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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Classic Forums Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Customer Service Advertise With Us Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map Email Story to a Friend April 17, 2007 Why all that pollen is in the air The Washington Post Why are the trees powdering us with pollen? It's nothing personal; we're bystanders in a messy spring mating game. Pollen contains male sex cells in search of a female gamete to fertilize. Many plants — the Japanese flowering cherry trees, lilies and apple trees — use insects to transfer pollen from male to female. This is efficient and beneficial to everyone involved: The plant has to make far fewer pollen grains, the insect gets a snack of pollen or nectar, and delivery is more or less assured. But more-primitive plants rely on a cruder dispersal method, air currents. This is so hit-or-miss that the culprits have to produce ridiculously large amounts of feather-light pollen, most of which never hits its target. Scientists have calculated that in the lower third of Sweden, for example, spruce trees unleash 75,000 tons of pollen each year. "Imagine how much would be in a ton when you can put them on a pinhead," said Vaughn Bryant, a pollen scientist at Texas A&M University. At this time of year, one cubic meter of air can contain as many as 100,000 grains of pollen. The average person inhales 12 cubic meters of air daily, Bryant said, creating the potential for an intake of ... oh, it doesn't bear thinking about. Pass the Kleenex. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Online Casino Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary