Summary
Tree pollen has increased at the coastal sites and plane pollen is the dominant pollen at many sites, followed by hackberry and oak, so high tree counts were seen at all sites across the country. A strong peak for the allergenic mould was detected at the Durban sampling site.
Cape Town
Significant tree counts were seen at this site. Trees included sumac (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulus), lemon (Citrin), olive (Oleaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae). Pine (Pinaceae), the dominant tree, plane (Platanaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
High tree counts continue at this site. The dominant trees are hackberry (Celtis), mulberry (Moraceae),plane (Platanaceae) and oak (Quercus). Other trees include birch (Betulus), false olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), privet (Ligustrum), ash (Fraxinus), sweetgum (Liquidamber). pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), and karee (Searsia). Weeds were low as were grasses. Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg South
Trees were significant at this site and the dominant tree was mulberry (Moraceae). Other tree pollen detected included ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betulaceae), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Searsia), gum (Myrtaceae) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). No grass pollen was found and in the category of weeds only the daisy family (Asteraceae) was found. Moulds were low. Last week’s report was repeated.
Pretoria
Trees increased at this site to reach significant concentrations. Trees detected were beech (Fagus), mulberry, plane (Platanus). Pine (Pinaceae), karee (Searsia), the pea family (Fabaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and elm (Ulmaceaer). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), nightshade (Solanaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Extremely high tree counts were seen at this site. The dominant trees was hackberry (Celtis) but significant counts were also seen for birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae) ash (Fraxinus), poplar (Populaceae)and cypress (Cupressaceae). Other flowering trees included oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), lily (Liliaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Grasses and moulds were low. Last week’s counts are repeated as no data was received this week.
Kimberley
Tree pollen was significant and included birch (Betulus), hackberry (Celtis), false olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), pine (Pinacae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), poplar (Populvceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were the daisy Family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopdodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae), Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree concentrations were significant at this site and included maple (Acer), monkey puzzle (Araucaria), pecan (Carya), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), .yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were low and were sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds were moderate with significant spikes for the allergenic mould, Cladosporium.
Tree pollen was significant at this site.
Gqeberha
Trees increased to significant levels at this coastal sampling site. The dominant tree pollen taxa were plane (Platanaceae) and pine (Pinaceae), but lower concentrations were seen for olive (Oleaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), sand olive (Dodonaea) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae). katstert (Anthospermum), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Significant concentrations were seen for tree pollen and these were acacia (Acacia-type), coral tree (Erythrina) and yellowwood Podocarpaceae). Grasses and weeds were low and the weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were low with spikes for basidiospores (includes mushrooms) and ascospores, after rain.
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