Pollenatlas

species: Papaver sp. (Poppy)
plant family: Papaveraceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Papaveraceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: rounded triangular in polar view, ovate in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 25.8 (25-27) µm, equatorial axis 29.3 (27-31) µm
apertures: ttricolporate pollen with elongated, wide colpi, rounded at their endings
pollen wall: thin, scabrate exine, sometimes covered with drops of yellow oil. Thin intine, membrane of the colpi covered with granular exine remnants.
additional remarks: granular cytoplasma
note: Chelidonium majus (Celandine) and some Ranunculaceae have very similar pollen

remarks to the plant:
Common and widespread in disturbed areas and arable land, several species of poppy have latex in common. Flowers have four petals and two sepals that fall early, and numerous stamens. The common pooy is an erect bristly-hairy annual herb with deeply two times divided leaves. Poppy and celandine are insect pollinated and nectarless with high pollen production.

species: Parietaria officinalis (Common Pellitory)
plant family: Urticaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Urticaceae, Moraceae/Urticaceae group

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular (oblate).
size: polar axis: 12.8 (11.9-13.8) µm, equatorial axis: 13.2 (12.9-13.8) µm.
apertures: di- or tri-zono-porate, pori with tiny, almost not visible opercula
pollen wall: Exine thin, psilate to scabrate; thin intine with distinct onci.
additional attribute: fine granular plasma.
note: similar pollen: Urtica, Broussonetia

remarks to the plant:
Common Pellitory grows spontaneous on neglected areas, along road sides, on walls, inside riverside forests and hedges. Its globular inflorescences with male, female, and androgynous flowers are placed in the shoot axes above the origin of leaves. Flowering time is from summer to early fall.

species: Parthenocissus sp. (Virginia Creeper, Boston-ivy)
plant family: Vitaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Parthenocissus, Vitaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular in polar view, elliptical in equatorial view (prolate)
size: polar axis: 35.7 (34-37) µm, equatorial axis 33.4 (31-35) µm.
apertures: tricolporate pollen with long, distinct, acute colpi. The membrane of the apertures is covered with fine exine remnants, the pori are slightly elongated in direction of the equator.
pollen wall: thin, reticulate exine with heterobrochate mesh. The diameter of the lumina of the network decreases towards the colpi, intine thickened in the area of the apertures.

remarks to the plant:
Several species are native from North- and Central America and East Asia, but none from Europe. The plants are commonly used for coating walls and facades, charming with tight foliage and wonderful autumnal discolouration. Here and there, they run wild along hedges, fences, or woodsides. Most popular species are Parthenocissus quinquefolia and P. tricuspidata. Leaves are either finger-like pinnate or lobed with three or five leaf points. The inflorescences appear in inconspicuous panicles during June to August. They are a sought-after pollen- and nectar source for various insects.

 

species: Phacelia tanacetifolia (Lacy Phacelia)
plant family: Hydrophyllaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Phacelia, (Hydrophyllaceae)

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular, somewhat elliptical in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 23.1 (22-24) µm, equatorial axis 22.2 (20-23) µm.
apertures: heterocolpate pollen with three wide main colpi alternating with three narrower side-furrows. The main colpi almost meet in the polar area, their membranes are covered with fine granular material, whilst the side-colpi appear shorter and have a smooth membrane.
pollen wall: thin, psilate exine, the intine is slightly thicker than the exine.
note: similar pollen has Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)

remarks to the plant:
This annual plant has been introduced from California as ornamental and bee forage. It is also used as intercrop, cover crop and sometimes it may be found going wild in fields and vineyards, along roadsides or on waste land. The foliage appears ferny, and the flowers are in flat-topped clusters in shades of purple or occasionally even white. Depending on sowing time, flowering time continues for 6-8 weeks between May and October. Being a long-day plant, it requires a minimum of 13 hours of daylight to initiate flowering.

species: Picea abies (Norway Spruce)
plant family: Pinaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Picea, Pinaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: elliptical central body, with two lateral air bladders (sacchi). Sacchi are not or insignificantly protruding in shape from the central body, forming half of a globe or less.
size: 107.7 (97.0-124.4) µm (longest diameter, measured with air bladders).
apertures: inaperturate (sulcate ?)
pollen wall: central body: thick, rugulate exine; thick intine. Air bladders: pollen wall with large, irregular reticulate structure, often hardly visible due to air inside the sacchi (appearing black).
note: similar pollen: Abies, Pinus, Cedrus

remarks to the plant:
Spruce is widespread in forests of the montane and subalpine level, growing predominantly on acidic soils. Needles (leaves) are quadrangular in cross-section, appear in helical lines on the twigs. They live for 5 to 7 years. Solitary trees start with reproduction at an age of 30 to 50 years, those in tighter stands need a 60-70 years to become adults. Flowering time is May and June, mast years can be expected in lower elevations every 3-4 years, in high elevations every 7 to 12 years. Male catkins stand upright in small groups, their colour is reddish or reddish-yellow. Female cones are placed on terminal ends of one year old shoots. They are also reddish or brownish at flowering time. Mature cones are pendulate and dark brown.

species: Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine, Black Pine)
plant family: Pinaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Pinus, Pinaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: elliptical central body with two lateral air bladders (sacchi). The air sacs are more than hemispheric, there is a clear pinch between central body and sacchi.
size: polar axis: 75.5 (67-87) µm, (longest diameter, measured including air sacs)
apertures: inaperturate pollen.
pollen wall: central body: exine rugulate on the proximal pole, smooth or scabrate on the distal pole (“sulcus”). Intine thick. Sacchi: pollen wall with irregular reticulum, lumina widening towards the interior.
further attributes: granular cytoplasm
note: similar pollen types are frequent in other genera of the Pinaceae (Abies, Picea, Cedrus)

remarks to the plant:
European Black Pine is a medium sized tree (20-50 m) which grows spontaneous in manifold subspecies in the mountains of Southern Europe and North Africa, preferably on limestone-derived soils. The type variety has dark brown to dark grey bark that is widely split by flaking fissures into scaly plates. It has deep lateral roots. The leaves are long (8-15 cm), stiff, acute needles, appearing in twos. Flower: the yellow male inflorescences (candles) are 1-2 cm long while pollinating in May (June), in large clusters along twigs. Females oval, purple.

species: Pinus sylvestris (Scot’s Pine)
plant family: Pinaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Pinus, Pinaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: elliptical central body with two lateral air bladders (sacchi). The air sacs are more than hemispheric, there is a clear pinch between central body and sacchi.
size: polar axis: 67.4 (60-74) µm, (longest diameter, measured including air sacs)
apertures: inaperturate pollen.
pollen wall: central body: exine rugulate on the proximal pole, smooth or scabrate on the distal pole (“sulcus”). Intine thick. Sacchi: pollen wall with irregular reticulum, lumina widening towards the interior, reticulum usually finer than that of P. nigra
further attributes: granular cytoplasm
note: similar pollen types are frequent in other genera of the Pinaceae (Abies, Picea, Cedrus)

remarks to the plant:
Scots Pine is native to the Europe and the Asian boreal zone. It prefers well-drained acidic soils, and is very tolerant of infertile and dry soils and full sun. Scot’s pine is an important timber and therefore frequently cultivated. It grows up to 40 m of height, revealing at least on the upper trunk and branches an attractive red-orange colour of the bark. The stiff, serrated needles are 4-7 cm long, sharp to the touch, sitting two by two per fascicle and have a 360 degree twist. They present two blue-green, waxed stripes on the inner surface. Male catkins are in large clusters, 1-1.5 cm each, yellow at pollination time in May (and June). Females are reddish, elongated- egg-shaped.

species: Pistacia lentiscus (Mastic Tree)
plant family: Anacardiaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Pistacia

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular or elliptical, mostly irregular outline
size: 30.4 (27-33) µm x 33.4 (30-35) µm.
apertures: periporate (pantoporate) pollen grain with irregularly distributed pori in variable number (in general 5-7). Pori more or less elliptical with indistinct outline, membrane of the pori covered with leftovers of the exine.
pollen wall: Exine about 1 µm thick, finely reticulate. Reticulum often invisible at 400 x magnification. Intine about 1-1.5 µm thick, protruding at the pori, forming sometimes flat germination spots underneath the pori.
additional attribute: granular cytoplasm with leucoplasts

remarks to the plant:
Growing on dry spots in the Mediterranean, the evergreen Mastix tree is characteristic for the Macchia. The bush or tree deliberates a sweet tasting resin with a pleasant bouquet. The plant is dioecic and wind-pollinated. Its small, subtle florets develop from April to June. Male flowers appear in thight tufts with red anthers, females are brownish. Female specimens reveal bunches of reddish or dark coloured fruits of the size of a pea in autumn.

species: Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)
plant family: Plantaginaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Plantago, Plantaginaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular
size: 25,4 (24-28) µm
apertures: periporate (pantoporate) pollen grain with annulate, operculate pori.
pollen wall: thin, scabrate exine, thickened around the pori. Intine thin.
additional attribute: granular cytoplasm

remarks to the plant:
Commonly found on meadows and waysides, ribwort plantain is widespread all over Europe, west- and central Asia. The basal leaves form a rosette, they are lancelolate, usually short-stalked and have 3-5 strongly marked, almost parallel veins. Deeply furrowed inflorescence stalks bear a brownish corolla with white, long-stalked stamens. Flowering time is April to September.

species: Plantago media (Hoary Plantain)
plant family: Plantaginaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Plantago, Plantaginaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular
size: 26,9 (26-29) µm
apertures: periporate (pantoporate) pollen grain with indistinct borders and without annulus. Membrane of the pores sometimes covered with fine granules of exine remnants.
pollen wall: thin, verrucate exine, thin intine.
additional attribute: granular cytoplasm

remarks to the plant:
Hoary plantain grows along waysides, on meadows and pastures. It is less competitive than ribwort plantain and prefers sunny spots with dry calcareous soils. The acute, broad-ovate leaves form a basal rosette. The erect stalk with the cylindrical inflorescence is several times longer than the leaves. Inflorescences are composed of numerous small, tubular, fragrant flowers with a white corolla and long, pink stamens. Flowering time is May to August.

species: Platanus sp. (Plane)
plant family: Platanaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Platanus, Platanaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular or rounded triangular in polar view, elliptical in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 19.5 (28-21) µm, equatorial axis 23.1 (21-25) µm.
apertures: tricolpate pollen with broad colpi, rounded at the endings. Membrane of the colpi scattered with conspicuous dots.
pollen wall: thin, microreticulate exine, lumina open less than 1 µm, thin intine thickens slightly in the area of apertures.

remarks to the plant:
Plane is a respectable deciduous tree which is commonly used as ornamental in parks and along roadsides. Most frequently planted is probably a hybrid of Platanus orientalis (originating from the Eastern Mediterranean) and P. occidentali (from North America). One of the main characteristics is ist brown-greeen and grey bark which peels off in large irregular spots, giving the stem a characteristic patterned appearance. Its large palmate lobed leaves resemble those of the maple. During April and May, inconspiuous male and female flowers appear separately on stalked globules. The bigger, long stalked fruit globules are eye-catching during winter time.

species: Populus sp. (Poplar)
plant family: Salicaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Populus, Salicaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: irregular circular, sometimes angular
size: 30 (27-33) µm, very variable, depending on species, and cultivars
apertures: inaperturate pollen.
pollen wall: thin, scabrate, wispy exine, fragments of the exine often adhering on the 2-3 µm thick intine.
further attributes: fine granular cytoplasm

remarks to the plant:
Most frequently planted species of the genus are Populus tremula (aspen), P. alba (white poplar), and P. nigra (black poplar, Lombardy poplar). Poplar trees like full sun, they grow best in moist, well drained soils, but are also tolerant of other conditions. They tolerate salt and air pollution. Poplars are native of central Europe, North America and Asia. The dioecious, male and female pendulous catkins reach a length of several centimetres, they appear before leaf bud break in early spring (March-April). White, cottony seeds borne in dehiscent capsules are very eye-catching in late spring and early summer. Some people believe wrongly that they cause their hay-fever symptoms – in reality, poplar seeds and the (invisible) first grass pollen in the year use to appear at the same time under the same meteo conditions.

species: Prunus avium (Wild Cherry, Gean)
plant family: Rosaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Prunus group, Rosaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: rounded triangular in polar view, more or less circular in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 30.4 (27-32) µm, equatorial axis 39.1 (36-41) µm.
apertures: tricolp(or)ate pollen with long, acute colpi. In equatorial view, a poorly delimited porus is sometimes visible.
pollen wall: thin, striate exine, intine protruding in the region of the apertures.

remarks to the plant:
Wild cherry grows spontaneous in woods, woodsides, and hedges, preferably on heavy and calcareous soils. It is a very popular fruit tree and thus also frequently cultivated. The characteristic reddish-brown bark detaches in bands transverse to the direction of the stem. Flowers are white, stalked and appear in April/May in umbel-like clusters of 2-6 before leaf bud break.

species: Prunus padus (Bird Cherry)
plant family: Rosaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Prunus group, Rosaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: rounded triangular in polar view, more or less circular in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 23.9 (23-25) µm, equatorial axis 30.5 (29-31) µm.
apertures: tricolp(or)ate pollen with long, acute colpi. In equatorial view, a poorly delimited porus is sometimes visible.
pollen wall: thin, striate exine, intine protruding in the region of the apertures.

remarks to the plant:
Bird cherry is a deciduous shrub or small tree with peeling brown bark, which grows preferably on moist, nutrient-rich soils. Up to 40 white flowers sit together in initially upright, later drooping racemes. They appear in April/May and give plenty of nectar and pollen for various insects.

species: Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower)
plant family: Ranunculaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Pulsatilla, Ranunculaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: in polar view almost circular, circular to oval in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 36 (34-38) µm, equatorial axis 37.7 (36-41) µm.
apertures: tricolpate pollen with indistinct colpi, rounded at their ends. Membrane of the colpi covered with fine exine remnants.
pollen wall: thin, scabrate exine, intine about as thick as the exine.
note: similar pollen has Anemone (which is smaller) and Clematis (much smaller).

remarks to the plant:
The hairy perennial grows preferably on dry calcareous grassland. The silky leaves are pinnately divided into numerous long narrow segments. Its bluish-violet, erect, then drooping large flowers are shaggy hirsute on the outside. They carry numerous yellow stamens and 6 petal-like sepals. Flowering time is March and April.