Ashe's juniper, Juniperus ashei, also known as mountain cedar, is one of the most important allergenic pollen-producing species in the United States. Forecasts of airborne pollen concentrations could help people who suffer from allergies avoid pollen exposure and manage their allergy medications, but existing data sources are inadequate. Your observations of pollen cones and pollen release in Ashe's junipers will help scientists make better airborne pollen forecasts.

This campaign is related to the national Pollen Trackers campaign but is focused specifically on Juniperus ashei in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. PollenCAST stands for Cupressaceae Alert System for Texas (CAST). Cupressaceae is the family of conifers that includes junipers.