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

Genera

-Heracleum sphondylium

-Lomatium ambiguum

-Lomatium cous

-Osmorhiza occidentalis

Asteraceae - Daisy Family

Tubuliflorae

Liguliflorae

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.