Insight on the Taxonomy of Caryophyllaceae Juss. Based on Pollen Grain Diversity

Abstract

Caryophyllaceae considered from the large families of angiosperms.It includes about 2200 species and 86 genera, Members of the family are mainly centered in the Mediterranean area with great distribution in Northern Hemisphere and exhibits great diversity in the habitat and growth form [1].Many members of the family are popular ornamentals commonly planted in gardens for their beautiful flowers as Dianthus L. and Gypsophila L. or for their medicinal resources as Cerastium L., Silene L., and Stellaria L. [2].The family has traditionally divided into three subfamilies, Caryophylloideae, Alsinoideae and Paronychioideae [3-5].More recently, new classification systems have been proposed based on molecular and morphological evidence in Caryophyllaceae, and eleven tribes were recognized [6-8].Rabeler and Hartman [5] had another opinion about the taxonomy and classification of the genera.He divided the family into four subfamilies: Alsinoideae, Caryophylloideae, Paronychioideae, and Polycarpoideae.Generally all members of the Caryophyllaceae have common morphological features as swollen nodes, with simple, sessile, opposite leaves, solitary flowers or flowers aggregated in dichasial cymes.Flowers are glorious actinomorphic, pentamerous with distinct beautiful clawed petals.In spite of the common vegetative and floral characters, the relationships and grouping of the genera have been under argument and dispute.In the traditional classification of the family the presence or absence of the stipules was the base in distinguishing subfamily