Abstract

• Pollinial morphology of 10 species belonging to 10 genera of family Orchidaceae were studied. The specimens of Coelogyne lactea Rchb. f., Cymbidium lowianum (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f., Eria stricta Lindl., Hemipilia cordifolia Lindl., Hygrochilus parishii (Rchb. f.) Pfitzer, Papilionanthe teres (Roxb.) Schltr., Phaius tankervilleae var. pulchra (King & Pantl.) Karthik., Robiquetia pachyphylla (Rchb. f.) Garay, Thunia alba (Lindl.) Rchb. f and Vanda bensoni Bateman were collected from Southern Shan State from 2016 to 2017. In the present study, the two pollinia were found in C. lowianum (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f., H. cordifolia Lindl., P. teres (Roxb.) Schltr., R. pachyphylla (Rchb. f.) Garay and V. bensoni Bateman; four pollinia were found in C. lactea Rchb. f. and H. parishii (Rchb. f.) Pfitzer; eight pollina were observed in E. stricta Lindl., P. tankervilleae var. pulchra (King & Pantl.) Karthik. and T. alba (Lindl.) Rchb. f.The smallest pollinarium (4.8 - 5.4 × 4.8 - 5.4 mm) was found in E. stricta Lindl. and the largest pollinarium (33.6 - 36.0 × 50.4 - 54.0 mm) was observed in T. alba (Lindl.) Rchb. f. The number, shape, size and colour of pollinia were differ from one species to another. The attachment of caudicle or stipe and viscidium to the pollinia were vary from one another. The pollinial morphology provides the knowledge for identification of the species and future systematic research work of family Orchidaceae.