Types of Pollen Grains
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Grass Pollen
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Grass pollen is easily recognizable, characterized by a single pore. Typically grasses begin pollinating in May, where some ornamental and lawn grasses may produce pollen throughout the summer and into the fall, while for many native grasses this is the only pollination period. In some areas grass pollen is the major airborne allergen.
Birch Pollen
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Birch tree species are found throughout temperate North American, European, and Asian areas. In such areas, birch pollen is one of the most common allergens. Birch pollen can cause atopic dermatitis, contact urticaria (hives), atopic eczema, asthma, wheezing, allergic conjunctivitis (pinkeye), eye redness, oral-pharyngeal itching or rhinoconjunctivitis.
Pine Pollen
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Pine pollen is found in forests of the Earth, a yellow, flourlike substance produced in the millions of tons each year. Contrary to the majority of flowering plants, pine trees are wind-pollinated. That means they rely on the wind carrying the pollen to the pine cone, as opposed to a pollinator to help them reproduce. Every spring the trees release the pollen from their male catkins.
Goldenrod Pollen
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Goldenrods are found in the meadows and pastures in North America, and also in Mexico, South America, Europe, and Asia. This type of pollen is often blamed for allergy-related problems produced by ragweed, which blooms at the same time. However, goldenrods are too heavy and thick to be blown from the flowers, and is mainly pollinated by insects.
Other Types
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There are an estimated half million kinds of spores and pollen. Palynology is committed to exploring these types and applying them in health-related issues and in more contexts. For instance, forensic palynology allows the legal community to use spores and pollen as evidence in forensic and civil cases.
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