Pollen morphology of Degenia velebitica (Degen) Hayek and Sibiraea altaiensis (Laxm.) C. K. Schneid. subsp. croatica Degen – rare Croatian endemic plants from Velebit Mountains

Background and Purpose: Pollen can, as a means of genetic resource, contribute to conservation of endemic plants. Therefore we started with palynological study of endemic plants from refuges of the Alpine-Dinaric region and here present preliminary results on pollen morphology of two most famous representatives of Croatian endemic plants from Velebit Mts, Degenia velebitica and Sibiraea altaiensis subsp. croatica. Methods: Pollen samples from field collections were examined by the JEOL JSM-T 300 Scanning Electron Microscope in dry and hydrated state. For hydrated state, pollen grains were briefly rehydrated in water, dehydrated in acidified 2, 2-dimethoxypropane (DMP) and critical point dried in CO2. Dry pollen was mounted on stubs without further preparation. Both dry and critical point dried material was mounted on stubs and sputter