Relationships between plants relevant to allergy

This article gives background information on the taxonomic relationships between plants, for clinicians, patients and students of allergy. A list is provided of plants considered potentially allergenic either by inhalation of pollen or by ingestion of grain products. Distributions in Australia of plant species important in assessing pollen-related allergy, and the range of foodstuffs that contain cereal-grain protein, are also indicated. Particular emphasis is placed on the grasses because of their importance as producers of both grain and pollen.