POLLEN MORPHOLOGY OF THE GENUS MALUS (ROSACEAE)*

Abstract – Pollen morphology of some species of the genus Malus (Rosaceae) was investigated taxonomically. All species are characteristic by tricolpate pollens. Exine sculpturing is variable but is mostly striate. However, species may differ in degree of density of ridges and their orientation. The exine patterns in M. trilobata and M. florentina are very similar and were characterized by short and very branched ridges. These show clear differences from other species, which have pollen grains with long and unbranched or slightly branched ridges