Summary
The strong tree peak in Durban is seen again this week with strong mulberry tree concentrations and grasses were high in Pretoria, Kimberley and Bloemfontein.
Cape Town
All pollen concentrations were low during this early autumn period. Trees included sumac (Anacardiaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), hackberry (Celtis), pine (Pinaceae) and plane (Platanaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Pollen in all three categories was low. Trees included karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low. Last week’s counts are shown due to pollen analyst absence.
Pretoria
5-year means were used. Grasses are moderate this time of the year. Trees are low and might include cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), karee (Searsia), Australian pine (Casuarina), poplar (Populaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds would below and could include ragweed (Ambrosia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae).
Bloemfontein
Grasses were high. Trees concentrations were significant and included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), the dominant tree, poplar (Populaceae) elm (Ulmaceae)and karee (Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and Protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberly
Grasses were moderate. Low tree concentrations included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis) cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen. Moulds were low. Kimberley
Durban
Tree pollen was high and included monkey puzzle (Araucaria), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula). Australian pine (Casuarina), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), guarri (Euclea), ash (Fraxinus), the dominant tree mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), ice plants (Aizoaceae), aloe (Asphodelaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen and moulds were high with peaks for the allergic spore Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations were all low at this sampling site. Trees were Australian pine (Casuarina), olive (Oleaceae), waxberry (Morella), cedar (Cedrus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), katstert (Anthospermum), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and reeds (Restionaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Pollen concentrations were low. Trees were camphor (Tarchonanthus) and now weeds were detected. 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