The achene morphology and pericarp anatomy of 12 taxa representing three genera ( Anemone, Hepatica, and Pulsatilla) of the subtribe Anemoninae were investigated using microtome and light microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic implications of achene characters. The achenes of Anemone were elliptical or obovoid and beaked, whereas the achene of Hepatica and Pulsatilla were obovoid and elliptical, respectively. Noticeable variations in both quantitative and qualitative features of achenes were observed among the species of the three genera. One-way analysis of variance indicated that the quantitative achene variables among the species were highly significant (P<0.001). Pearson’s correlation coefficient also showed a significant correlation between different achene variables. The pericarp structure, particularly the number of cell layers and cell forms in the exocarp and endocarp, seems to be very useful for species delimitation in Anemone and Hepatica. The nature of the endotesta could provide substantial proof for sub-generic classification in Anemone. Unweighted paired group analysis showed the utility of achene features for taxonomic groupings of the species within the studied genera. Although the specimen samples represented a limited range of taxa, the achene features and pericarp anatomy provided a reasonable source for the taxonomic treatment of the studied genera within the subtribe.

The pollen morphology of many collections of taxa of the tribe Nigelleae from the family Ranunculaceae which occur worldwide is presented in this study. A total of 88 specimens from 21 taxa, some of which were recently proposed, belonging to the genera Komaroffia, Garidella, and Nigella of Nigelleae were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the tribe, the pollen type is mostly trizonocolpate, but in many taxa and specimens, both trizonocolpate and non-trizonocolpate types occur together. The pollen grains are small to medium (25–53.75 μm × 20–55 μm) in size and oblate to prolate in shape. The exine pattern at the mesocolpium in all the taxa investigated is similar: micro-echinate in LM and micro-echinate-punctate in SEM. The colpus membrane in Komaroffia and Nigella is micro-echinate in both LM and SEM. In Garidella, it is micro-echinate in LM but echinate (spinulose) in SEM. In this study, multivariate analyses, principal component analysis (PCA), and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), were used to evaluate relationships between the genera and species within the tribe with respect to pollen morphology. PCA results show three main groups in the tribe: Garidella, Komaroffia, and Nigella. Moreover, the UPGMA tree also chiefly supports generic segregation into the smaller genera. An overall synthesis of the pollen characteristics of the three genera is provided and discussed.