Summary
Grass pollen concentrations were high in Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Kimberley and tree concentrations were high in Bloemfontein.
Cape Town
All pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), the dominant tree gum (Mytrtaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were low but varied and included mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Pollen concentrations were all low at this site. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), lily (Liliaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fern spores were seen and moulds were low.
Pretoria
6-year means are used while the spore trap is being repaired. At this time of the year trees have completed their flowering cycle. Airborne pollen might include jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), pine (Pinaceae), marula (Sclerocarya), acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds would be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Apiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and erica (Ericaceae), Fern spores would be seen and moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
Grasses were high. High tree counts included, birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), the dominant tree poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fern spores were seen and moulds were low.
Kimberley
The pollen strip was not delivered to the laboratory in time for analysis and so six-year means are used. At this time of the year grasses are significant. Low tree pollen counts might include gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Searsia) the pea family (Fabaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and waxberry (Morella). Weeds would be the daisy family (Asteraceae), nettles (Urticaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds would be low.
Durban
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low. Trees included palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), Australian (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), the dominant tree, mulberry (Moraceae) and gum (Myrtaceae. Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), reeds (Restionaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low with peaks for smuts.
Gqeberha
All pollen concentrations were low at this sampling site. Trees were Australian pine (Casuarina). Pine (Pinaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae) and no weed pollen was detected. Moulds were low.
George
Moulds were extremely low and no pollen was detected at this sampling site.
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