Systematics of Malesian Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae)

A comprehensive survey of the pollen morphology and ultrastructure of Acalypha, molecular phylogenetic analyses, and a systematic revision of Malesian Acalypha was undertaken. Using light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, the palynological study shows that Acalypha pollen is generally small and brevicolporate. Acalypha pollen exhibits significant variation in size, aperture number, aperture distribution and exine ornamentation, contradicting earlier reports that Acalypha pollen is homogeneous. Though the pollen morphology generally is inconsistent with a phylogeny based on a preliminary analysis of combined ITS and ndhF sequence data, some characters show trends that are consistent with the basal position of subgenera Linostachys and Androcephala. Pollen characters also provide support for several small clades found in the molecular phylogeny. However, pollen morphology is not consistent with relationships among the Malesian Acalypha species.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Plant Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Sagun, Vernie G.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Levin, Geoffrey A.,

• Biology, Molecular
• Biology, Botany
• Paleontology

Identifier

(UMI)AAI3314879

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72548