The morphology of pollen grains of the 06 species of tribe Acacieae (Mimosaceae) belonging to one genus were investigated using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and light microscopic (LM) approach. Lactic acid acetolysis method was used for (LM) while non‐acetolysis for (SEM). The species were examined for the both qualitative and quantitative palynological features. Qualitatively the pollen was studied for the shape, exine sculpturing, pollen shape, and pollen type. Oblate spheroidal shape of pollen was observed in Accacia modesta. Subprolate shape in Accaca nilotica. In Accacia farnesiana, prolate pollen was examined while prolate spheroidal in Acacia tortilis and spheroidal pollen grains were studied in Acacia catechu, respectively. Pollen exine sculpturing of the studied tribe possesses novel variation. Foveolate, reticulate, foveolate‐psilate, faint reticulate, fossulate, perforate, and scrabate exine sculpturing were noticed. Colpi were absent in all species. Excessive variation was observed in both qualitative and quantitative character of pollen. SPSS software was use for the quantitative measurement of the pollen grains. The current study will be helpful for the identification of the problematic species and phylogenetic studies of family Mimosaceae.

The Hypnaceae is one of the largest and diversified family among the pleurocarpous mosses which consists of nearly 60 genera and 1,000 species around the world. In Pakistan, it is represented by 15 species and 8 genera. The current research article provides the detail morphological investigation of four different species (genera) of the family Hypnaceae that is, Gollania clarescens, Hypnum revolutum, Homomallium andoi, and Taxiphyllum taxirameum in the Western Himalayas, Pakistan. The research article reports the first SEM study of the leaf surfaces of the studied taxa, along with comprehensive morphological characters of the four species. The main objective of the research project is to present the comparative light and scanning electron microscopic study to discuss the morphology in detail because previously the family is just reported in different bryophyte checklists of the Western Himalayas. Based on results, morphological characters, micromorphological observations, qualitative and quantitative attributes, taxonomic keys for the studied taxa, distribution, and habitat are described. Stereoscope was used to analyze different qualitative characters, and light microscope was used to observe and measure the laminal and alar cells of the leaf. The SEM study reveals many important surface features like cell shape and cell wall. The laminal cells were mostly linear and elongated with thin cell walls. The specimens used for the SEM were air dried, so the laminal cells were somewhat constricted and concaved. The current study project will help to make the contribution in the taxonomy and morphology of this family. K E Y W O R D SHypnaceae, micromorphology, Pakistan, scanning electron microscope, Western Himalayas

In this study we have discussed pollen morphology of 14 mimosaceous species belonging to five genera by using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The palynological features of species were determined by both qualitative and quantitative characters. The qualitative characters include pollen shape, colpi arrangement, and exine sculpturing. Oblate spheroidal shaped pollens were noted in Albizia procera, Albizia lebbeck, Acacia tortilis, Acacia ampliceps, and Acacia modesta, subprolate shaped pollen in Leucaena leucocephala, Prosopis julifera, and Acacia nilotica, prolate pollen in Acacia farnesiana and Prosopis glandulosa while spheroidal, sub spheroidal and sub oblate pollen grains were observed in Acacia catechu, Mimosa himalayana, Prosopis cineraria, respectively. Sparsely foveolate, reticulate, scabrate, and scrobiclate exine sculpturing were observed. Colpi with sunken ornamentation were seen in P. cineraria, P. glandulosa, P. juliflora, and L. leucocephala while colpi were absent in rest of the studied species. The quantitative characters were statistically studied using SPSS software. The current study gives important morpho-palynological characters for identifying and validation of close related and similar taxa which will aid to the phylogenetic analysis of Mimosaceae family.