Pollen and anther characters are potentially informative in higher-level systematics of monocotyledons. Several characters of monocot pollen and anthers (tapetum type, microsporogenesis type and inaperturate pollen) are reviewed here in relation to recent phylogenetic concepts of the group, and new data are presented for some critical taxa. The first-branching monocotyledon, Acorus , has a secretory tapetum but most other early branching taxa (i.e., most Alismatales, except Tofieldia ) are plasmodial. The lilioid orders, Pandanales, Dioscoreales, Liliales and Asparagales are almost uniformly secretory. The tapetum is more diverse within the commelinoid clade. Successive microsporogenesis predominates in the monocotyledons although the simultaneous type is of systematic significance within some orders, such as Dioscoreales,Asparagales and Poales. Inaperturate pollen (either "functionally monoaperturate" or "omniaperturate") occurs in every major monocot group. It predominates in Alismatales and Zingiberales, and is a synapomorphy for some Liliales and Asparagales.