Pollen morphology of Polish native species of the Rosa genus (Rosaceae) and its relation to systematics

The morphology of pollen grains of 16 species from the Rosa L. genus were studied (i.e. R. agrestis, R. canina, R. dumalis, R. gallica, R. inodora, R. jundzillii, R. kostrakiewiczii, R. majalis, R. micrantha, R. mollis, R. pendulina, R. rubiginosa, R. sherardii, R. tomentosa, R. villosa, and R. zalana). The material came from 16 native localities of those species in Poland. The measurements are based on at least 30-50 randomly selected, fully developed pollen grains per specimen. In total, 500 pollen grains were examined. They were analysed for 13 quantitative features of pollen grains and exine sculpturing and the following qualitative traits: outline, shape, "operculum" structure. The diagnostic features of pollen grains of studied species were: length of polar and equatorial axes and length of ectocolpi. The above-mentioned pollen grain morphological features make isolation of one species possible: R. gallica. R. gallica is distinguished for its highest values of the length of polar and equatorial axes, and the length of ectocolpi. The obtained analytical results of operculum and exine sculpture features, considered as diagnostic, corroborated only slightly their priority significance for the isolation of the examined species and sections. The collected data failed to confirm fully the current taxonomical division of the Rosa genus into sections (only section Gallicanae from R. gallica is isolated) as well as consanguinity relationships between the examined species from the Caninae section. On the dendrogram, both species closely related with each other as well as those from other developmental lines were found in the same group. These equivocal results are by no means surprising because the Caninae section is the most polymorphic group in the Rosa genus, and contemporary Caninae are of the nature of a swarm of R. canina hybrids as a link combining all taxons of the section

Intra- and interindividual variability of selected quantitative features of pollen grain morphology based on the example of Rosa canina L. (Rosaceae)

The objective of this study was to investigate the ranges of intra- and interindividual variability on the example of R. canina. For this purpose, four flowers were collected randomly (72 flowers in total)from 18 wild shrubs of R. canina growing in one population in Poznań (Poland)and then, from each flower, 50 correctly formed pollen grains (200 pollen grains per each individual)were selected. Inter- and intraindividual pollen grain variability was characterised based on 3600 pollen grains. They were analysed for seven quantitative features, i.e. length of polar axis (P), equatorial diameter (E), thickness of the exine along the polar axis (Exp), length of ectocolpi (Le) and P/E, Exp/P, and Le/P ratios. Our study revealed highly significant differences among flowers of the particular R. canina individuals with respect to all pollen grain biometrical features. In addition, it showed that the assessment of the full range of variability in pollen grain biometric features within one individual (shrub)was more reliable if we examined several pollen grains from several flowers than for the same number of pollen grains derived from a single flower. We also found statistically significant differences among particular individuals in all pollen grain features. This proves that in order to well characterise a population of a given species from the point of view of palynology, the plant material should derive from a possibly numerous number of individuals (shrubs)

Pollen morphology of Polish species of the genus Rosa - I. Rosa pendulina

The morphology and variability of pollen of Rosa pendulina L. were studied. The material came from 10 native localities of this species. 300 pollen grains were examined. It was established that the diagnostic features of pollen grains of R. pendulina L. were: an elongated, narrow operculum, a poorly developed exine sculpture, long ectocolpi (a low value of the apocolpium index), and the predominance of grains elongated in shape. The results obtained usually correspond to data supplied by other palynologists. A statistical analysis of 10 quantitative grain characteristics showed their variability to be rather low. The highest variability was found to occur in two traits connected with d (the distance between the apices of two ectocolpi). Statistical studies revealed dependences among the grains from the 10 analysed localitie

Pollen morphological variability of Polish native species of Rosa L. (Rosaceae)

The variability of pollen grains of 16 species from genus Rosa L. was studied (i.e. Rosa agrestis, R. canina, R. dumalis, R. gallica, R. inodora, R. jundzillii, R. kostrakiewiczii, R. majalis, R. micrantha, R. mollis, R. pendulina, R. rubiginosa, R. sherardii, R. tomentosa, R. villosa, and R. zalana). The material came from 107 native localities of those species in Poland. The measurements are based on at least 30–50 randomly selected mature pollen grains per specimen. In total, 3510 pollen grains were examined. They were analysed for 8 quantitative features, i.e. length of polar axis (P), length of equatorial axis (E), exine thickness on the pole (Exp), exine thickness at the equator plane (Exe), length of ectocolpi (Le), P/E ratio, and relative thickness of exine (Exp/P and Exe/E ratio). Statistically significant differences were found among the examined species with regard to all analysed pollen features. The pollen and ectocolpi dimensions (P, E and Le) were largest in R.gallica (35.9, 28.1, and 28.0 μm, respectively) and smallest in R. majalis (27.0, 20.2, and 21.2 μm, respectively). The mean coefficients of variability of the pollen features measured can be used to arrange the examined rose species from the least to the most variable as follows: R. pendulina, R. villosa, R. jundzillii, R. inodora, R. canina, R. rubiginosa, R. dumalis, R. gallica, R. agrestis , R. micrantha, R. zalana, R. tomentosa, R. sherardii, R. majalis, R. kostrakiewiczii and R. mollis. The obtained data failed to confirm fully both the division of the Rosa genus currently in force in taxonomy into sections as well as relationships among the examined species from the Caninae section. In addition, values of morphological characters of the same species may differ considerably from one another. The extent of these differences indicated that it was necessary to measure large numbers of pollen grains in order to obtain accurate biometric data

Pollen morphology of Rosa gallica L. [Rosaceae] from Southern Poland

The morphology of pollen grains of Rosa gallica was studied on the basis of material from 15 natural localities in southern Poland. It was ascertained that the diagnostic features of pollen grains of R. gallica were: the presence of deep, often Y-shaped striae in a linear arrangement; numerous perforations of various, rather big diameters on the bottom of striae; the occurrence of operculum on the membrane of ectocolpus; the presence of costae ectocolpi and fastigium in the area of endopori. The most significant differences among the particular samples studied concern the shape of grains. The differences between pollen grains of 15 individuals of Rosa gallica from southern Poland are generally slight. The most discriminating measured character is length of equatorial axis of pollen grain and length of ectocolpi and thickness of exine along polar axis. The remaining differentiate the individuals with smaller significance. The differences between Silesian samples and all the other examined ones may result from origin of different Pleistocene refugia

Verification of a survey of the most valuable trees in the city of Częstochowa

In the city of Częstochowa a total of 122 valuable trees of 25 species from 12 families were inventoried. The most numerous group comprises trees with circumferences of natural monuments (55), followed by already registered natural monuments (25), trees with circumferences comparable to those of natural monuments and impressive trees (18 specimens each) and the category of “other trees” (6). The status of natural monuments presently found in the city of Częstochowa was confirmed. Described trees are typically native deciduous species, of which the most numerous are Acer platanoides (18 trees) and Tilia cordata (16 trees). Approximately 60% of them have circumferences from 201 to 300 cm. The health condition of surveyed trees is usually very good (84%). A total of 45 trees were selected with circumferences of natural monuments and characterised by a very good health condition, which may be proposed as worthy of protection as natural monuments

Verification of a survey of the most valuable trees in the city of Czestochowa

In the city of Częstochowa a total of 122 valuable trees of 25 species from 12 families were inventoried. The most numerous group comprises trees with circumferences of natural monuments (55), followed by already registered natural monuments (25), trees with circumferences comparable to those of natural monuments and impressive trees (18 specimens each) and the category of “other trees” (6). The status of natural monuments presently found in the city of Częstochowa was confirmed. Described trees are typically native deciduous species, of which the most numerous are Acer platanoides (18 trees) and Tilia cordata (16 trees). Approximately 60% of them have circumferences from 201 to 300 cm. The health condition of surveyed trees is usually very good (84%). A total of 45 trees were selected with circumferences of natural monuments and characterised by a very good health condition, which may be proposed as worthy of protection as natural monuments

Pollen viability and in vitro germination of selected Central European species from genus Rosa analysed with different methods

The main aim of the study was to determine which of the viability and germination capacity of pollen grains estimation methods are optimal and to test if the studied sections and species within the Rosa genus are differentiated in pollen viability andgermination capacity. We analysedandcomparedpollen grains of 14 wild Rosa species using 5 viability tests and13 various liquidandagar media. Viability of pollen grains in the majority of the examinedspecies was greater than their germination capacity. The most viable pollen grains were foundin R. gallica (section Gallicanae), where average of 5 viability tests is 90.69%, andin R. pendulina (section Rosa) – 86.85%. Species from section Caninae have a lower level of viability (from 60.59% in R. rubiginosa to 31.23% in R. inodora). Pollen of species from sections Gallicanae (R. gallica; to 63.4%) and Rosa (R. pendulina; to 47.21%) germinatedmuch better than the pollen of the majority of species from section Caninae (with the exception of R. zalana; to 47.22%). The examinedpollen grains germinatedmost numerously on agar medium with 1.5% agar+15% sucrose+50 ppm boric acidandliquidmed ium with 15% sucrose+ 50 ppm boric acid. Following deep-freeze storage (–25°C) for six months, the pollen grains of nine selected species (with the exception of R. rubiginosa) showed viability higher or similar to that before storage

The vascular plants and plant communities of the "Zrodla Rzeki Lyny im. prof. R. Kobendzy" Nature Reserve

The “Źródła Rzeki Łyny im. prof. R. Kobendzy” nature reserve was established in 1959 and occupies the area of 120.54 ha. The paper describes fl ora and plant communities of this reserve. In total 409 vascular plant taxa from 70 families and 235 genera were inventoried, including 24 species which are under legal protection, as well as rare plants and those which are threatened in this region. Nine plant communities were identifi ed within the boundaries of the reserve of which three were forest autogenic or autogenic-like communities (Ribeso nigri-Alnetum, Stellario nemorum-Alnetum glutinosae, Tilio cordatae- -Carpinetum betuli), three were forest anthropogenic communities with Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Larix decidua and Larix ×eurolepis and Picea abies on lime-oak-hornbeam forest sites, as well as three non-forest communities (Salicetum pentandro-cinereae, Phragmitetum australis and a meadow community from the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class). The highest natural value was determined in very well developed phytocoenoses of Stellario nemorum-Alnetum glutinosae (the rarest in the reserve), in Ribeso nigri-Alnetum and Tilio cordatae-Carpinetum betuli, as well as meadow communities from the Molinio-Arrhenatheretea class. They provide sanctuary for many species of rare and threatened plants