An Observation on the Pollen Morphology of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.)

The morphological characteristics of pollen grains in 16 varieties of amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.)are examined by optical microscope and SEM. The pollen grains of amla are spherical. The mean axis diameter is 17. 82 ?21. 19μm. The colporate number in pollen grains is mostly 4-5. The net-like sculptures exist on the exine of pollen grains. Among different amia varieties, there are very significant differences in pollen size which has moderately positive correlation with fruit size (r = 0. 8269) and some differences of the exine sculpture are also found. These differences may be taken into account for references in the variety identification. Regardless of interspecific or intervarietal levels, the colporate types of pollen grains are diversified , which reflects the polymorphous character of pollen grains in the family Euphorbiaceae and the genus Phyllanthus Linn. There is no clear distinction for grouping the intervarietal differences of amla pollen morphology as yet and no close relation with the geographic distribution. It seems that the systemic development of different amla varieties is still located at the nearly same level of seminatural condition.