Summary
Tree pollen is now high at most of the sampling sites and the highest counts were produced by cypress, plane, mulberry, oak, poplar, pine and yellowwood. The highest tree counts were reported from Potchefstroom, a site that has just restarted sampling.
Cape Town
Pollen concentrations were significant and tree counts increased. Trees detected were the dominant tree cypress (Cupressaceae), sumac (Anacardiaceae), palm (Arecaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), pea (Fabaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and mint (Lamiaceae). Moulds were very low in response to low daily temperatures.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen remained high and included plane (Platanaceae), birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus) and hackberry (Celtis). No weeds were detected and grasses were low, as were moulds.
Pretoria
At this site pollen counts will be increasing. Trees would be cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betula), mulberry (Moraceae), ash (Fraxinus), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Searsia), plane (Platanaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), willow (Salicaceae) and hackberry (Celtis). Weeds might be spurges (Euphorbiaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenpodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Grasses would be low, as would moulds. Six-year means are shown.
Bloemfontein
Trees decreased compared with last week but significant counts persisted. Trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), cypress (Cupressaceae), the dominant tree pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). No weeds or grasses were detected and moulds were very low.
Kimberley
Tree, grass and weed concentrations were low at this site. Trees included birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), olive (Oleaceae). and karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and gentians (Gentianaceae) and moulds were very low.
Durban
Pollen was low at this site. Trees included the dominant pollen oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupressaceae), palm (Arecaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Arecaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were nettles (Uricaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were also detected. Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Tree pollen was significant at this sampling site and the trees were olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Low weeds were spurges (Euphorbiaceae) Grasses and moulds were low.
George
Pollen concentrations would still be low at this coastal town. Trees might be cypress (Cupressaceae), pecan (Carya), pine (Pinaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), guarri (Euclea), mulberry (Moraceae), sand olive (Dodonaeae), karee (Searsia) and birch (Betula). Weeds would be erica (Ericaceae) and the daisy family (Asteracerae) and grasses and moulds would be low. 2-year means are shown.
Potchefstroom
Tree pollen was high at this sampling sites and trees included the dominant trees ash (Fraxinus) and cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betula), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Low weed concentrations included the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), bulrush (Typhaceae) and erica (Ericaceae) and moulds were extremely 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