Kentucky Bluegrass
Poa pratensis
Grasses are the main cause of pollen
allergies in the world. Kentucky bluegrass produces more pollen
than any other grass in the United States. It ranks second to ragweed
in causing hay fever. Grass makes pollen when it blooms. Luckily,
grass that is kept mowed won't flower. In bluegrass that isn't mowed,
tiny clusters of flowers rise above the grass blades in May. Each
day, almost like clockwork, some of the flowers open and release
their pollen into the air. The process happens at the same time
every day until all the flowers in the spike have opened up and
shed their pollen. Bluegrass isn't actually from Kentucky. It came
from Europe with the first settlers to North America. They planted
the grass in pastures to feed their livestock because it was nutritious,
fast growing, and able to stand up to heavy grazers. Soon it spread
to meadows and open woods. As communities grew, people planted bluegrass
around their houses. Now you can find bluegrass lawns around most
homes in the United States.
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