Summary
The highest tree counts with a large variety in species occurred in Bloemfontein where the dominant trees were false olive, or butterfly bush, plane, white stinkwood, birch and pine. Plane is the dominant tree at many sites now.
Cape Town
Tree pollen continued its release cycle and the dominant tree this week was plane. Other trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), white stinkwood (Celtis), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), ash (Fraxinus and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), mallows (Malvaceae), erica (Ericaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), sorrel (Rumex) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Grasses are appearing in the air in low concentrations and moulds are low.
Johannesburg
High tree concentrations included the dominant trees plane (Platanacaeae), white stinkwood (Celtis), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae) and oak (Quercus). Other trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus./Searsia) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were low and included pigmyweeds (Crrassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae) and moulds were low.
Pretoria
Tre pollen is usually high at this site, with the dominant trees being mulberry (Moraceae), white stinkwood (Celtis), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae), low weed concentrations would be slangbos (Stoebe-type) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Grasses and moulds would be low. 4-year means are shown.
Bloemfontein
High tree concentrations were seen during this sampling week. Dominant trees were false olive (Buddleja), white stinkwood (Celtis), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), olive (Oleaceae). birch (Betulaceae) and ash (Fraxinus). Trees with lower scores were cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus), mulberry (Moraceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). High numbers of pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) were followed by low concentrations of the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopdiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae), Grasses and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Pollen concentrations declined a little during this sampling week, but tree pollen maintained a presence in the air as mulberry (Moraceae), ash (Fraxinus), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and false olive (Buddleja) released pollen. Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Grasses were present in low concentrations as were moulds.
Durban
Trees seen at this time of year include mulberry (Moraceae), celtis (white stinkwood), ash (Fraxinus), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and acacia (Acacia-type) in low concentrations. Scanty weed pollen includes the daisy family (Asteraceae), nettles (Urticaceae), knotweed (Persicaria) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds are low. 4-year means are shown.
Gqeberha
Pollen remained low at this site. Trees included sand olive (Dodoneae). Pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and karee (Rhus/Sersia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), aloe (Asphodelaceae), ice plants (Aizoaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Grasses and moulds were seen in low concentrations.
Potchefstroom
This site is not operating.
George
Tree pollen is increasing at this site. Trees included pecan (Carya), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were present in low concentrations. Last week’s findings are repeated as the spore trap was malfunctioning.
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
