POLLEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE ANCHUSA SPECIES AND THE OBSERVATION OF BEES AS POLLEN COLLECTOR IN JORDAN

Three Anchusa L. species were investigated palynologically by LM and SEM. All of them have either 3- or 4-zonocolporate pollen class. Polar measurements ranged between 38-46 μm. Anchusa aegyptiaca (L.) DC. had the smallest polar measurements (38-43μm), While Anchusa itaica Retz. and Anchusa strigosa Banks Sol. had polar measurements in the range 43–46 and 42–43.5 μm, respectively. Equatorial measurements ranged between 28-35 μm, being 28-35 μm in Anchusa aegyptiaca (L.) DC., 29-35 μm in Anchusa itaica Retz. and 29-34 μm Anchusa strigosa Banks Sol. P/E ratio ranged between 1.48 – 1.27), being1.4- 1.37 in Anchusa aegyptiaca (L.) DC, 1.48-1.31 in Anchusa itaica Retz., and 1.44-1.27 in Anchusa strigosa Banks Sol. Pollen outline wer recognized. The equatorial view for all examined Anchusa species was rectangular – elliptic and the polar view was triangular. P/E ratio was erect for all species examined. The morphology of ectoaperture structures (colpi , fastigium and margins) reflected no variation. The three species exhibited short colpi with indistinct margins. The morphology of endoaperture structures (colpi, costae and margins) reflected distinguished variation. Anchusa species had short colpi in general. Costae and margins showed some kind of variations. Anchusa species in Jordan produces a large amount of whitish polliniferous dust and constitutes a potential source of pollen for different species of bees, providing an interesting field for germination studies relative to insect-plant interactions in terms of pollen morphology. The mutualistic association of bee-plant interactions suggests that pollen use by bees have certain morphological characteristics which define the kind of pollinator-plant interaction and operate bee-plant system.