As the weather warms up and we spend more time outside, it is hard to forget that Maryland is in the middle of peak pollen season. Coughs, sneezes, and runny noses plague outdoor recreation, and it can feel like there is no escape from the pollen. Bright, eye-catching flowers are most often associated with pollen season, but tree pollen is particularly impactful for a few interesting reasons.
Pollination is the mechanism through which plants share genetic material, starting their fertilization and reproduction processes. Pollination can take a variety of forms, but animal transfer and wind pollination are the most common.
Animal transfer of pollination occurs when insects, birds, small mammals, and even reptiles move between flowers, carrying and depositing pollen particles from flowers’ “male” stamens to “female” stigmas. The bright flowers and active fauna of animal pollination are eye-catching and prevalent within the public consciousness, but the smaller scale and targeted nature of this process does not greatly contribute to the pollen that causes seasonal allergies.
Wind pollination, known as anemophily, is used mainly by grasses and trees. Anemophily is responsible for the great quantities of pollen we see coating our cars and driveways, and in puddles after a rainstorm. Many Maryland tree species, including oaks, conifers, birches, and maples, use anemophily. The pollen particles these trees produce are incredibly small, lightweight, and dry, easily carried by the wind between their very small stamens and stigmas. A single tree can produce millions of pollen spores each year, increasing the chances of successful pollination.
As frustrating as seasonal allergies can be, it is important to remember that pollen is the foundation for future generations of Maryland forests. Anemophilous pollination allows for the widespread transfer of pollen between tree species, ensuring genetic diversity and thus healthier forests. As this spring turns to summer, take the time to appreciate your local trees and the particulate dance happening all around us. But of course, do not forget your allergy medicine.
References:
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-73969-4
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/habitat/wawhatsthebuzz.aspx
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-7091-6306-1_9
Photo by Andrei Zhigaltsov, courtesy of Shutterstock
