A preliminary survey of pollen and other morphological characters in neotropical Acacia subgenus Aculeiferum (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)

Descriptions of the pollen of seven species of Acacia subgenus Aculeiferum are presented, and the wall structure described as seen by transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections. Comparisons are made between species representing sections Aculeiferum, Monacanthea and Filicinae in subgenus Aculeiferum, This survey aims to find palynological and macromorphological characters that are phylogenetically informative, and to improve the understanding of relationships within the genus. A cladistic analysis was carried out using selected characters, and a cladogram of putative relationships is presented. (C) 2001 The Linnean Society of London.