WhyDo Some Flowers Cause Allergies?
The primary reason lies in thegender of plants. There are two types of plant genders: monoecious anddioecious. Monoecious plants have both male and female flowers on the sameplant. To fertilize the female flowers, the male flowers need to disperse pollenthrough the air to reach the female flowers. Dioecious plants, on the otherhand, have either male or female flowers on the same plant, so they also relyon air to transmit pollen. During the pollination process, a significant amountof pollen floats in the air, some of which may be inhaled through our noseswhen we breathe, eventually triggering allergic reactions in the eyes, nose,and sinuses for some individuals. For those sensitive to pollen, the bestapproach is to stay away from the aforementioned two types of flowers andinstead choose those that have bisexual flowers on the same floral axis and donot rely on air to transmit pollen.
Allergy-Friendly Flowers
Roses
Roses are completelypollen-free, making them an ideal choice for people prone to allergies. It'seven better to choose those that are still in bud.
Lilies
Lilies are highlyhypoallergenic, especially Asian varieties.
Chrysanthemums
New varieties of chrysanthemumsare constantly emerging in the market. Through hybridization, these new chrysanthemumshave more petals that replace the stamens, thus not producing pollen.
Orchids
Orchids have very little polleneven after they wither, making them less likely to cause pollen allergies.However, while they are beneficial for nasal allergies, it's important to avoidprolonged rubbing against the skin.
Hydrangeas
Native to Asia and theAmericas, hydrangeas are pollinated by insects and do not cause hay fever. Theycome in a variety of lovely colors, such as deep and light pink, white, blue,and purple, suitable for different occasions.
Carnations
Carnations have been cultivatedfor two thousand years. This flower species has many petals and no stamens, soit does not cause allergies due to pollen.
Dahlias
Dahlias have no stamens and alarge number of petals, which are the best conditions for avoiding pollenallergies. Native to Mexico, dahlias have 42 species. Their hybrids are populardue to their fragrance, numerous petals, and attractive appearance.
Peonies
Native to Asia, southernEurope, and northwestern America, peonies have a plump appearance and aregenerally fragrant, with colors including red, pink, white, and yellow.Although peonies have a small amount of pollen, it is sticky and thick, notdispersed through the air. Moreover, with their numerous petals, as long as youdon't rub your nose vigorously against the flower, they won't make you sneeze.
If you are sensitive to pollen,try to stay away from the following flower species:
Flower Species to Avoid
· Chamomile
· Sunflowers
· Daisies
· Chrysanthemums
· Jasmine
· Zinnias
· Honeysuckle
