Pollen The Dust Of Life...

When springtime comes around , bees get busy and pollen fills the air.
For people who suffer from allergies,
pollen seems to be a curse rather then a blessing..

But before we dismiss pollen as just a nuisance of nature,
we should keep in mind the role this unique dust plays..
We may be surprised to learn how much our lives depend on it.

What exactly is pollen ?

The World Book Encyclopedia explains:
" Pollen consists of tiny grains that are produced in the male organs of flowering and cone-bearing-plants."
Simply stated, plants produce pollen in order to reproduce..
As we know , in humans a female egg must be fertilized by a male sperm in order for a child to be produced.
Similarly , the female organ of a flower ( the pistil ) needs pollen from the male organ ( the stamen) order to be fertilized and produce fruit.*

* Fertilization can be either by cross pollination ( pollen delivered from another plant )
or self-pollination ( pollen recieved from the same individual plant ).

Neverless, cross pollination guarantees variety and thus healthier and more resilient plants...