Hay Fever season is upon us.

Some of my friends in Robertson are suffering really bad "Hay Fever" at present.

As I understand this issue, it might be more of a reaction to an irritant perfume, than an actual (medical) allergic reaction which is an immune system reaction, or the milder inflammation of the eyes and nose, which is the true Hay Fever. It is nearly always an allergy to wind-borne pollens, which mostly come from grasses and some wind-pollinated plants (such as Pines and Willows). But Wikipedia states that: "An estimated 90% of hay fever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen."

 This is a common irritating grass.

Yorkshire Fog

The reason that insect pollinated plants are largely discounted as allergy-causative, is that the pollen grains of insect pollinated plants are relatively large and heavy, and so do not travel far. By contrast, the ultra-fine pollens of grass and Pines can travel around the world, on the wind.

Assorted weedy grasses beside the Railway Line in Robertson

I recommend that individuals try to work out if their "Hay Fever" is caused by true allergies to grass pollens and other wind-blown pollens which might possibly require medically supervised intervention. (Doctor's treatment).  If you feel you do need medical assistance, start by talking to your local chemist or if you feel it is more severe than I am describing, see your friendly local GP. 

On the other hand, if you are suffering an adverse reaction to a strong and moderately irritating plant perfume,  your problem is most likely to be caused by Privets and less likely, Honeysuckle. In that case, it probably does not require medically-supervised intervention. Your symptoms might respond to commercially available medications.

For irritations, rather than true allergic reactions, 

the prime suspect is the "Small-leaved Privet" (Ligustrum sinense). 

Small-leaved Privet beside Railway line

• "Some people have allergic reactions to Privet causing asthma or related breathing problems so be careful, you might make your neighbors, spouse or children sick. Also, many people consider Privet to be invasive because it produces a ton of little berries which carry seeds and will propagate very easy so don’t plant it too close to the neighbors yard or garden bed or it might take over."

• Source: Garden of Tomorrow: Ligustrum, Privet.

Leaves of Small-leaved Privet have undulating margins.

 The scent of Privet is very prominent at present, 

and may carry hundreds of metres.

The scent is very "cloying"  

tending to cause disgust or aversion through excess

"a perfume of cloying sweetness"

I cannot move around Robertson at present 

without being aware of the sickly sweet perfume of Privet.

The flowers of the Small-leaved Privet are pure white when fresh.

And then there is Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) 

which is a genuinely sweet perfume,

but very intense and potentially irritating. 

It also grows wild in Robertson along roadside verges, 

and notably along the Railway line 

which threads its way thought the middle of the Village.

The Japanese Honeysuckle is a large-growing climber

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Golden Ray Lilies in their full splendour.

These Golden Ray Lilies (Lilium auratum) are wonderful. Their sweet perfume is quite powerful in the fresh garden air. It could possibly be overpowering if picked and brought inside. But I love to have these sweetly perfumed flowers, outside my front door, especially at night.

Lilium auratum - the Golden Ray Lily of Japan

 Here is the clump of Lilies (including the Pink Stargazer I showed last week) as seen from my front porch. I believe that perfumed flowers ought be planted where you cannot help but be surrounded by their sweet scent.

A clump of Lilies outside my front door

I spoke about the anthers of Liliums last week. Here I had a fresh flower (at 8:30AM) just opening, and I realised I could monitor the opening (dehiscing) of the pollen grains on the anthers.

Lilium anthers just opening (dehiscing) to release pollen

The fresh anthers are flat, as the flower opens. Then they themselves open to make their pollen grains available to insects (to achieve their purpose of pollinating a flower).

Top Anther is seen to be still flat;  Lower anther just popping open, along its side joint.

Here is the same flower seen at3:11PM on the same afternoon.

Anthers now fully matured.

Knowing how the dark orange stamens can stain clothing and fabric, florists usually snip off the anthers, to prevent clients complaining about the stains from the pollen.


On the third day of opening, the clump of Liliums looks much more impressive. The largest plant is carrying six opened flowers, and has a number yet to open. The pink Lilium in the background is the Pink Stargazer.

Lilium clump on 3rd day of flowering

 I mentioned the sweet perfume of this Lilium. It attracts lots of tiny insect (midge-like creatures). Of course, it also attracts some larger insects, such as this "Common Garden Katydid". (Caedicia simplex)


My Katydid appears to be a juvenile (a "nymph") as it has not yet developed wings. But what a fine set of antennae it has. (Click to enlarge image)

Common Garden Katydid on Lilium bud.

Lilium stamens and a Sword-grass Brown Butterfly

I promised to show images of the freshly opened pollen from the stamens of the Oriental Liliums out the front of my house.
This is the same flower as I photographed several days ago. It has developed a pink blush as the flower ages.
These stamens of a neighbouring hot-pink Oriental Lilium are more mature, and at the point which anyone who has ever had Liliums as cut-flowers in the house will know, these stamens drop their pollen with stains clothing and table-cloths very strongly, in much the same way as Saffron does. Hardly surprising - the stain comes from pollen released from strongly coloured stamens - one from these Lilies, the other from a Crocus.

For a technical discussion of pollination of Lilium flowers click here
For a clear image of the female part of the Lilium flower click here

In the case of the pink Lilium and the white (pale pink one)
the "stigmas" (the receptive tips of the female part of the two flowers)
are different colours in the two flowers. (see above images).
One is white, the other dark pinkish grey.
I have no idea why there is such a strong colour difference
between closely related plants - both varieties of the same species.

This is what the full flower head looks like.

Now this is a different Butterfly from any which I get in my yard.
It was trapped inside a friend's window today.
I am familiar with this Butterfly, the Sword-grass Brown Butterfly
as I have seen it locally at Carrington Falls and Manning's Lookout.
This Butterfly is typically found in moist Sandstone country.

Today, this Butterfly was released gently outside by my friend's daughter, who gently cupped her hands around the butterfly, and took it outside and released it. She then stood there in a moment of satisfied awe, and watched the liberated Butterfly fly safely away.
A lovely moment - the gift of freedom.
A memory of an impromptu gentle gesture which I shall treasure.