Pollen image identification

Question 1

Answer 1

Chenopod

Lambsquater (Chenopodium)

Wingscale / saltbush (Atriplex)

Kochia (burning bush)

Russian thistle (Salsola) – most important cause of hay fever of the chenopods

Question 2

Answer 2

Pigweed (Amaranthus)

aka Careless weed

Looks very similar to chenopods

Chenopods and amaranths have significant cross-reactivity

Question 3

Answer 3

Grass

Question 4

Answer 4

Ragweed (Ambrosia)

Part of the Composites (Asteraceae)

Question 6

Answer 6

Sage & Mugwort (Artemisia)

Oral allergy = mugwort celery – peach – mustard

Question 7

Answer 7

Cocklebur (Xanthium)

Question 8

Answer 8

Nettle (Urticaceae)

Question 9

Answer 9

Plantain (Plantago)

has donut appearance

Question 10

Answer 10

Dock or Sorrel (Rumex)

Question 11

Answer 11

Ash

Ash / Olive / Privet / Russian Olive

Question 12

Answer 12

Birch

Birch / Alder / Hazelnut / Hornbeam

Three pores (triporate) protruding from the surface, each of which contains a collar (oncus).

May appear like a lemon, if only two pores are visible

Question 13

Answer 13

Oak pollen

(Oak, Beech, and Chestnut (Fagaceae))

Oak pollen is triangular-shaped with three germinal furrows that appear as white “pie slices” slightly protruding from the surface.

Question 14

Answer 14

Sycamore (Plantanaceae)

Round grains, with three furrows and a thin exine that is finely reticulate

Question 15

Answer 15

Maple and Box Elder (Aceraceae) pollen.

Grains contain three furrows, like oak; but, are generally round and may have a “beach ball” appearance

Question 16

Answer 16

Pine (Pinaceae)

Mickey Mouse Cap

Question 17

Answer 17

Elm (Ulmaceae)

American elm pollinates in the spring, while several other elms pollinate in the fall

**Only two types of trees pollenate outside of spring

1. Three species of elm
2. Mountain Cedar (Cupressaceae)

Question 18

Answer 18

Sweetgum (Hamamelidaceae) pollen.

Periporate, with 12-20 pores per grain that often bulges, suggesting a “soccer ball” appearance.

Question 19

Answer 19

Elm

Question 20

Answer 20

Mountain cedar pollen

Thick intine with stellate cytoplasmic contents and an exine, which can break and look like Pac-Man

Question 21

Answer 21

Mountain cedar pollen (broken)

Thick intine with stellate cytoplasmic contents and an exine, which can break and look like Pac-Man

Question 22

Answer 22

Cottonwood (Salicaceae) pollen

Poplar, Willow, and Cottonwood (Salicaceae) pollen.

Poplar and cottonwood have round grains, each with an outer surface that is granular and often appears “cracked” or “flaky” ; but, there are no furrows.

By contrast, willow has three furrows and a reticulate pattern on the pollen wall.

Willows are entomophilous and not considered allergenically important; however, they are medically important since aspirin is made from their bark.

Poplars are anemophilous and produce significant allergenic pollen throughout North America.

Question 23

Answer 23

Willow has three furrows and a reticulate pattern on the pollen wall.

Willows are entomophilous and not considered allergenically important; however, they are medically important since aspirin is made from their bark.

Question 24

Answer 24

Walnut

Walnut, Hickory, and Pecan (Juglandaceae) pollen.

Walnut is periporate, with 9-15 slightly raised germinal pores;

Hickory and pecan are indistinguishable, with each containing three nonprotruding pores

Question 25

Answer 25

Pecan (Juglandaceae) pollen. Walnut, Hickory, and Pecan (Juglandaceae) pollen. Hickory and pecan are indistinguishable, with each containing three nonprotruding pores Walnut is periporate, with 9-15 slightly raised germinal pores;

Question 26

Answer 26

Mulberry (Moraceae) Grains are small (i.e., 11-20 μm), thin-walled, and usually diporate with onci, giving the appearance of a light, pinkish lemon Pores are slightly raised or aspirated ("shield-shaped").

Question 27

Answer 27

Acacia pollen Mimosa, Acacia, Locust, and Mesquite (Leguminosae) Pollen grains may exist as monads or polyads, with the polyads usually having either 4 or 16 quadrangular grains in a group

Question 28

Answer 28

Cladosporium. The most abundant spores in temperate areas of the world. Asexual spore often noted in air sample in chains. Individual conidia range from 6-25 μm in length. Variations in shape, including hot dog, cylindrical, and spherical Dry day spore; also prevalent indoors (due to high outdoor concentrations)

Question 29

Answer 29

Alternaria Club-shaped w/ multicellular break (20-75 um) Prevalent outdoors as dry day mold spore Alternaria has been associated w/ severe asthma and life threatening exacerbations as well as hay fever Likes decaying plants High prevalence in grain-growing areas

Question 30

Answer 30

Epicoccum Dark, golden brown with warts on the surface Round, multicellular, and dry day spores

Question 31

Answer 31

Aspergillus Common, indoor mold spore; asexual Spherical to oval spores which can e single or in chains Can produce mycotoxins → cause ABPA

Question 32

Answer 32

Penicillium Common, indoor mold spore Distinctive structure (conidiophore) looks like a pain brush \*\*In Latin, "penicillus" means paint brush May produce mycotoxins → cause hypersensitvity pneumonitis (HP) Can also cause extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) in cheese workers

Question 33

Answer 33

Helminthosporium. Helminthosporium, Drechslera, Bipolaris, and Exserohilum Group

Question 34

Answer 34

Fusarium Colorless, wet, day spore with three to seven transverse septa Spindle-shaped and curved, with tapered ends

Question 35

Answer 35

Ascomycota Rainy day sexual spore, with wide range of shape and size that forms in an ascus or sac Usually eight ascospores to an ascus

Question 36

Answer 36

Basidiomycota Common mushroom, bracket fungi, and puffball spores. Rainy day spores with wide range of shape, size, and color. Always single-celled

Question 37

Answer 37

Smut spores Abundant in agricultural areas May have a smooth, spiny, or reticulate wall

Question 38

The most important indoor molds (4) are what? The most important outdoor molds (3) are?

Answer 38

_Indoor Molds:_ 1. Aspergillus 2. Penicillium 3. Rhizopus 4. Mucor _Outdoor Molds (ACE):_ 1. Alternaria 2. Cladosporium 3. Epicoccum \*\*Also outdoor Curvularia, Drechslera, Pithomyces, Botrytis, smut spores