Pollen morphology of columnar cacti from Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico

A detailed analysis of pollen morphology reveals that the 19 species of columnar cacti found in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico—a biodiversity hotspot—share highly similar pollen structures. Despite this similarity, combined microscopy techniques allowed researchers to distinguish each species based on subtle differences in spinule dimensions and columellae distribution patterns. The study provides a synoptic table differentiating these species, offering new insights into their taxonomic relationships and evolutionary history.

Gómez-Lizárraga, L. E., Ramírez-Arriaga, E., Mendoza-Garfias, M. B., Prámparo, M. B., & Valiente-Banuet, A. (2023). Pollen morphology of columnar cacti from Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico. Palynology, 48(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2023.2251560