The pollen of Amaryllidaceae s.s. and Alliaceae species from northeastern Brazil is described and related to taxonomic delimitation. The species analyzed were: Griffinia espiritensis Ravenna var. bahiana Preuss & Meerow, Griffinia gardneriana (Herb.) Ravenna, Habranthus itaobinus Ravenna, Habranthus robustus Herb, ex Sweet, Habranthus sylvaticus Herb., Hippeastrum puniceum (Lam.) Kuntze, Hippeastrum stylosum Herb., Hymenocallis littoralis Salisbury, Zephyranthes cândida (Lindl.) Herb, and Nothoscordum pernambucanum Ravenna. Descriptions of acetolyzed and non-treated pollen grains from fresh specimens were based on analysis in light and scanning electron microscopy. All species presented pollen grains in heteropolar and bilateral, monossulcate and elliptic/ellipsoidal monads. Exine sculpture patterns showed many divergent features; Hippeastrum stylosum Herb, and Hymenocallis littoralis Salisbury had pollen grains with equatorial calotas where exine ornamentation is different. The pollen features analyzed were relevant to species delimitation among the taxons.
Amaryllidaceae; Alliaceae; Palynology; Taxonomy; Brazil
