Summary
Grasses are moderate to high in Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Durban. Trees are low at all sites except Durban and the dominant tree at many sites is Australian pine.
Cape Town
Pollen in all three categories was found in low concentrations. Trees were Australian pine (Casuarina), the dominant tree, birch (Betula) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) and moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Grasses were low and low tree concentrations included Australian pine (Casuarina), Olive (Oleaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Extremely low pollen concentrations were seen at this site in all three categories. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), pine (Pinaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds were bulrush (Typhaceae) and ferns spores (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
5-year means were used. Grass concentrations are high at this time of the year. Tree pollen is low and would include birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) and false olive (Buddleia. Weeds would be plantain (Plantaginaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia. Moulds would be low.
Kimberley
5-year means were used. Grasses ae moderate at this time of the year. Trees would be white stinkwood (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and willow (Salicaceae. Weeds might be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), knotweed (Persicaria), sedges (Cyperaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Durban
Grasses were moderate. Tree counts surged at this site and included acacia (Acacia-type), the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), palm (Arecaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), the dominant tree cypress (Cupressaceae), oriental hornbeam (Carpinus), ebony (Ebenaceae), ash (Fraxinus), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and pepper tree (Schinus ). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were detected and moulds were low but just below the threshold
Gqeberha
All pollen concentrations were low. Trees included cedar (Cedrus), waxberry (Morella) gum (Myrtaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), coffee bush (Bruniaceae) and reeds (Restionaceae). Moulds were low.
George
No pollen was detected at this site and moulds were low.
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