The genus Buchenavia Eichl. and its taxonomic affinity to the genus Terminalia L. (Combretaceae): Insight from pollen morphology - a review

In the present review pollen morphological attributes of the genus Buchenavia were examined and compared with those of the genus Terminalia to assess the taxonomic value of these characters. Pollen morphological characteristics of these two genera coupled with other floral, vegetative and anatomical ones did not align completely with those based on molecular data. The review highlighted that the genus Terminalia exhibits heterogeneous characteristics due to continuous attempts of re-circumscription, whereas the genus Buchenavia has a distinctive position within Subtribe Terminaliinae and being the only genus in the family with tricolporate and micro-echinate pollen grains. The inclusion of the genus Buchenavia as a synonym in Terminalia based on unsatisfactory inferences from molecular data is debatable. Further molecular analysis with unique sampling design is needed to accommodate a wide array of species comprising representatives of all sections of the genus Terminalia. •Buchenavia spp. are characterized by tricolporate and micro-echinate pollen grains.•Terminalia spp. possess heterocolpate pollen grains with a wide range of sculpturing.•Buchenavia and Terminalia possess a number of contrasting morphological characters.•With unsatisfactory inferences Buchenavia was embedded as a synonym to Terminalia.•Terminalia being heterogeneous, a unique sampling design is required.