A numerical taxonomic study of the family Zygophyllaceae from Egypt

Abstract

ABSTRACT(A numerical taxonomic study of the family Zygophyllaceae from Egypt). A systematic study of 29 taxa belonging to 7 genera of subfamilies Balanitoideae, Zygophylloideae, Peganoideae, Tribuloideae, Seetzenioideae and Tetradiclidoideae of Zygophyllaceae from Egypt was carried out by means of numerical analysis based on sixty-one morphological characters, including vegetative parts, pollen grains and seeds. On the basis of UPGMA clustering and PCO analysis, six main groups are recognized. Representatives of these groups are clustered together based on characters with high factor loadings in the PCO analysis. Th e results indicate that Zygophyllaceae are heterogeneous, including Peganum harmala which has been proposed to belong in a separate family. Zygophylloideae, Tribuloideae, Tetradiclidoideae and Seetzenioideae are the most homogeneous groups. Sections and groups in both Tribulus and Fagonia seem artifi cial.

Palynological features of eleven <i>Aethionema</i> taxa from Turkey and their systematic implications

“…The pollen exine ornamentations are of a significant role in delimitation of the some closely related taxa in Cruciferae (Khalik et al, 2002). The present communication reveals that the pollen ornamentations of genus Aethionema are reticulate, coarsely reticulate, and micro-reticulate (Table 2).…”