XVI International Botanical Congess

The genus Terminalia L. (Combretaceae) and the related genera Ramatuella Kunth, Bucida L., and Buchenavia Eich. in America were revised. Features of gross morphology, anatomy, cytology, pollen morphology and phytogeography were described. The leaf architecture of all genera of Combretaceae was surveyed and the evolutionary trends of the architectural characters were discussed. Pollen grains of 13 genera of Combretaceae wee studied under light and scanning electron microscopes. Six pollen types were described. Ramatuella and Bucida have pollen grains similar to those in Terminalia. The genus Terminalia is surveyed throughout the world at sectional level, and 22 sections were recognized. Ramatuella is relegated to Terminalia section Ramatuella. 31 species of Terminalia, 22 species of Buchenavia and 32 species of Bucida were recognized in America (and the West Indies) of which several taxa were newly described.