Bee pollen with water

40X

When viewing bee pollen from a far distance, the pollen all look similar in color and shape. However, it is soon shown to not be the case.

100X +zoom
As I zoomed into the pollen, what I realized was each grain held a different shape and structure: some being oval like and transparent while others were more circular with a brownish color filling the center.

400Xa

400Xb

What I find really fascinating is that the variety of pollen indirectly shows how the bees carrying the pollen went to a variety of different plants to harvest the nectar. It can also be analyzed that the bees are living in an area where plant life is plentiful. 

400Xc

400X
When zooming in to 400x the normal size, I realized here the pollen began to display significant distinctions which I couldn't see when viewing through either the naked eye or with 40x magnification. It turns out scientists are still trying to figure out why pollen hold different shapes and sizes. The pollen microscope was also invented in order to capture images of sample pollen grains and identify their shapes, even if they are irregular.