Summary
High tree pollen counts across the country. The tree season is still peaking as cypress, mulberry, plane, pine and hackberry are reaching significant concentrations in the atmosphere. Many other trees are flowering, so check your city for more details. Grasses are increasing in Bloemfontein and Kimberley, while weed levels remain low in most cities. Moulds or fungal spores are low everywhere except Durban, where significant spikes for Cladosporium were detected during the past week. Those sensitized to tree pollen should avoid forested areas and wear a mask outdoors.
Cape Town
Grass counts were low, weed counts were moderate and tree counts were high. The tree pollen was dominated by cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.) and gum tree (Myrtaceae). Other tree pollens present were acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), olive (Oleaceae), karee (Rhus sp. / Searsia sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). Weed pollen included sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), borages (Boraginaceae), ericas (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbia sp.), English plantain (Plantago sp.), sorrel (Rumex sp.), buttercups (Ranunculaceae), the rose family (Rosaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould counts were low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen remains high, weed pollen levels were moderate, and grass pollen counts were low. The dominant tree pollen detected were plane (Platanus sp.) and mulberry (Moraceae), with acacia (Acacia sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinus sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus sp. / Searsia sp.), elm (Ulmaceae) and willow (Salix sp.) also present. Weed pollen included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), ericas (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), fern spores (Polypodiaceae) and sorrel (Rumex sp.). Mould levels were low.
Pretoria
High pollen levels were detected as trees continued their pollen release cycle. High counts were seen for mulberry (Moraceae), with moderate levels detected for hackberry (Celtis sp.) and plane (Platanaceae). Low levels were recorded for birch (Betulaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.) gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populus sp.) and spruce (Picea sp.). Weeds detected were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
High tree pollen levels, moderate grass levels and low weed levels were seen. The tree pollen included significant counts for hackberry (Celtis sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinus sp.) karee (Searsia sp. / Rhus sp.) and plane (Platanus sp.), with moderate levels of false olive (Buddleja sp.) and olive (Oleaceae) seen. Mugwort (Artemisia sp.) and the daisy family (Asteraceae) were the only weed pollen detected. Mould counts were low.
Kimberley
Overall pollen levels were high, with moderate counts reached in the tree, weed and grass categories. The dominant tree pollen detected were hackberry (Celtis sp.), mulberry (Moraceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Other tree pollen recorded include the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), false olive (Buddleja sp.), olive (Oleaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) and pollen from the pea family (Fabaceae). Weed pollen included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the mustard or cabbage family (Brassicaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), erica (Ericaceae), storksbills (Erodium sp.), the iris family (Iridaceae), knotweed (Polygonaceae), buttercups (Ranunculaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould levels were low.
Durban
Grass, tree and weed pollen levels were low. Trees included birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and oak (Quercus sp.). Weed types detected were sedges (Cyperaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria sp.), protea (Proteaceae) and the daisy family. Moulds were moderate as significant spikes were seen for the allergenic fungal spore, Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
Tree, grass and weed pollen levels were low. Trees detected included acacia (Acacia sp.), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), cedar (Cedrus sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds detected were sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) mugwort (Artemisia sp.), katstert (Anthospermum sp.) and erica/heather (Ericaceae). Moulds were low.
