PollyMapSalix pollen photographed through the microscope in the PollyKit lab — verified in Arizona.
About willow pollen (salix)
Early spring pollen from willows, shed alongside cottonwood.
Plants that produce it
- Coyote and Goodding's willow along streams
- Weeping and black willow in landscapes
- Desert willow thickets in riparian corridors
How to recognize it
Oval grain with three furrows and a clearly reticulate, net-patterned surface with fairly large mesh cells.
Typical published size: 18–28 µm
Commonly confused with
- Cottonwood / poplar pollen — smooth wall, no network
- Olive pollen — finer, tighter network
Allergy relevance
Mildly to moderately allergenic; partly insect-pollinated, so airborne loads are lower than for cottonwood.
Where it's found
PollyMap has verified specimens of Salix from Arizona.
Streamsides and wetlands in every state.
Also searched as: willow pollen, salix pollen, willow allergy.
Related pollen specimens
Citing this specimen: PollyMap Specimen Library. “Salix — verified microscope specimen.” pollymap.com/library/specimen/salix-pollen-arizona-d9c851
Expert discussion
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