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Abstract

The anther is tetrasporangiate. The archesporial cell undergo periclinal divisions giving rise to the primary parietal and sporogenous layers. The former divides periclinally to produce two secondary layers. The outer divides again, forming the endothecium and a middle layer. The inner secondary layer give rise to the tapetal layer. The anther wall formation follows the "Dicotyledoneous Type". The mature anther wall consists of an epidermis, an endothecium, a single middle layer and the tapetum. As microsporogenesis progresses, middle layer become crushed and degenerates. The glandular (secretory) tapetum cells are uninucleate, and persist until the late stage of anther wall development. Tetrahedral tetrads are formed by simultaneous cytokinesis, followed by dissolution of callose and release of microspores. The pollen grain is shed at the two-celled stage. Observations presented confirm and supplement previous data related to anther and pollen development in Melastomataceae.