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
6
Plantago
sinaica
lineolate
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
obscure
7
Polygala
sinaica var.
sinaica
shallowly reticulate
with long hairs
indistinct
polygonal
slightly
raised
straight
smooth
depressed
8
Primula
boveana
reticulate-verrucate
polygonal
slightly
raised
straight
slightly
concave
verrucate
9
Rosa arabica
scalariform -
reticulate
polygonal
raised
straight
concave
smooth
10
Silene
leucophylla
isodiametric
and
elongated
channeled
sinuate
(v-undulate)
convex
granulated
ridges densely
granulate
11
Silene
oreosinaica
ridges aculeate
at the periphery
mostly
isodiametric
channeled
sinuate,
stellulate
flat;
convex
at back
face
Finely
granulate
12
Silene
schimperiana
ridge densely
granulate
elongated
channeled
sinuate
(u-undulate)
flat
granulated
47

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48
El-Ghamery et al.
Plate I. LM micrographs of seeds to show the general shape of seed, color and
brightness Fig. 1- Anarrhinum pubescens narrowly ellipsoid seed, brown; Fig.2-
Bufonia multiceps orbicular, light brown; Fig.3- Euphorbia obovata ellipsoid light
brown; Fig. 4 -Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum obovoid, yellow with raised
hilum; Fig.5 - Phlomis aurea ellipsoid, trigonous, with rounded ends and short
projection,, brown ; Fig.6- Plantago sinaica var.sinaica cymbiform, dark brown with
deeply concave ventral side (Arrow referred to hilum position)
0.5 mm
1
2
2 mm
3
1 mm
4
3 mm
5
1 mm
6
1 mm

1 mm
10
1 mm
11
1 mm
12
2 mm
7
1 mm
8
9
Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
Plate 1 (cont.)- Fig.7-Polygala sinaica var. sinaica ellipsoid, black, shiny with long hairs,
aerol present; Fig. 8 - Primula boveana prismatic, cuboid brown ; Fig.9- Rosa arabica
ellipsoid, brown with raised hilum;Fig.10 - Silene leucophylla reniform dark brown; Fig.11
– Silene oreosinaica orbicular –reniform brown cell shape; Fig.12- Silene schimperiana
reniform, brown (Arrow referred to hilum position)
49
2 mm

11
El-Ghamery et al.
Plate II: SEM micrographs of seeds of the studied taxa a mature seed b testa cell shape
and ornamentations Fig. 1a-Anarrhinum pubescens 1b papillate- granulate surface;
Fig. 2a- Bufonia multiceps 2b sinuate, colliculate surface; Fig. 3a-Euphorbia obovata
3b Irregularly and shallowly tuberculate - rugulose
1a
1b
2a
2b
3a
3b
50

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
Plate II (cont.) Fig 4a. Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum a tubercled 4b ruminate
surface; Fig. 5a - Phlomis aurea left ventral view; right dorsal view 5b striate rugose
surface; Fig. 6a- Plantago sinaica a left ventral view; right dorsal view 6b lineolate
seed surface
51
4a
a
4b
5a
5b
6b
6a

13
El-Ghamery et al.
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Plate II (cont.) Fig. 7a Polygala sinaica var. sinaica, 7b smooth reticulate surface; 8a.Primula
boveana 8b reticulate-verrucate pattern; Fig. 9a-Rosa arabica 9b scalariform reticulate
pattern
52

24
Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
10a
10b
11a 11b
12a 12b
53
Plate II- (cont.) Fig. 10a Silene leucophylla 10b anticlinal wall sinuate (v- shaped), periclinal
granulated Fig. 11a. Silene oreosinaica 11b sinuate, stellulate anticlinal wall and finely
granulate periclinal wall; Fig. 12a- Silene schimperiana, 12b anticlinal wall sinuate (u-shaped)
granulated periclinal wall

15
El-Ghamery et al.
Table (4): Pollen characteristics and measurements of the pollen grains of the studied taxa
Size Long Mean (Range) µm Shape Aperture Class Exine
Taxa Polarity Symmetry Ornamentation
Foveolate
Euphorbia obovata isopolar radiosymmetric Medium 26.57 (26.44-26.93) 30.06 (29.39-30.45) 88.38 Oblate-
Spheroidal Trizonocolporate perforate to
fossulate
Origanum syriacum
subsp. sinaicum isopolar radiosymmetric Small 18.47 (16.78-21.2) 21.09 (18.06-22.42) 88.09 Oblate-
Spheroidal Hexazonocolpate reticulate-
fossulate
Phlomis aurea isopolar radiosymmetric Medium 28.47 (28.35-28.63) 29.31 (29.13-29.44) 97.15 Oblate-
Spheroidal
Trizonocolpate bireticulate,
Plantago sinaica isopolar radiosymmetric Small 19.94 (18.64-21.24) 19.94 (18.64-21.24) 100 Spheroidal Pantoporate verrucate with
granules
Polygala sinaica Oblate-
Spheroidal
microechinate
granules
54
var. sinaica
isopolar radiosymmetric Small 22.73 (22.64-22.91) 23.48 (22.84-23.86) 96.83 Spheroidal polyzonocolporate psilate
Primula boveana
isopolar
radiosymmetric
Small
13.16 (12.75-13.58)
14.29 (14.09-14.5)
92.12 Oblate- Trizonocolporate microreticulate
Rosa arabica
isopolar
radiosymmetric
Medium
26.44 (25.76-27.29)
24.57 (25.47-25.74)
107.61 Prolate- Trizonocolporate striate
Spheroidal
Silene leucophylla
isopolar
radiosymmetric
Small
23.2 (22.76-23.65)
23.2 (22.76-23.65)
100
Spheroidal
Pplypantoporate foveolate,
Silene oreosinaica
isopolar
radiosymmetric
Medium
25.82 (25.48-26.16)
25.82 (25.48-26.16)
100
Spheroidal
Polypantoporate verrucate with
Silene schimperiana
isopolar
radiosymmetric
medium
33.75 (32.75-34.45)
33.75 (32.75-34.45)
100
Spheroidal
Polypantoporate anulo-punctate
microechinate
Size
Polar Axis (P)
Equatorial Axis (E)
P/E × 100
Anarrhinum pubescens
isopolar
radiosymmetric
Small
18.26 (17.67-18.65)
10.46 (9.14-10.92)
174.56
Prolate
Trizonocolporate reticulate-
Bufonia multiceps
isopolar
radiosymmetric
Small
21.56 (20.85-22.28)
21.56 (20.85-22.28)
100
Spheroidal
Polypantoporate microechinate

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
1a 1b
2a 2b
3b
3a
4a 4b
Plate III- SEM micrographs of pollen grains of studied taxa Figures 1-12 (a)showing whole
grain; (b) showing exine ornamentation Fig.1 Anarrhinum pubescens a. prolate
trizonocolporate b reticulate-foveolate ornamentation; Fig.2- Bufonia multiceps a. spheroidal,
polypantoporate pollen b sunken pores and microechinate exine, operculum microechinate;
Fig. 3 Euphorbia obovata a oblate-spheroidal, trizonoacolporate pollen b perforate to fossulate
ornamentation; Fig. 4 - Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum a oblate- spheroidal,
hexazonocolpate pollen b reticulate- fossulate ornamentation
55

17
El-Ghamery et al.
5a 5b
6a 6b
7a 7b
8b
8a
Plate III (cont.), Fig. 5-Phlomis aurea: a oblate-spheroidal, trizonocolpate pollen b ornamentation
bireticulate; Fig. 6- Plantago sinaica: a spheroidal, polypantoporate pollen b verrucate exine with
granules; Fig. 7- Polygala sinaica var. sinaica: a oblate spheroid, polyzonocolporate pollen, b psilate
ornamentation; Fig. 8 - Primula boveana: a oblate-spheroid trizonocolporate pollen, b microreticulate
56

Pollen and Seed Morphology of Some Endemic Taxa in Saint
9a 9b
10a 10b
11a 11b
12a 12b
57
Microechinate Plate III (cont.)Fig.9-Rosa arabica a prolate-spheroidal, trizonocolporate
pollen, b striate ornamentation; Fig.10- Silene leucophylla a spheroidal, polypantoporate
pollen b foveate,,microechinate ornamentation, with granulate operculum; Fig. 11 S.
oreosinaica a spheroidal, polypantoporate b verrucate, granulate ornamentation, with
granulate operculatum Fig.12- S. schimperiana a spheroidal polypantoporate with
microechinate b punctate, microechinate with echinate operculum

19
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