Summary
Pollen and moulds were low throughout South Africa this week.
Cape Town
Pollen and fungal spore concentrations were extremely low during this mid-winter season. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae) and weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Low pollen concentrations were found at this sampling site. Trees were gum (Myrtaceae) and weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Moulds were extremely low.
Pretoria
Pollen would be low in all categories at this site. Trees could be beech (Fagus), karee (Searsia), willow (Salicaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), marula (Sclerocarya), gum (Myrtaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), oak (Quercus) and willow (Salix). Weeds might be the daisy family (Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), hopbush (Dodonaea), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Moulds would be low. 5-year means are shown.
Bloemfontein
Pollen would be low at this site. Trees might be sumac (Anacardiaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia), cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds could be the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) sedges (Cyperaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and mallows (Malvaceae). Ferns (Polypodiaceae) might be seen and moulds would be low. 5-year means are shown.
Kimberley
Pollen would be low at this site and trees might be karee (Searsia), sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), birch (Betula), mesquite (Prosopis) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds could be spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sorrel (Rumex), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds would be low.
Durban
Pollen concentrations at this sampling site were consistently low. Trees were Auracariaceae (monkey puzzle tree), Arecaceae (palm), gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella), and peppertree (Schinus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were detected and moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Low pollen concentrations included gum (Myrtaceae) and cedar (Cedrus). Weeds were slangbos (Stoebe-type) and the sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Pollen in all three categories would be low at this time of the year. Trees might be yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) or karee (Searsia). Weeds might be ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), protea (Proteaceae), erica (Ericaceae) or mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds would be low. 2-year averages are shown but plans are under way to re-site the pollen trap in June.
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