Grass pollen pollen under a microscope, verified by PollyMapPollyMap

Grass pollen pollen photographed through the microscope in the PollyKit lab.

About grass pollen

Single-pored pollen from lawn, pasture and ornamental grasses — the most widespread hay fever trigger there is.

Plants that produce it

  • Bermuda grass, the dominant lawn grass of the warm South and Southwest
  • Ryegrass, fescue and Kentucky bluegrass in cooler turf
  • Johnson grass and other roadside pasture grasses
  • Cereal crops including corn and wheat

How to recognize it

A round grain with one circular pore set in a thickened ring, smooth walls and very little other surface detail.

Typical published size: 25–40 µm

Commonly confused with

  • Sedge pollen — often triangular in outline
  • Smut spores — no pore, darker wall

Allergy relevance

Highly allergenic, causing sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and asthma symptoms through the growing season.

Where it's found

All fifty states, with the longest seasons in the South and Southwest.

Also searched as: grass pollen, lawn grass pollen, bermuda grass pollen microscope.

Citing this specimen: PollyMap Specimen Library. “Grass pollen — verified microscope specimen.” pollymap.com/library/specimen/grass-pollen-4f9ebf

Expert discussion

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