Abstract: The present paper describes the pollen morphology of 26 species and 2 varieties in Nothofagus from Australia,
New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Guinea and South America. Pollen grains were all examined with light
microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope ( SEM ) and transmission electron microscope(TEM). A
comparative analysis of pollen exine ultrastructure was made for some species. The results are summarised
as follows: Pollen grains are oblate to peroblate, 5～8-short-colpate, rarely 4- or 9-colpate; colpi generally
thickened at margins; pollen surface spinulose. The exine ultrastructure of Nothofagus differs considerably
from that of the other genera in the Fagaceae. The pollen grains of the species examined here show great
differences in shape, size, colpal number and characteristics of colpi at margins and could be divided into
three distinct types, i.e. N. brassii type; N. menziesii type and N. fusca type.