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Basic Dichotomous Key: A Guide to Easy Pollen Identification

1. Spines present on outside

2. Spines very long

Aster

2. Spines shorter yet still easily observable

Ragweed

1. Spines absent on outside

3. Pores and/or furrows present

4. Both pores and furrows present

5. 4 pores and furrows

Dock

5. 3 pores and furrows

6. Surface has web like appearance

Willow

6. Surface has normal appearance

7. Area between pores enlarged

Sage

7. Area between pores normal

8. Area under the pore very enlarged

Basswood

8. Area under the pore slightly enlarged

Beech

4. Pores or furrows

9. Furrows

10. 4 furrows and is diamond shaped with furrows at the points and the area below the furrows are enlarged

Ash

10. 3 furrows

11. Bump in the middle of each furrow present

Oak

11. Bump in the middle of each furrow absent

12. Wide furrows and looks like a biohazard sign

Maple

12. Normal furrows and looks like oaks without bumps

Sycamore

9. Pores

13. Shape triangular

14. Area above the pores enlarged

Hickory

14. Area above the pores normal

Sedge

13. Shape not triangular

15. More than 3 pores present

 

16. Between 4 and 6 pores present

17. Size small (<19 um) and 4 pores

Nettle

17. Size large (>20 um)

18. 5 pores with area above and below the pores enlarged

Alder

18. 4 to 6 pores with area below the pores enlarged

Elm

16. More than 6 pores present

19. Area below the pores enlarged

Hackberry

19. Area below the pores normal

20. Pores on top and pores on the bottom absent

Walnut

20. Pores even distributed

21. Pores number less than ten

Plantain

21.  Pores greater than 10 and looks like a golf ball

Goosefoot

15. 3 pores or less

22. One or two pores

23. Two pores

Mulberry

23. One pore

24. Area above the pore enlarged

Grass

24. Area above the pore normal and possibly 4 cells in a group

Cattail

22. Three pores

25. Area below the pores enlarged

Hemp

25. Area above and below the pore enlarged

Birch type

3. Pores and/or furrows absent

26. Grains look like Mickey Mouse ears

Pine type

26. Grains have normal appearance

27. Middle of the grain is star shaped

Juniper

27. Middle of the grain is circular

Poplar