Introduction
One of the differences between the rest of the species on Planet Earth and dolphins and humans, is that the latter two mate for pleasure. Of course this means that unlike most species that mate seasonally, dolphins and humans can indulge in a little sexual gratification as and when they want to.
It's interesting that the idiom, 'spreading one's seed', indicates an action that is sexual and is derived from a process in nature known as 'pollination'.
Oh well, a natural God given ability for us men that translates into locker room talk at least for most of the general male population who feel the need to compare the size of their you-know-what to feel good about themselves. Maybe they've never heard of the old adage 'Actions speak louder than words'…
Apart from all this male bravado nonsense which masquerades as a distinct desire to be seen as the alpha-male amongst a group of lugheads, pollination occurs in nature with a specific purpose: procreation.
Pollen
Almost everyone who attended biology classes in school should at least know that pollen (and the process of pollination) is integral to the process of reproduction in plants. And if you haven't… now you do!
Just like the delightful process of the egg (female) and semen (male) that 'comes together' to produce offspring, the same process is true of mating in plant species as well.
Located at the top of the stamen in plants, lies the anther and pollen sacs also known as microsporangia, and this is where pollen is produced, which contains the sperm that is required for reproduction.
After the pollen is produced, the anther splits opens, thus setting it free to be carried away by water, wind or even an animal to reach the carpel (female reproductive organ) of the same plant or a different plant of the same species thus enabling fertilization.
Much like human reproduction, not all our 'swimmers' reach the egg, and similarly not all pollen grains produced will reach the carpel of the same or another plant of the same species either.
The bottom line being that based on chance, some pollen aid fertilization while the others go to waste. However, the release of pollen does have 'far reaching' since the ones carried by wind trigger an allergy in humans to pollen known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis.
Hay fever Allergy symptoms
Some of the common symptoms to occur due to an allergy to pollen are:
1) Nasal congestion
2) A clear runny nose
3) Sneezing
4) Itching of the eyes and nose
5) Excessive tear formation in the eyes accompanied by redness
6) Loss of taste and smell
7) In some of the more severe cases, nose bleeding is possible and can lead to diseases such as sinusitis and asthma.
8) Chronic cold
Irritating as this allergy is (like most allergies that are caused due to a reaction by the immune system), some people will find it difficult to concentrate while also not being able to go about their daily business as it does affect their overall health.
In Closing
Statistically speaking, almost $1 billion is spent every year in treating this disorder, not forgetting the number of work and school days that are missed due to this allergy. So the most effective way by which one can prevent this allergy, is by avoiding pollen that are airborne during the mornings and evenings.
But on humorous note, consider hay fever to be Nature's way of spreading its seed, to which one wonders if there's any locker room talk involved!
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