Periporate Types
1. Sculpturing and structure of grain protruding, consists of features that are first bright then dark in LO focusing
2. Sculpturing features pronounced, > 1 m in relief or in width, usually broad based and either tapering to a point or blunt
2’ Sculpturing features absent or diminutive, < 1 m in relief or width, if protruding usually narrow at base cylindrical and pointed
Psilate, Scabrate, or Baculate Types
1’ Sculpturing and structure of grain with intruding elements or gaps, consists of many features that are first dark then bright in LO focusing, may also have protruding elements
Echinate or Verrucate Types
1. Verrucate
2. Verrucae numerous and scattered, low relief < 1m, verrucae 1-2 m wide
2’ Verrucae arranged in hexagonal soccer-ball like pattern, relief > 1m high, 1-2 m broad
1’ Echinate
3. No annulus
4. Pores 8-12, spines short unevenly spaced, pores obscure
Sagittaria graminea, (Sagittaria rigida, Sagittaria cordata)
(4’ Pores about 20, spines broad based on ridges of exine)
(Polygonaceae)
(3’ Annulate)
(Caryophyllaceae)
Psilate, Scabrate or Baculate Types
1. Shape subtriangular, pores indistinct (one terminal, 2-4 on “girdle”)
1’ Shape spherical, prolate or oblate
2. Grains heteropolar, pores on equator and one hemisphere, endexine and foot lacking in area around the pore
2’ Pollen grains isopolar
3. Diameter > 70 m or larger, tectate with rounded scabrae
3’ Diameter mostly less than 50 m
4. Pores unthickened, even or sunken
5. Pores located on flattened or concave surfaces, psilate sculpture, 9-10 pores
5’ Shape spherical
6. Pores more than 25
6’ Pores about 10 in number, pores verrucate, size small 15-25 m
Thalictrum dasycarpum, Coptis trifolia
4’ Pores annulate or with internal thickenings
7. Pores 8, shape prolate-rectangular, pores paired and united by bridges of internal exine thickenings
7’ Pores annulate, independent, shape spherical
8. Sculpture psilate, thickening at pore broad and sloping
8’ Sculpture scabrate, thickening at pore narrow and abrupt
Plantago lanceolata
Reticulate or Pitted Types
1. Pores with annulus
2. Dark-light features evenly spaced, width of walls = width of cells, columellae evenly distributed, pore membranes verrucate with a dozen verrucae
2’ Dark-light features widely spaced, irregular or width of cells > width of walls, pore membranes clear or verrucate
(Caryophyllaceae)
3. Tectum with minute perforations more numerous than columellae and spines, verrucae in pore
3’ Tectum with distinct perforations, holes about equal to columellae in size and not greater in number
4. Pores < 20, reticulate, cell width > wall width, verrucae in pores
Silene antirrhina, (Silene cucubalus)
4’ Pores > 20, pores widely and irregularly spaced, no verrucae in pores, annulus beaded
(1’ Pores without annulus)
(Polygonaceae)
UNSORTED: Plantago purshii, Ribes lacustre, Ribes triste
