PollyMapPine pollen photographed through the microscope in the PollyKit lab — verified in Arizona.
More verified photos of Pine
About pine pollen
The unmistakable winged pollen of pines, with two balloon-like air sacs that carry it for miles.
Plants that produce it
- Ponderosa, pinyon and Chihuahuan pine in the Southwest
- Loblolly, slash and longleaf pine across the South
- White, red and jack pine in the North
- Landscape and Aleppo pines in cities
How to recognize it
Oval central body flanked by two inflated, net-patterned bladders that look like mouse ears or a flotation collar. Very large and easy to recognize even at low magnification.
Typical published size: 45–75 µm including the bladders
Commonly confused with
- Spruce and fir pollen — bladders are reduced or absent
- Air bubbles on a mount — bubbles have no textured wall
Allergy relevance
Only weakly allergenic despite its huge volume and the visible yellow dust it leaves. Most spring symptoms during pine season come from oak, mulberry, ash or grass pollen in the air at the same time.
Where it's found
PollyMap has verified specimens of Pine from Arizona.
Native pines occur in almost every state; the greatest loads are in the South, the Rockies and the Southwest.
Also searched as: pine pollen, pinus pollen, pine pollen under microscope, pine pollen with air sacs, conifer pollen.
Related pollen specimens
Citing this specimen: PollyMap Specimen Library. “Pine — verified microscope specimen.” pollymap.com/library/specimen/pine-pollen-arizona-92400d
Expert discussion
No published comments yet. If you study palynology or mycology, we'd value your read on this specimen.