top of page

Entomophilous

Animal/Insect Pollinated 

The images shown are primarily from the Denver Botanical Gardens herbarium plants. Pollen images taken on an Unitron TCS Pro 500 at 400x  (unless noted). The webpage is not exhaustive and only represents common types represented in lake sediments and bee products examined in the Paleoecology, Palynology and Climate Change Laboratory. Pollen-types are identified down to their lowest taxonomic level possible starting with family. Follow the tabs to lower taxonomic levels. The morphological characteristics of the pollen grain are described based on shape, aperture type(s), wall structure, surface sculpturing, and size. Were possible a link to an online pollen database with more information is also provided.

Amaranthaceae - Amaranth Family

-Amaranthaceae

  • Spheroidal

  • Periporate (very numerous pores)

  • Tactate with tectum thickened and bulging between the pores

  • Psilate

  • ~10-15 microns

  • Also Anemophilous

Anacardiaceae - Sumac Family

-Rhus

  • Subprolate, polar area tapers

  • Tricolporate, (This info from Kapp Transverse furrows rectangular)

  • Tactate 

  • Subreticulate pattern

  • ~30 microns

Apiaceae - Carrot Family

-Heracleum sphondylium

-Lomatium ambiguum

-Lomatium cous

-Osmorhiza occidentalis

Asteraceae - Daisy Family

Asteraceae is the second largest plant family and is broken down into subfamilies. Tubuliflorae and Liguliflorae are the two subfamilies that we see in many pollen samples. Clicking on the tab will bring you to defining characteristics of each subfamily. The identification becomes more precise on each page.

Boraginaceae - Borage Family

-Asperugo procumbens

Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family

-Lonicera tartarica
-Symphoricarpos albus
-Symphoricarpos occidentalis

Elaeagnaceae - Oleaster Family

Elaeagnus angustifolia

  • Spheroidal

  • Protruding aspidate apertures with distinct pore cavity

  • Intectate lacking columellae

  • ~24-26 microns

Fabaceae - Legume Family

Melilotus

  • Prolate shape

  • Tricolporate

  • Poles broadly rounded

  • Exine tectate, reticulate

  • Slender furrows with large circular pore

  • Polar axis ~23 microns  equatorial diameter ~17 microns

Lamiaceae - Mint Family

-Mentha arvensis
-Monarda fistulosa
-Nepeta cataria
-Prunalla vulgaris

Onagraceae - Evening Primroses Family

Onagraceae
  • Oblate, Triangular

  • Triporate

  • Intectate

  • Granulate

  • ~ 100 Microns

Malvaceae - Mallow Family

Tilia

  • Tricolporate

  • 3 apertures (short colpi bearing pores)

  • Exine surface very fine reticulate

  • ~35 microns

  • polar and equatorial views shown

Polygonaceae - Buckwheat Family

Polygonaceae

  • Spheriod

  • Periporate

  • Exine reticulate with free bacula (rods)

  • ~50 microns

Phrymaceae - Lopseed Family

Mimulus guttatus
  • Spheroidal

  • Monoporate

  • Granulate or Verrucate

Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family

Pulsatilla patens

  • Spheroidal

  • Tricolpate

  • Granulate or Verrucate

Rosaceae - Rose Family

-Prunus

-Spirea

Scrophulariaceae - Figswort Family

Verbascum thapsus
  • Spheroidal

  • Tricolpate

  • Tectate with defined columella

  • Reticulate 

  • Introduced species in North America

bottom of page