QUB | Archaeology and Palaeoecology | The 14Chrono Centre

Catalogue of pollen types

Notes on angiosperms (dicots)

1. See Jones & Clarke (1981).
2. Included in Nymphaea alba-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
3. Not native in Europe today, but has occurred in pre-Holocene warm-stages of Ireland (pollen) and continental Europe (macrofossils).
4. See Clarke et al. (1991). Adonis annua is of uncertain status in the British Isles.
5. Equivalent to Caltha-type of Moore et al. (1989).
6. Equivalent to Ranunculus-type of Moore et al. (1989), and to a combination of Anemone-type, Ranunculus acris-type, and Ranunculus trichophyllus-type of Birks (1973).
7. Including Ranunculus hyperboreus and R. aconitifolius, which are not native today, but have occurred (macrofossils) in Quaternary cold-stages.
8. See Blackmore & Heath (1984a). Berberis vulgaris is of uncertain status in the British Isles.
9. See Kalis (1980).
10. Probably not native, but has occurred (macrofossils) in archaeological deposits.
11. Included in Papaver argemone-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
12. Includes pollen of two distinct types: see Kalis (1980). Refers to species of the Papaver radicatum group, widespread in the arctic. None are native to the British Isles today, but the pollen may be found in full-glacial and Devensian late-glacial deposits.
13. Included in Glaucium flavum-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
14. Possibly native, and known from macrofossil remains in archaeological deposits and one interglacial deposit.
15. See Kalis (1980).
16. See Punt & Malotaux (1984) and Whittington & Gordon (1987).
17. Introduced: common medieval crop plant.
18. See Punt & Malotaux (1984).
19. See Bos & Punt (1991).
20. Introduced, and pollen may be found in post-Roman deposits.
21. Not native today, but has been recorded (pollen) in a mid- Quaternary warm-stage.
22. See van Benthem et al. (1984).
23. Alnus incana may have occured in the pre-Holocene Quaternary: its pollen is not distinguishable from Alnus glutinosa.
24. This is the pollen type variously given as 'Corylus/Myrica' or 'Coryloid'. In western Europe, it may be possible to identify some grains of Myrica gale, but the ranges of variation of pollen of the two species in the type have considerable overlap. I suggest using the type nomenclature for most identifications, and separately using 'Myrica gale' for those grains that are certainly derived from that species. In this way, a minimum curve for Myrica gale can be achieved while the bulk of the grains will be included in a type whose name reflects the likely taxonomic origin of most of them.
25. Corispermum has occurred (macrofossils) in late Quaternary cold-stage sediment. Its pollen appears to be identical to native Holocene members of the family.
26. Included in Montia fontana-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
27. Pollen of the Caryophyllaceae falls into two morphological categories. Grains of Spergula-type are tri- or hexa-colpate, while the others are periporate. Care needs to be taken that a category used for undifferentiated Caryophyllaceae periporate grains does not also imply the possibility that Spergula-type could be represented. Holosteum umbellatum may also be native in the British Isles: its pollen is within Cerastium-type. Stellaria crassifolia and Silene furcata have occurred as macrofossils in Quaternary cold-stage sediments: I have not seen pollen or descriptions of the pollen of either. Birks (1973) has different pollen types from those listed here.
28. Included in Herniaria-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only genus of the type found in the British Isles.
29. Introduced: pollen has been found in late Holocene sediments.
30. See van Leeuwen et al. (1988). The types used here for Rumex and Oxyria digyna follow Moore et al. (1989) more closely, but there is some overlap between types because of morphological variability of the grains.
31. Equivalent to Polygonum persicaria-type of Moore et al. (1989).
32. Introduced and formerly cultivated: pollen has been found in late Holocene sediments.
33. Equivalent to Polygonum aviculare-type of Moore et al. (1989).
34. Equivalent to Fallopia convolvulus-type of Moore et al. (1989).
35. Rumex acetosa-type of van Leeuwen et al. (1988) and Moore et al. (1989). The other species in the type do not occur in the British Isles.
36. This type plus Rumex sanguineus-type is equivalent to Rumex crispus-type of Birks (1973).
37. This type plus Rumex obtusifolius-type is equivalent to Rumex crispus-type of Birks (1973).
38. See Turner & Blackmore (1984). Both native genera in the Plumbaginaceae have dimorphic pollen. Type-A pollen can be identified to generic level on morphological criteria, but not Type-B (Moore et al. 1991). In SDQR reference material, sizes of Type-B grains in Limonium overlap too much with the size of Type-B Armeria maritima pollen to enable separation on size criteria (in silicone oil, at least). Grains should therefore be identified to either family or generic level, as appropriate for the type concerned.
39. Equivalent to two Limonium vulgare types of Moore et al. (1989), not included here because they cut across species, and therefore do not contribute to the precision of identification.
40. See Clarke (1976).
41. Included in Hypericum androsaemum-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
42. See Christensen & Blackmore (1988).
43. Christensen & Blackmore (1988) place Tilia x vulgaris with Tilia platyphyllos as Tilia platyphyllos-type (cf. Andrew 1971).
44. See Culhane & Blackmore (1988). All species in the family are included as Malva-type by Moore et al. (1989).
45. No reference material or descriptions seen for Viola rupestris.
46. Including pollen of Salix polaris, known from macrofossils in Quaternary cold-stage deposits.
47. Moore et al. (1991) separate the Brassicaceae into two groups on the basis of size of lumina. There is certainly considerable variation in size between species, but also within species depending on factors that include mounting medium. Species of several genera can fall into either group. Taking these factors together, there is little useful purpose in attempting to separate fossil material into these groups.
48. Included in Reseda lutea-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only genus of the type found in the British Isles.
49. The characteristic pollen tetrads of the 'Ericales' occur in all species of Empetraceae, Ericaceae, and Pyrolaceae occurring in the British Isles during the Quaternary, except Orthilia secunda and Bruckenthalia spiculifolia (which have monads).
50. Introduced in the late Holocene, but has occurred (macrofossils) in pre-Holocene Quaternary warm-stages in Ireland.
51. Finer distinctions may be possible within this type: see Moore et al. (1989).
52. Erica scoparia macrofossils have occurred in the pre-Holocene Quaternary. It has tetrad pollen, but I do not know whether the grains are distinguishable from other members of Vaccinium-type.
53. Not native today, but has occurred (pollen and macrofossils) in the pre-Holocene Quaternary.
54. See Punt et al. (1976a).
55. Not native today, but has occurred (macrofossil) in a pre- Holocene Quaternary cold-stage.
56. Also includes Lysimachia punctata, not native today but which has occurred (macrofossil) in a pre-Holocene Quaternary warm- stage of Ireland.
57. See Verbreek-Reuvers (1980b).
58. Included in Ribes rubrum-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
59. Sedum-type in Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
60. See Verbreek-Reuvers (1980a, 1980c).
61. Includes Saxifraga granulata-type and Saxifraga cernua-type of Moore et al. (1989).
62. All native taxa of the subfamilies Prunoideae and Maloideae: this is a rather heterogenous group, and some distinctions are probably possible, especially for Sorbus aucuparia and Prunus padus (Faegri & Iversen 1989; Moore et al. 1991). However, available reference material is varied between collections of the same species, and I am uncertain about the validity of most smaller divisions.
63. Included in Onobrychis-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
64. Lotus-type in Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
65. The main element of Vicia cracca-type in Moore et al. (1989).
66. Includes pollen of the introduced and cultivated Vicia faba.
67. Included in Ononis-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only genus of the type found in the British Isles.
68. See Engel (1980b).
69. Not native today, but has occurred (pollen and macrofossils) in the mid-Holocene (Flenley et al. 1975) and earlier in the Quaternary.
70. Note need to use this designation, as suggested by Birks (1973), given the acceptance by Stace (1991) that Epilobium angustifolium L. should be placed in the genus Chamerion. Moore et al. (1989) argue that Chamerion angustifolium can be separately recognised because its grains are dispersed singly rather than in tetrads. I have included it with Epilobium because of the possibility that tetrads may break up.
71. See Stafford & Heath (1991).
72. Included in Cornus sanguinea-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
73. Included in Cornus suecica-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
74. See Punt & Schmitz (1981).
75. Included in Ilex-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
76. See Punt & Marks (1991).
77. Introduced today, but has occurred (pollen and macrofossils) in pre-Holocene Quaternary warm-stages.
78. See Punt & den Breejen (1981).
79. Introduced and formerly cultivated abundantly.
80. See Heath (1984).
81. Introduced: pollen has been found in late Holocene sediments.
82. See Clarke & Jones (1980c). Note that pollen of Acer monspessulanum (found as macrofossils in late Quaternary warm- stages), A. platanoides, and A. pseudoplatanus (both introduced to the British Isles in the late-Holocene) is indistinguishable from A. campestre. These types are grouped by Moore et al. (1989) as Acer campestre-type.
83. See Stafford & Blackmore (1991).
84. See van Helvoort & Punt (1984).
85. See Punt (1984). The account here differs from that in Birks (1973), and maybe oversplit.
86. Included within Pleurospermum-type in Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
87. Trinia glauca included in the type because of its closeness to pollen of Apium (cf. Punt [1984]).
88. All four native species of Apium fall in this type, not just the three listed by Punt (1984) and Moore et al. (1991), and termed Apium inundatum-type by them.
89. See Punt & Nienhuis (1976).
90. Included in Gentiana verna-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
91. Included in Gentianella amarella-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
92. See Punt & Monna-Brands (1980).
93. Moore et al. (1991) define a Solanum nigrum-type, of which Solanum nigrum is the only native species. Introduced members of the type include potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum). These three often have aberrant pollen grains.
94. See Cronk & Clarke (1981).
95. See Cronk & Clarke (1981).
96. Included in Cuscuta europaea-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only genus of the type found in the British Isles.
97. See Blackmore & Heath (1984b).
98. See Clarke (1980).
99. Included in Lithospermum arvense-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
100. Included in Pulmonaria obscura-type in Moore et al. (1989), but is the only genus of the type found in the British Isles.
101. See Punt & Langewis (1988).
102. No reference material or descriptions seen for Lamium confertum.
103. Equivalent to Stachys sylvatica-type of Moore et al. (1989).
104. Equivalent to Prunella-type of Moore et al. (1989).
105. Equivalent to Thymus-type of Birks (1973).
106. See Engel (1980a).
107. See Clarke & Jones (1980a).
108. Included in Plantago maritima-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
109. Included in Plantago lanceolata-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
110. See Punt et al. (1991).
111. No reference material seen for Limosella australis.
112. The pollen of all native Veronica species that I have examined (V. serpyllifolia, V. alpina, V. fruticans, V. officinalis, V. chamaedrys, V. montana, V. scutellata, V. beccabunga, V. anagallis-aquatica, V. catenata) appears to belong here. Moore et al. (1991) suggest that some Veronica spp. have pollen of the Rhinanthus-type. I have not seen reference material for V. praecox, V. triphyllos, V. arvensis, V. verna, V. agrestis, V. polita, V. hederifolia, or V. spicata.
113. I follow Faegri & Iversen (1989) in considering that Odontites vernus pollen belongs with Rhinanthus-type rather than with Veronica (cf. Moore et al. 1991).
114. Equivalent to Pedicularis palustris-type of Moore et al. (1989).
115. This usage follows Birks (1973) and Faegri & Iversen (1989), but is equivalent to Campanula-type (3-pored grains) plus Phyteuma-type (4-pored grains) of Moore et al. (1989), combined here because pore number varies within species.
116. Equivalent to Jasione-type of Moore et al. (1989).
117. Equivalent to Galium-type of Moore et al. (1989).
118. See Punt et al. (1976b).
119. Included in Sambucus nigra-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
120. Included in Viburnum opulus-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
121. Included in Lonicera xylosteum-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
122. Included in Lonicera periclymenum-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
123. See Reitsma & Reuvers (1976).
124. See Clarke & Jones (1980b).
125. See Clarke & Jones (1981a).
126. The Asteraceae has been traditionally divided by palynologists into two broad categories: 'Tubuliflorae', for tricolporate echinate grains, and 'Liguliflorae' for fenestrate echinate grains. This separation does not, however, completely cover the family. Asteraceae are divided into two subfamilies, Lactucoideae and Asteroideae. The Lactucoideae are divided into tribes, of which two, Cardueae and Lactuceae, have members in the native flora of the British Isles. All Lactuceae have fenstrate echinate grains, so this name is available for any grains of this type that cannot be identified more precisely. I suspect that it may be possible to distinguish pollen of the tribe Cardueae and the subfamily Asteroideae routinely in even damaged material (but I have not checked yet). Accordingly, I suggest that the two old terms be replaced by three newer ones (Cardueae, Lactuceae, and Asteroideae) for grains recognisable as being within these types. If there are grains where it is not possible to see whether they are Cardueae or Asteroideae, the best recourse might be to combine the names: 'Cardueae / Asteroideae'. The only alternative is to invent an informal name that cuts across the taxonomic hierarchy. See Blackmore (1984) for distinctions within the Lactuceae.
127. Equivalent to Serratula-type of Moore et al. (1989). Birks (1973) noted the resemblance of the members of this type under his description of the pollen of Saussaurea alpina.
128. Equivalent to Cirsium/Carduus of Birks (1973). Carduus is included in Solidago virgaurea-type by Moore et al. (1989) (their Aster-type).
129. Included in Centaurea cyanus-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
130. Included in Centaurea nigra-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type found in the British Isles.
131. Included in Tragopogon pratensis-type by Moore et al. (1989), but is the only species of the type in the British Isles.
132. Included in Sonchus oleraceus-type in Moore et al. (1989), but is the only genus of the type found in the British Isles.
133. Equivalent to Lactuca sativa-type of Moore et al. (1991). Mycelis muralis used here for the type because Lactuca sativa is not a native species of the British Isles.
134. Equivalent to Solidago-type of Birks (1973) and Faegri & Iversen (1989), and to Aster-type of Moore et al. (1989). Some distinctions may be possible within the type on the basis of spine height.
135. Note need to use a type (as Faegri & Iversen 1989) given the acceptance by Stace (1991) that Artemisia maritima L. should be placed in the genus Seriphidium.
136. Name of the type follows Birks (1973) and Faegri & Iversen (1989). Equivalent to Anthemis-type of Moore et al. (1989).