Summary
The low temperatures with snow on high lying ground have reduced pollen and moulds in the air. Low concentrations of early flowering trees like cypress were seen in low concentrations at several sites and occasional weeds flowered sporadically. No significant pollen or mould concentrations were observed.
Cape Town
Pollen and moulds were found in insignificant concentrations at this sampling site. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), karee (Rhus), pine (Pinaceae), waxberry (Morella) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), knotweed (Persicaria), heath (Ericaceae) and sorrel (Rumex).
Johannesburg
4-year means are shown but this sampling site will restart next month. Trees found at this time of year are Australian pine (Casuarina), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), elm (Ulmaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds would be slangbos (Stoebe-type), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds are low.
Pretoria
4-year means are shown. Trees previously detected at this time of year are birch (Betulaceae), beech (Fagus), mulberry (Moraceae), oak (Quercus) and bushwillow. Weeds are the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and heath (Ericaceae). Moulds are low.
Bloemfontein
All pollen concentrations at this site were low. Tree pollen included false olive (Buddleja), oak (Quercus), karee (Rhus) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were insignificant.
Kimberley
All pollen and mould concentrations were low. Tree pollen included karee (Rhus) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds were spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria).
Durban
Pollen concentrations were low at this sampling site. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), forest elder (Nuxia) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
4-year means are used as the pollen analysts are on a field trip. Trees previously seen at this time of year are the sumac tree (Anacardiaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family, mugwort (Artemisia), heath (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae, ferns (Polypodiaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Moulds were low.
Potchefstroom
Findings from this time of the year in 2023 are shown as no data were available from this site. At this time of year pollen is found in low concentrations and includes cypress (Cupressaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds are plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds are low.
George
Pollen in the categories of trees, grasses and weeds was low. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae). Forest elder (Nuxia), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Rhus), elm (Ulmaceae) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia) and heath (Ericaceae). Moulds were scanty.
Reference Range
Grass: Low: 0-5 Moderate: 6-20 High: 21-200
Trees: Low: 0-15 Moderate: 16-90 High: 91-1500
Weeds: Low: 0-10 Moderate: 10-50 High: 51-500
Moulds: Low: 0-900 Moderate: 900-2500 High 2500-25000
Unit: per cubic metre
