Orchids and Allergies

[Paul Mc]

Recently, a lady from Board of the National Allergy and Asthma foundation approached me a out do ago g some orchids for a fund raiser auction. It's their 23rd Annual Orchid AAfair! She said that orchids are the only known flowering plant that doesn't bother allergies and therefore is the symbol of their foundation! Well, I never knew that and find that quite interesting and thought I'd share it.

But that's got me wondering if it applies to all orchids or not as some do have such a strong fragrance. In assuming those may upset allergies though.

[ronaldhanko]

Interesting, Paul, but how could anyone be allergic to orchids?

---------- Post added at 06:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:56 AM ----------

Isn't it usually plant pollen that causes allergic reactions rather than scent? If that's the case, it would explain why orchids don't cause any reactions of that sort. You'd really have to inhale hard to inhale the pollinia of an orchid.

[Paul Mc]

Ooohhh, that must be why! I don't know much about allergies, hence my questioning. I know my dad had bad allergies to the point anything scented set him off, but we never understood why.

[Oscarman]

That is interesting to hear and how long they have been using orchids as their symbol. No doubt it is due to orchids having their pollen in a solid masses called pollinia rather than loose and easily transported by the air currents.

There must be much less people affected by fragrance and the media used for orchids must be much less of a trigger for allergy attacks.

[Paul Mc]

Personally, when I heard that I immediately thought of our local society. It would be a great thing to market ourselves in since it is a niche market, good way to get info out about the society, and follows along with the societies mission statement. Well, it was a win-win scenario and they have agreed to team up. Unfortunately, it was short notice this time around but next year the society may be more closely partnered with the event!

[nutgirl]

FYI: When my Brassavola Nodosa starts blooming I start sneezing and nose starts running.
I always figured it was an allergy.


Maureen

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

That is interesting to hear and how long they have been using orchids as their symbol. No doubt it is due to orchids having their pollen in a solid masses called pollinia rather than loose and easily transported by the air currents.

There must be much less people affected by fragrance and the media used for orchids must be much less of a trigger for allergy attacks.

I agree with this, but also fragrance can be a real problem. My husband and I are allergic to perfumes and we have had problems with stanhopea and some onc. hybrids.

[Paul Mc]

Good to know. So I'll be sure the society supplies orchids with no fragrance then. Thanks everyone!

[isurus79]

When I would go to the orchid shows in Honolulu, my wife couldn't come in because her allergies would go nuts. We always assumed it was the scent of all the flowers because, as most people here on OB know, there is no pollen in the air from orchids.

[Vanda lover]

When most people think of orchids they think of phals, and those are no problem with allergies.
I really love the fragrant ones, and some of them have a delicate fragrance. Like brassia. They don't bother us but the powerful ones do. I was given a coel. pandurata. Wish me luck! I won't want to have to give it up when it blooms.