What's up, Forsyth?

  Elm Pollen: The Encore Adventure Written by Anne Ambs, Allergy and Asthma Center of NC, Cone Health Medical Group Elm pollen, often associated with spring, makes a surprising return later in the year. While our native elm species release their pollen during late winter and early spring, one introduced elm species, Chinese elm  ( Ulmus parvifolia ) , pollinates in late summer or fall in North Carolina.  Chinese elm, also known as lacebark elm, is a significant source of autumn pollen. Figure 1. Mature Chinese/lacebark elm tree. "Ulmus parvifolia" by Matt Lavin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Belonging to the Ulmaceae family, elm trees thrive across temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are commonly found in forests, along riverbanks, and in valleys, where they contribute to the ecosystem by offering shelter and food for wildlife. Mature Chinese elms can reach heights of up to 50 feet and spread to 35 feet wide. Thanks to their adaptability, elms ar...

    Plantain: Nature's Band-Aid Written by Anne Ambs, Allergy and Asthma Center of NC, Cone Health Medical Group For this week’s adventure, I had to go no further than my own back yard, much to my chagrin, to find plantain weeds nestled in among the other herbaceous plants and bushes. This plant, which originated in Eurasia, has followed human migration patterns throughout history and is now found in nearly every state in the US. The genus Plantago , commonly referred to as plantain, includes over 200 species and is widely distributed around the world. Most are herbaceous perennials with similar growth patterns. Herbaceous plants have flexible green stems with few to no woody parts. Low to the ground, the leaves grow in a rosette pattern with a spikelike flowering structure towering above it. This plant’s leaves are low enough to the ground to evade lawn mower blades and are tough enough to bounce back to life, even if stepped on. Image 1: English Plantain.  Photo credi...

  Rye Grass: A Cool Season Grass Causing Allergies in Warmer Months Written by Dr. Joel Gallagher, Allergy and Asthma Center of NC, Cone Health Medical Group and Dr. Peter Gallagher, PhD Professor Emeritus, College of Applied & Natural Sciences at Louisiana Tech University  Rye grass (Lolium species ) is a cool season type of turf grass (along with fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and other grass varieties) as opposed to the warm season grasses such as Bermuda grass, St. Augustine, Zoysia, and centipede. North Carolina is in a transitional zone where a combination of warm season and cool season grasses are often used. In the Piedmont Triad, rye grass seed is often mixed with other grass species either for faster coverage (especially with autumn planting) or overseeded for winter color (when the warm weather grasses are brown while they are dormant). Image of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ). " perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne " by  loarie  is licensed un...

    Pigweed: Invasive Weed or Delicacy? Written by Anne Ambs, Allergy and Asthma Center of NC, Cone Health Medical Group As summer rapidly approaches, plants in the pigweed family begin to make an appearance across the United States. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), the organization that oversees the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) pollen monitoring program, includes pigweed, goosefoot, lamb's quarters, amaranth, saltbush, and Russian thistle in a single group for pollen counting purposes. The pollen grains from these plants are so similar that it is not possible to distinguish them.   Although pigweed is generally considered a nuisance weed, growing along the roadside and frequently fighting for space in lovingly cultivated gardens, it has long been utilized as a source of food, with nearly all parts of the pigweed being edible. Native American cultures grew pigweed as a staple crop, specifically Palmer amaranth ( Amaranth palmeri ...

  What's up, Forsyth? Our next pollen blog post is here! Thanks to Dr. Gallagher with Allergy and Asthma Center of NC for teaching us all about maple pollen, which are commonly observed in Forsyth County's pollen count this time of year. Maples — Beyond  the Syrup! Written by Dr. Joel Gallagher, Allergy and Asthma Center of NC, Cone Health Medical Group Well, the pollen season is officially upon us and in full swing. Today we are going to delve into maple pollen! Although we think a bit more about maples in the fall season when leaves are transitioning into shades of crimson, burnt orange, and yellow ocher, it plays an important part in the spring allergy season as well. My childhood memories of maple involve playing with maple seedpods (called samaras), which resemble tiny helicopter blades. However, before the seedpods take form, we are graced with the maple pollen. Like many of the allergenic springtime pollens, it is the perfect size to enter our airways and cause allergic...