Eleven species of Apocynaceae belonging to seven genera were palynologically studied in this work. The species occur in the "restinga" of Carapebus, located on the north coast of Rio de Janeiro State. The species were as followed: Aspidosperma parvifolium A. DC.; Forsteronia leptocarpa (Hook. & Arns.) A. DC.; Himatanthus lancifolius (Müll. Arg.) Woodson; Mandevilla fragrans (Stadelm.) Woodson; Mandevilla sp.; M. moricandiana (A. DC.) Woodson; M. tenuifolia (J.C. Mikan) Woodson; Prestonia coalita (Vell.) Woodson; Rhabdadenia pohlii Müll. Arg.; Tabernaemontana flavicans Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.; T. laeta Mart. The pollen grains were treated by the lactical acetolysis method, measured, described and illustrated by light microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy. The results obtained showed that two large groups can be identified: colporate pollen grains - Aspidosperma parvifolium (5-6-colporate, psilate exine, rugulate only apocolpus), Himatanthus lancifolius (3-colporate, reticulate exine), Tabernaemontana flavicans (4-colporate, endocingulate endoaperture) and T. laeta (3-4-colporate, rugulate exine); porate pollen grains - Forsteronia leptocarpa, the four species of Mandevilla, Prestonia coalita, Rhabdadenia pohlii. It was concluded that the genera could be separated by pollinical characters and within genera their species studied are heterogeneous palynologically.
palynology; Apocynaceae; "restinga" of Carapebus; Rio de Janeiro
