The palynotaxonomic study of eight species Passiflora L. subg. Decaloba (DC.) Rchb. (Passifloraceae) aimed to contribute to a better characterization, as well as the circumscription and delimitation of this subgenus in Southeastern Brazil. The pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described, and illustrated using light microscopy. For details observations of surface and aperture, pollen grains not acetolysed were analyzed in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data obtained were statistically analyzed according to size of the samples. The species analysed in this study own large or mediun sizes pollen grains, isopolar, prolate spheroidal, spheroidal or subprolate, 12-colporate, 12-colpate for P. suberosa L., or 6-colporate, with pseudopercules, heteroreticulate exine. An identification key with pollinic characters is presented.
Palynology; Passiflora; Passifloraceae; subgenus Decaloba; Southeastern Brazil
