PollyMapfern spore pollen photographed through the microscope in the PollyKit lab.
More verified photos of fern spore
About fern spores
Spores of ferns, recognizable by a three-rayed scar or bean-shaped slit.
Plants that produce it
- Native ferns in canyons, seeps and shaded slopes
- Houseplant and landscape ferns
- Lip ferns and cliffbrake in rocky desert habitats
How to recognize it
Brown to yellow spore, either roughly triangular with a three-rayed (trilete) scar or bean-shaped with a single slit, often with a warty or ridged surface.
Typical published size: 30–60 µm
Commonly confused with
- Palm pollen — single furrow, no scar
- Some ascospores — no scar
Allergy relevance
Not an established allergen; fern spores are recorded mainly as an ecological indicator in air samples.
Where it's found
Nationwide, wherever ferns grow.
Also searched as: fern spore, fern spore under microscope, trilete spore.
Related pollen specimens
Citing this specimen: PollyMap Specimen Library. “fern spore — verified microscope specimen.” pollymap.com/library/specimen/fern-spore-pollen-ffbf71
Expert discussion
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