Phyton, International Journal of Experimental Botany Pollen Morphology of Indian Species of Saraca L. (Leguminosae)-A Threatened and Legendary Medicinal Tree Sujit Sil1, 2, Tanmoy Mallick2, Tuhin Pal1, Animesh Mondal1, Kalyan Kumar De1 and Asok Ghosh2,* 1Postgraduate Department of Botany, Hooghly Muhammad Mohsin College (Estd.1836), Chinsurah, 712101, Hooghly, West Bengal, India. 2UGC-CAS Department of Botany, Taxonomy of Angiosperms and Biosystematics Laboratory, University of Burdwan, Golapbag, Burdwan, 713104, West Bengal, India. *Corresponding Author: Asok Ghosh. Email:
[email protected];
[email protected]. Abstract: The genus Saraca L. (Leguminosae) is a universal panacea in herbal medicine. The present study investigates the comparative pollen morphology of four species of Saraca viz. S. asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde, S. declinata (Jack) Miq., S. indica L., and S. thaipingensis Cantley ex Prain growing in India to reveal differences of their pollen structures to aid taxonomic and evolutionary values. The detailed morphology and surface structure of pollen grains were studied and described using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of Saraca showed isopolar, para-syncolporate, tricolporate, with radially symmetric, prolate and prolate-spheroidal structure. The surface of pollen of S. indica is rugulate with large lirae but in S. declinata, the surface is micro-rugulate to vermiculate with relatively thin lirae and that of S. thaipingensis is indistinct as the psilate surface with a frequent protuberance and fewer perforations were observed along with the gemmae like structure. Exine ornamentation helped to separate S. indica and S. asoca. Exine thickness varies from 3-4 μm. Presence of protuberance and exine thickness varies among individuals of the species spread over different locations.