NPC classification
• G. Erdtman (1969) proposed NPC-System pollen/spore classification
based on the apertures, their
• Number (N-whether single or two or many),
• Position (P- polar: distal or proximal; global; meridional) and
Characters (C – circular or elongated) with regard to microspore
tetrad.
• Under this system the term ‘treme’ (aperture) has been used for
preparing keys for the classification of the pollen grains/spores.
• The pollen number (N) groups are of nine
types.
• The grain without aperture is named
“Atreme” and is designated as No.
• Depending upon the number of apertures,
the types of pollen are
• Monotreme (N1) with one aperture,
• Ditreme (N2) with two apertures;
• Tritreme (N3) with three apertures,
• Tetratreme (N4) with four apertures,
• Pentatreme (N5) with five apertures,
• Hexatreme (N6) with six apertures
• and Polytreme (N7) having more than six
apertures.
• Irregularly arranged spiral apertures over the
surface of the pollen irrespective of their
number are designated as ‘Anomotreme’ (N8).
• On the basis of the position (P) of
apertures, pollen are categorized into
seven groups (P0 to P6).
• In ‘Catatreme’ (P1) pollen aperture is in
proximal face,
• while in ‘Anatreme’ (P3) it is in distal face.
• The pollen are designated as
Anacatatreme’ (P2) where apertures are
both in proximal and distal faces.
• The pollen grains are referred to as
‘Zonotreme’ (P4), when the apertures are
located on the equatorial zone.
• ‘Dizonotreme’ (P5) are like zonotreme, but
with two rows of apertures on the
equatorial region.
• In ‘Pantotreme’ (P6), apertures are globally
distributed all over the pollen surface.
• Like position groups the character (C) groups
are of seven types (C0 to C6).
• If the character of the aperture is not known, it
is designated as C0.
• Pollen having an aperture like thin area or
Leptoma is designated as C1.
• Pollen with one leptoma is called Monolept, it
may be called Cataleft if present in the
proximal face, or Analeft if in the distal face.
• Pollen with three- slit like colpus are called
Trichotomocolpate which belongs to
C2 category.
• The remaining character classes i.e., C3, C4,
C5 and C6 include Colpate (with colpa i.e.
furrow), Porate (with pore i.e. circular
aperture), Colporate (both with colpa and
pore/ora apertures), Pororate (aperture with
pore and ora) respectively.
• Based on NPC classification, each pollen type is designated by using a
three digit number .
• The first digit denotes the number of aperture, for example, 100 is
assigned to monotreme, 200 to ditreme, 300 for tritreme, 400 for
tetratreme, 500 for pentatreme, 600 for hexatreme, 700 for
polytreme, and 8 for anomotreme and 9 for atreme.
• The second digit denotes the position of the aperture, e.g. 010 to
proximal aperture, 030 for distal aperture, 040 for equatorial
aperture, 060 for global aperture.
• The third digit denotes the characters of the aperture, e.g., 002 for
trilete, 003 for colpate, 004 for porate, 005 for colporate. Therefore,
the number 112 is assigned to trilete grains, similarly 133 to
monosulcate grains, 343 to tricolpate and 345 to tricolporate grains,
etc.
Classification of aperture based on
position (P):
• In NPC system, ‘P’ denotes the position of aperture in pollen.
• The position may be proximal, distal or equatorial.
• There are seven groups of apertures based on their position, namely P0 to P6.
• • Pollen grains having P0 group have uncertain or unknown position of
aperture.
• • P1 groups of pollen are catatreme. Catatreme pollen grains have one aperture
that occurs on the proximal part of the grain.
• • P2 groups of pollen are anacatatreme, which means they have two apertures,
one of which occurs on the distal pole and the other one on the proximal pole.
11
• • P3 groups of pollen are anatreme, where the apertures are distal in position.
• P4 groups are called zonotreme, which indicates pollen grains
characterized in having apertures on the equator or sub-equator.
• • P5 groups of pollen are dizonotreme. They have apertures arranged
in two or more zones, parallel to the equator.
• • P6 groups of pollen are pantotreme, which have apertures scattered
over the whole surface uniformly.
Classification of apertures based on
Character (C):
• In NPC system, ‘C’ denotes the character of the aperture in a pollen
grain.
• The character groups are seven in all and are mentioned from C0 to
C6.
• C0 groups have apertures whose character cannot be established with
certainty.
• C1 groups have leptoma, which is a thin area, aperture like and
functions like an aperture.
• Pollen grains with one leptoma are termed as monolept.
• The leptoma may occur on either proximal or distal face and accordingly
termed as catalept and analept.
• C2 groups are trichotomocolpate.
• It is a three-branched aperture, the branches of which are more than
two times longer than breadth.
• Trichotomocolpate pollen having aperture on proximal face are termed
as trilete.
• • The group C3 has colpate pollen.
• • Group C4 comprises porate pollen grains.
• The group C5 includes colporate grains, which is a combination of C3
and C4 types.
• The group C6 includes pororate pollen. It includes pollen having
pores as well as ora i.e. a faint area surrounding the aperture pore
• In NPC classification, a grain is mentioned in three-digit number.
• For example, 343 instead of N3P4C3.
• Pollen grains having NPC 343 are tritreme, zonocolpate, which is also
described as tricolpate pollen. Examples of tricolpate pollen grain i.e.
NPC 343 are Rumex, Tectona, etc.
• Similarly, NPC 764 characterizes those pollen grains that are
polytreme pantoporate, which are also described as pantoporate or
polyporate. Pollen grains of Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, etc
have NPC 764.
Merits of NPC
• It is a simple system of classification and illustrates the apertures of a pollen grain.
• • NPC makes the description of apertures precise.
• • With the aid of NPC system, the pollen grains and spores of pteridophyta, monocotyledon and dicotyledon can
be differentiated to some extent. Thus, NPC narrows the search list of identification of unknown sporomorphs.
• • NPC is supposed to be of primary classificatory character because apertures are most conservative. Sometimes, it
becomes possible to identify the family or genus or even species of a pollen grain with the aid of NPC classification
in combination with other morphological characteristics.
• • Palynologists all over the world accepted NPC classification as it is basically simple and consistent where pollen
grains and spores could be arranged easily.
• • NPC, sporoderm stratifications, exine patterns, size and shape etc of a pollen grain are genetically stable traits.
With the aid of NPC and other characters, a key can be formulated that helps to identify unknown pollen and
spores, which becomes an essential pre-requisite in the applied aspects of palynology. The interfamily and
intrafamily affinities among taxa to some extent can be determined with the aid of NPC.
• • NPC and the various types of exine patterns and ornamentations provide characters of taxonomic significance
and thus become one of the sources of alpha taxonomy. Eg., Bombacaceae is separated from Malvaceae.
Demerits of NPC
• It is an artificial system of classification.
• Syncolpate and parasyncolpate pollen grains do not fit neatly in NPC
classification.
• Pollen grains that are characteristically present as aggregates in
tetrads (eg. Ericaceae) and polyads (eg. Orchidaceae) are not grouped
in the NPC system.