Betrock's Allergenic Plants Of Florida

The Purpose of this allergenic-plant guide is to identify specific plants for which allergy doctors are testing patients in the state of Florida. Plants in this booklet have been arranged in three groups: weeds, grasses and trees/shrubs. Each page has a picture or drawing of the plant, the size of the plant, its habitat, the time of year when it appears to be most troublesome while releasing pollen and various problems the plant may cause to allergy sufferers. The plants in this book are the most common villains in the production of the allergenic pollen in Florida, and these are the plants you should try to avoid. What can you do? If the plant is one in your own garden, it would be wise to have it removed or replaced with something that would not cause a problem. Not many of our common garden plants produce allergenic pollen that gets into the air in any quantity. We look for showy blooms in our gardens, and a big or aromatic flower usually means that the plant attracts an insect or a bird to move its pollen around rather than casting it into the air. If it is a tree planted in the street or a parking lot, or a weed growing in a neglected spot, the only thing possible is to keep away from that area. If you have to be in a danger spot, the only thing possible is to keep away from that area. If you have to be in a danger spot or area, try to avoid the early hours of the day since more pollen is shed at this time than when the sun is hot. Remember that pollen only gets into the air when the plants are flowering. Most trees that cause problems flower for only a few weeks, and most of these produce their blooms in the spring. Weeds and grasses flower from spring to fall, depending on the type, and most of the flowers are not showy. The plants included in this book are by no means a complete list. There are other plants related to these which may have a slightly different appearance but are equally likely to cause problems. Derek Burch, Ph.D. Irv Betrock, Ph.D.