Summary
Tree pollen increased at most of the sampling sites this week as the season peaked. The highest tree taxon at each site is listed in bold and plane was highest at many of the sampling sites, but high counts were also seen for mulberry, cypress, yellowwood and olive. At the inland sites in Bloemfontein and Kimberley, grasses are increasing to moderate levels.
Cape Town
High tree pollen concentrations were seen at this sampling site. Flowering trees include sumac (Anacardiaceae), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), plane (Platanaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Grasses were low. Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
6-year means were used as all aerobiologists at this site are travelling. Trees might be plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) acacia (Acacia-type), bushwillow (Combretaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus), ash (Fraxinus), karee (Searsia), palm (Arecaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds could be spurges (Euphorbiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), the daisy family, Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sorrel (Rumex). Ferns (Polypodiaceae) might be seen and moulds would be low.
Pretoria
6-year means are shown. Trees would be high and might include mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) mesquite (Prosopis), ash (Fraxinus). oak (Quercus), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), hackberry (Celtis), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds could be protea (Proteaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae) and moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
The very high tree peak continued this week. Flowering trees were birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and elm (Ulmaceae). Grasses and weeds were low and weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Grasses were moderate at this sampling site. Trees were high and included birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), waxberry (Morella), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia). elm (Ulmaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree pollen was significant and flowering trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), pine (Pinaceae), birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), pine (Pinaceae), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), spruce (Picea), oak (Quercus), willow (Salicaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), katstert (Anthospermum), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen and moulds were low, but close to the significant threshold due to a peak in the allergenic mould, Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
Tree pollen was significant at this site and included acacia (Acacia-type). Australian pine (Casuarina), cedar (Cedrus), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and plane (Platanaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), katstert (Anthospermum), the carrot family (Apiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), Moulds were low.
George
2-year means are shown. Pollen would be low at this time of the year and trees might include pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), sand olive (Dodonaeaa), mulberry (Moraceae), birch (Betula) and karee (Searsia). Weeds could be sedges (Cyperaceae), aloes (Asphelodaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urtiaceae) and moulds would be low.
Potchefstroom
High tree pollen concentrations were repeated this week as very high counts were seen again. Trees included birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Molds 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