A tentative code of the ancient and derivative characters of pollen grains of Angiosperms

Abstract

For any studies in the comparative morphology of pollen, as well as for any application of palynological data to plant taxonomy, phylogeny and palaeopalynology it is very important to be able to estimate the antiquity of the more recency of characters. The palynological code proposed is the first step in this direction. Similar codes have been published earlier by other authors for both vegetative and generative organs of Angiosperms. For the establishment of the antiquity of characters it is necessary to take into consideration the phenomenon of heterochrony; therefore not a single character, but as many as possible should be used.