T A X O N O M Y
Polyporate Grains
Picture of a grain from Chenopodium demonstrating the aspect of polyporate grains (left), a grain from the prickly pear cactus Opuntia (middle), and a grain from a small mallow genus, Sida (right). NOTE: Both Opuntia and Sida grains have been reduced in size relative to the Chenopodium grain.
The polyporate grain forms, also called periporates, are characterized by a large number of common families such as Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cucurbitaceae and many others. Because of the similarities of the pollen grains between these families, the former are often classed together during counting. However, a more careful analysis of the surface features, diameters, and number of pores can help work out the taxonomy more accurately.
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