STUDIES ON THE POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF 7 SPECIES OF SWERTIA

This paper deals with the pollen morphology of 7 species of Swertia L., namely Swertia bimaculata(S.et Z.)HK. f. Thoms., S. davidii Franch., S. hickinii Burkill., S. kouitchensis Franch., S. macrosperma C. B. Clarke., S. nervosa Wall., S. punicea Hemsl., which are examined under light microscope and scanning electronic microscope. It is found that exine ornamentation of pollen grains of Swertia plants is striate-reticulate, reticulate and verrucate types.