Summary
High tree and weed counts were seen in Durban where ragweed was high. Grass is still peaking in Kimberley, but it is low at all the other sites.
Cape Town
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included sumac (Anacardiaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina) and elm (Ulmaceae) and weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and hemp (Cannabis). Moulds were scant.
Johannesburg
Pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were the dominant weed slangbos (Stoebe-type), the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigweed (Amaranthaceae), and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were present and moulds were low.
Pretoria
5-year mean are shown. Pollen concentrations would be low. Trees might include mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Searsia), Australian pine (Casuarina), poplar (Populaceae), birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds might be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mallows (Malvaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), mugwort (Artemisia), sedges (Cyperaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
All pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were present and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Grasses were high. Low trees included the dominant tree, poplar (Populaceae), birch (Betula), olive (Oleaceae), karee (Sumac) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree pollen was high at this site and included the dominant trees cypress (Cupressaceae). Other tree types were palm (Arecaceae), sumac (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betula), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), guarri (Euclea), chestnut (Hippocastanaceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella), forest elder (Nuxia), poplar (Populaceae), olive (Oleaceae) elm (Ulmaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were ice plants (Aizoaceae), significant counts for ragweed (Ambrosia), borage (Boraginaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), lily (Liliaceae), mistletoe (Loranthaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were moderate with peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium
Gqeberha
The pollen concentrations in all three categories were low. Trees included cedar (Cedrus), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and reeds (Restionaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Pollen counts from the same period in 2024/5 are shown. All pollen concentration would be low at this site. Trees might include karee (Searsia), elm (Ulmaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), waxberry (Morella), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds might be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and nettles (Urtiaceae). Moulds would be 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