Vernonieae (Compositae) taxa Vernonia and Elephantopus were examined by scanning
(SEM) and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All pollen grains of Vernonia have a
subechinolophate sculpturing consisting of a wrinkled net-like ektexine delineating a system
of thickened and randomly meandering ridges and corresponding valleys. Ektexine on the
ridges radiates from near mid-regions of massive, individual columellae that terminate in
sharp spines approximately 4.5 μm above the ektexine surface. Less massive secondary …