Summary
The high tree peaks continued at many sites, especially inland. Plane tree was the dominant tree in many cities, but high counts for mulberry and cypress were also detected. Grasses were moderate in Johannesburg and Cape Town and a weed peak was seen in Bloemfontein, while moulds were moderate in Durban.
Cape Town
Tree concentrations were very high and included acacia (Acacia-type), sumac (Anacardiaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), Cape holly (Ilex), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Grasses were moderate. Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), aloe (Asphodelaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), protea (Proteaceae), sorrel (Rumex), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low
Johannesburg
Tree counts were high and included false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and oak (Quercus). Grasses were moderate. Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Fern spores were seen and moulds were low
Pretoria
The spore trap was set up this week, so hopefully this is the last week with averaged counts. High tree counts at this time of the year would include a wide variety of tree taxa, such as mulberry (Moraceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupressaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), birch (Betulaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), karee (Searsia) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds could be the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
High tree pollen concentrations continued at this sampling site and included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) the dominant tree plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Grasses were low. Weeds increased to significant concentrations and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Pollen concentrations decreased to low levels, probably due to heavy rain. Trees were birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae). mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Significant tree concentrations included acacia (Acacia-type), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Australian Pine (Casuarina), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), katstert (Anthospermum), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), lily (Liliaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), plantain (PLantaginaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urtiaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations declined to low concentrations in response to rain and lower temperatures. Trees included Australian Pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and oak (Quercus). Grasses were low and low weed counts included mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were low.
George
2-year means are shown, Trees might be pecan (Carya), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), acacia (Acacia-type) and coral tree (Erythrina). Weeds could be mugwort (Artemisia), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thmeleaeceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Ferns might be present and moulds would be low.
Potchefstroom
The extremely high tree concentrations continued at this site. Trees included birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), the dominant tree mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Grasses wee low. Low weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and bulrush (Typhaceae) and moulds 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