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SBT 403 Topic 1 2025 - Palynology
Economic Botany (Maseno University)
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PALYNOLOGY
Definition
The study of pollen grains (higher plants/phanerogams) and spores (cryptogams), both
extant and extinct, as well as other organic microfossils
pollen grains and spores
Spores and pollen grains are reproductive structures and play a paramount role in the life
history of land plants.
Pollen grains are the containers in which the male gametophyte generation of the angio-
and gymnosperms are housed
The sporophyte generation of nonseed bearing plants (ferns, for example) produces
single-celled spores that ultimately germinate to grow into the haploid gametophyte
generation.
Homosporous species produce a single type of spore, whereas heterosporous species
produce two spore types.
Microspores germinate and grow into ―male‖ sperm producing microgametophytes, and
megaspores develop into ―female‖ egg-producing megagametophytes.
The gametophytes of most nonseed plants are multicellular and proliferate outside the
spore wall during development.
All seed-bearing plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) are heterosporous, and their
pollen represents the microgametophyte generation.
Androecium:
It comprised of stamens or microsporophylls and these are the male organs of the
flower.
The Stamen:
Stamen in a flower consists of two parts, the long narrow stalk like filament and upper
broader knob-like bi-lobed anther. The proximal end of the filament is attached to the
thalamus or petal of the flower. The number and length of stamens vary in different species.
Each stamen consists of three parts, the filament, anther and connective (the tissue
that joins the two lobes of the anther).
Structure of anther:
1
Downloaded by Gori Amerigo ()
SBT 403 Topic 1 2025 - Palynology
Economic Botany (Maseno University)
Scan to open on Studocu
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university
Downloaded by Gori Amerigo ()
, lOMoARcPSD|62145162
PALYNOLOGY
Definition
The study of pollen grains (higher plants/phanerogams) and spores (cryptogams), both
extant and extinct, as well as other organic microfossils
pollen grains and spores
Spores and pollen grains are reproductive structures and play a paramount role in the life
history of land plants.
Pollen grains are the containers in which the male gametophyte generation of the angio-
and gymnosperms are housed
The sporophyte generation of nonseed bearing plants (ferns, for example) produces
single-celled spores that ultimately germinate to grow into the haploid gametophyte
generation.
Homosporous species produce a single type of spore, whereas heterosporous species
produce two spore types.
Microspores germinate and grow into ―male‖ sperm producing microgametophytes, and
megaspores develop into ―female‖ egg-producing megagametophytes.
The gametophytes of most nonseed plants are multicellular and proliferate outside the
spore wall during development.
All seed-bearing plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) are heterosporous, and their
pollen represents the microgametophyte generation.
Androecium:
It comprised of stamens or microsporophylls and these are the male organs of the
flower.
The Stamen:
Stamen in a flower consists of two parts, the long narrow stalk like filament and upper
broader knob-like bi-lobed anther. The proximal end of the filament is attached to the
thalamus or petal of the flower. The number and length of stamens vary in different species.
Each stamen consists of three parts, the filament, anther and connective (the tissue
that joins the two lobes of the anther).
Structure of anther:
1
Downloaded by Gori Amerigo ()
