Palinología de Agavaceae, una contribución biosistemática
The pollen of 15 genera and 36 species of the family Agavaceae were studied, based on Hutchinson' s classification. Observations were made with LM and SEM. Different taxonomical classifications are reviewed considering pollen morphology, geographical distribution, chromosome number and ovary position. From palynological point of view, Dahlgren et al., last classification agrees with the results obtained. Pollen samples studied show two levels of morphological behaviour: at an interespecific level there is little or no variation and at a generic level the following patterns are observed: a) semitectate and mainly monosulcate: Agave, Beschorneria, Dasylirion, Furcraea, Hesperaloii, Manfreda and Polianthes sometimes disulcate (Agavaceae, Agavoideae); b) tectate-perforate and monosulcate: Yucca (Agavaceae, Yuccoideae) and Dracaena americana (Dracaenaceae); c) tectate perforate to microreticulate and monosulcate to disulcate: Beaucamea, Calibamis and Nolina (Nolinaceae); d) intectate verrugate and monosulcate: Hasta (Funkiaceae); e) semitectate to tectate perforate and trichotomosulcate: Phormium (Phormiaceae); f) fosulate and monosulcate: Cordyline (Asteliaceae) and Dracaenafragans (Dracaenaceae) and g) psilate and ulcerate: Sansevieria (Dracaenaceae).