Liquidambar Pollen

Liquidambar is a small genus trees native to parts of Asia, the eastern Mediterranean region, and North America. Only one species, Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), is native to eastern North America including eastern Oklahoma. In addition to its natural range, the sweetgum tree is widely planted as an ornamental for its shade and spectacular red-orange fall foliage. The species is monoecious with both male and female flowers produced on the same tree.

Sweetgum pollen is distinctive. It is periporate (multiple pores), and each pore is wide with exine flecks within the pore. The exine is minutely reticulate, and the size ranges from 34-40 µm. In Tulsa, Liquidambar pollen is seen from mid-March to mid-April.