Republication de : Les Cupressacées des cinq continents

Abstract

Cupressaceae are members of Coniferous and constitute a family from the order Pinales. The family is the most represented Gymnosperms in the world. According to a phylogenetic classification, they encompass 160 species in 7 families and 29 genera distributed in the North and South hemispheres. Pollen grains are small, 20 to 40μm and pollination is abundant. Cupressaceae pollen can represent up to 60% of all pollen spectrum. Severe allergies have been reported around the Mediterranean basin where Cupressus sempervirens and Hesperocyparis arizonica are implanted, in USA because of Juniperus ashei and in Japon essentially because of Cryptomeria japonica. Five groups of allergens have been described. Therefore Cupressaceae are present on the five continents either endemic or imported. Their pollen are very allergenic and they are involved in pollen food syndromes, especially with peach and citrus. Two ways to limit the sensitization would be to control its planting and favour hedge trimming.