Pollen Characterization of Woody Species of the Cross River National Park, Nigeria

Pollen description for fifty two woody species obtained from the Cross River National Park was made. Standard methods of pollen collection (conducted in 12 months), storage, preparation (Erdmann's method) and quality assurance protocols were employed. The study revealed 51% of species with tricolporate pollen, 13% with tricolpate pollen, 11% with triporate, 7% with monocolpate pollen, about 6% with inaperturate, 2% species each with zonocolpate, 4-colporate pollen and pantoporate pollen respectively. Reticulate, perforate and granulate ornamentations accounted for almost two-thirds of exine wall patters with baculate, straite, tectate, granulate scabrate and echinate made up the remainder. The shapes ranged from subprolate, prolate to prolate spheroidal, suboblate, oblate to oblate spheroidal and to peroblate to circular. All grain arrangements were monad. While forty-six of the species could easily be separated on the basis of pollen class, exine sculpturing and pollen shape, seven others could only be delimited based on slight differences on polar to equatorial ratio (P/E). All members with psilate sculpture were observed as species with abiotic agents (water and wind) of dispersal. These findings would undoubtedly enhance taxonomic practice in the Park.