Palynology of native Amaranthaceae and Araliaceae in forest fragments of the Northwest of São Paulo State

ABSTRACT We investigated the pollen morphology of two native species of Amaranthaceae and three of Araliaceae from forest fragments in order to contribute with the palynology, taxonomy, and conservation of degraded areas. The pollen grains were acetolyzed, measured, qualitatively described and photographed using light and scanning electron microscopy. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The pollen grains of Amaranthaceae are monads, small, apolar, spherical, pantoporate, and with metareticulate exine. For Araliaceae, the pollen grains are monads, small to medium, isopolar, subcircular to subtriangular, oblato-spheroidal to subprolate, 3-colporate, sometimes with vestibulum, lalongate endoaperture and microreticulate exine. The pollen data confirmed Amaranthaceae as a stenopalynous family. On the other hand, the species of Araliaceae studied characteristically present pollen grains apertures that can be used to differentiate them.