Palynomorphological characterization of some species of Ficus L. from Pakistan

The present study was confined to pollen morphology and pollen fertility estimation using a taxonomic description of 11 species of genus Ficus family Moraceae. The species wereFicus bengalensis L, Ficus microcarpa L.f., Ficus palmata Forrsk., Ficus religiosa L., Ficus lacor Ham., Ficus pumila L., Ficus hispida L.f., Ficus sarmentosa Buch.Ham, Ficus auriculata Wall., Ficus virens Dryand. and Ficus racemosa Roxb. A palynomorphic study of the following species was conducted for the first time not only in Asia, but worldwide. As such, no published details were available for such comprehensive morphopalynological studies of the following species of genus Ficus L. It was found that pollen characters (that is, shape, surface of exine and pollen morphology) were considered as important characters and were used as tools in the taxonomy of these species. In the present research, the highest (97.82%) value was observed in F. palmata Forrsk. (Table 1) and the lowest (60%) was observed in F. bengalensis L. The present study shows that the flora of the selected species is a stable one. However, genetic diversity and molecular studies may also be helpful in this regard.   Key words: Ficus, palynology, pollen fertility.