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Use of hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as a final dehydrating solution provides robust, undistorted secondary electron images of a variety of angiosperm and gymnosperm pollen grains, including those considered to be susceptible to collapse in the scanning electron microscope. Ease of handling, low cost, lack of specialized equipment, minimal expenditure of time, and high rate of success are factors that favor HMDS over other drying agents for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy.

Pariana, a primitive bamboo, is the only genus in the Gramineae (Poaceae) to have pollen grains without an annulus as part of its single aperture (porate) system. In contrast, the markedly thickened exine layer underlying the pore margin is similar to counterparts in all grass genera. Components of the future annulus in Gramineae pollen develop toward the cytoplasm (proximally) and begin to be pressed outward by an increase in the cytoplasm during the microspore vacuolate stage, culminating in an annulus by maturity. However, in some species of Pariana these components are either not sufficiently developed or the cytoplasmic expansion is not sufficient to press the components into an annular ring around the pore. The structural relationship of exine layering in this type of pollen grain in Gramineae and other families with similar apertures has not hitherto been extensively studied. A critical examination of the apertures in bambusoid grasses may clarify their systematic position within the Gramineae.

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