Pollenatlas

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

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular to trilobate
size: polar axis: 18.8 (18-19) µm, equatorial axis: 20.4 (19-24) µm
apertures: tricolporate with wide, long colpi. Sometimes the surface of the colpi is covered with tiny, granular sculptures (exine-leftovers)
pollen wall: thin, reticulate exine, size of the mesh decreases towards the colpi, (forming a margo). Thin intine, often thickening and protruding underneath the colpi.

remarks to the plant:
A wide spectrum of deciduous trees and shrubs belong to the genus, often hardly discernable due to much hybridization. They need commonly much of light and grow preferably on damp, wet places. Leaves are generally simple, usually alternate. Flowers occur in catkins, with separate male and female plants. Main flowering time is March to May.

species: Sambucus nigra (Common Elder)
plant family: Caprifoliaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Sambucus

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular in polar view, in equatorial view circular to ovate
size: polar axis: 17.1 (16-19) µm, equatorial axis 18.7 (17-20) µm.
apertures: tricolporate pollen with long, wide colpi and not very distinctly visible pori.
pollen wall: the thin exine with very fine reticulate structure abates progressively towards the colpi. Intine thin, protrudes slightly from the germination area.
additional attributes: Sambucus racemosa has similar pollen

remarks to the plant:
A deciduous shrub with branches ascending from the base. It grows preferably on nitrogen- or lime-rich soils, hedgerows, and rough land. Leaves are pinnately divided into 5-7 leaflets. The eye-catching inflorescences are terminal, much-branched, flattened clusters with numerous creamy-white, strong smelling small flowers. Flowering time is May to July. Fruits are globose, black berries.

species: Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort)
plant family: Caryophyllaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Caryophyllaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular
size: 49.2 (46-52) µm
apertures: periporate pollen with 9 to 11 large operculate pori without annulus.
pollen wall: reticulate exine. At the junctions of the muri, the columellae of the exine emerge, giving the surface of the pollen grain a look as if dotted with pearls. Intine thin.
additional attributes: similar pollen are present in further representatives of the Family Caryophyllaceae

remarks to the plant:
The hairless erect perennial with up to 1 m height, grows in grassy and bushy places, preferably also on roadsides and near houses. The leaves are narrowly oval, pointed, greyish, and 3-veined. Its large, white or pink flowers emerge from a brownish to greenish-red hairless calyx. The scent of the flowers is strongest during the evening hours. Flowering time is July until September.

species: Silene dioica (Red Campion)
plant family: Caryophyllaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Caryophyllaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular
size: 34 (31-37) µm
apertures: periporate pollen with numerous (20-30) clearly defined operculate pori. Operculum with distinct granular exine residues. Membrane of the porus somewhat protruding.
pollen wall: reticulate exine, muri of the reticulum with fine nodules. Intine thin.
additional attributes: similar pollen are present in further representatives of the Family Caryophyllaceae

remarks to the plant:
This erect hairy perennial grows in shady grassy places, woodsides and along hedges. It becomes up to 90 cm tall, flowers from April to September with deep rose-pink scentless blossoms. Male and female flowers are separate. Leaves are broad-lanceolate to ovate, the inflorescences are loose branched clusters.

species: Sinapis arvensis (Charlock)
plant family: Brassicaceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Brassicaceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: more or less roundish
size: polar axis: 29.6 (28-30) µm, equatorial axis: 30.9 (30-32) µm
apertures: tricolpate, colpi rounded at their end. Openings often covered with fine granules
pollen wall: thick, reticulate exine, with more or less constant width of meshes (scarcely becoming smaller towards the colpi). Muri of the reticulum seem as if sewn with pearls in top view. Open lumina of the reticulum at the edge of the colpi give the impression of an almost cut-out pollen wall. Exine becomes slightly thinner (with shorter columellae) towards the colpi.
note: similar pollen grains in many other Brassicaceae.

remarks to the plant:
Charlock mustard originated probably from the Mediterranean area. Today, it is introduced to many parts of the world as a bad weed, in many parts of Europe it became adapted. This annual plant grows as occasional weed on cultivated land, along waysides and on devastated land. All leaves are bristly, many of the lower leaves with a large lobe on one side near the base, as well as sometimes small leaflets below the main leaf-blade. Flowering time is May to October. Sepals are spreading at various angles, usually some downturned or horizontal, not appressed to the bright yellow petal-tube.

species: Solidago virgaurea (Goldenrod)
plant family: Asteraceae
at aerobiological analyses usually achieved determination level: Asteraceae H-shape, Asteraceae

photos: Landesagentur für Umwelt, Bozen (Italy)

description:
outline: circular in polar view, circular to ovate in equatorial view
size: polar axis: 24.3 (23-25) µm, equatorial axis 26.7 (26-28) µm.
apertures: tricolporate pollen
pollen wall: thin, echinate exine with fine, up to 2 µm long spines. Intine protruding underneath the pori.
note: similar pollen in further representatives of the Family of Asteraceae (e.g. Senecio…

Pollen of Solidago stands here representative for the Asteraceae H-form (=Helianthus-form): these tricolporate pollen are distinguished by a rather thinner exine and more or less subtle spines compared to most other composite pollen. A segregation of singular genera seems to be impossible due to the lack of clear defined distinctive features.

remarks to the plant:
The Euro-Siberian-North American, very variable perennial plant with a height up to 1m grows on most soil types in dry and rocky places and open woods. The opposite leaves are narrowly spoon-shaped, downy when young, narrowing to the stalk. Stem leaves are unstalked, narrowly lanceolate. Inflorescences with numerous, long, leafy or unbranched heads of yellow ray and disk florets emerge between July and September.