PALYNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF Senna occidentalis L. IN FOUR VEGETATION ZONES OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Senna, palynology, vegetation, taxonomyAbstract
Pollen morphology is an important taxonomic character that can provide insights into the variability
and adaptation of plant species in different environments. This study aimed to analyze the pollen mor-
phological variation of Coffee senna (Senna occidentalis L). accessions across four vegetation zones
in Ogun State, Nigeria. Mature anthers were collected, and standard palynological procedures were
followed to examine the pollens using light microscopy. Pollen size, shape, aperture, exine pattern,
and thickness were compared across the four zones. Statistical analysis using SPSS version 27.0
revealed significant variations (p≤0.05) in pollen size, colpi size, and exine pattern across the zones.
Pollen grains were oblate-spheroidal in shape, with sizes ranging from 27.63 to 36.73 μm (polar axis)
and 25.7 to 33.7 μm (equator diameter). The aperture was 3-colporate in all zones, but with distinct
ora in colpi in the rainforest and syncolporate in the mid-rainforest zone. Exine patterns showed slight
variations, with slightly coarse reticulation in the rainforest and fine reticulation in the other three
zones. The distinguishing characters of S. occidentalis pollen across the zones were pollen size (polar
axis and equator diameter), colpi length and width, and exine pattern. These findings reveal the diag-
nostic features of S. occidentalis pollen with taxonomic significance.
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