Seasonal Allergies
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A Little Pollen Goes a Long Way
Pollen is one of the most common causes of seasonal allergies. For
many, the brilliant blooms of spring, summer and fall blossom into misery.
A little about the birds and the bees
 The tiny, often microscopic, pollen granules that cause so many adults
to shudder in anticipation of the coming season, are a common means of
reproduction for a large number of plant species. Pollen granules in
plants are akin to sperm cells in humans; these must unite with other cells
in order for some plants to reproduce. The random union of these cells
ensures genetic diversity in plants.
Plants increase the odds of reproduction by producing millions of
pollen granules, even though it only takes one to successfully fertilize a
plant. Some release pollen grains into the wind and others, mostly
flowering plants, rely on insects and animals, such as the birds and bees,
to carry the pollen to other plants of the same species. The pollen grains
are often prickly-shaped and sometimes sticky, to increase their chances of
clinging to a plant.
Although many people complain of allergic reactions to flowering
plants, very few are actually allergic to them. The majority of allergy
sufferers are allergic to pollen from plain-looking plants, such as
grasses, weeds and trees, because these more commonly release pollen into
the wind.
More about seasonal allergies:
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