Summary
The high tree concentrations continued this week and plane was the dominant tree at many sites. Weeds are still low except in Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Grasses are now moderate in the winter rainfall region (Cape Town) and moulds were moderate in sub-tropical Durban.
Cape Town
Tree pollen is still high and the tree types are sumac (Anacardiaceae), palm (Arecaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), the dominant tree plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Grasses were moderate. High weed counts included mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the dominant weed sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), mint (Lamiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Significant tree pollen was seen at this site and included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), privet (Ligustrum), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), the dominant tree, oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) and moulds and grasses were low.
Pretoria
We are delighted to tell you that the spore trap at this site is operating again. Tree counts hovered just below the significant threshold and included palm (Arecacea), birch (Betula), Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), guarri (Euclea), ash (Fraxinus), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), spruce (Picea), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Low weeds included aloe (Asphodelaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), lily (Liliaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), lily (Liliaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae), Fern spores were seen and moulds were low, but with small peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium.
Bloemfontein
The high tree peaks continued this week, largely due to the dominant tree, plane (Platanaceae). Other flowering trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buiddleia), cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), ash (Fraxinus), waxberry (Morella), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Low weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae). plantain (Plantaginaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Ferns spores (Polypodiaceae) were present. Grasses were low as were moulds.
Kimberley
Pollen concentrations were low again this week. Trees were varied and included birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Low weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia), pigmyweeds Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Significant tree concentrations included palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), Australian Pine (Casuarina), bushwillow (Combretaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus), spruce (Picea) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Tree pollen was significant at this site and included Australian pine (Casuarina), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and the dominant tree plane (Platanaceae). Weed concentrations were low and included ice plants (Aizoaceae), katstert (Anthospermum), pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), coffeebush (Bruniaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Grasses and moulds were low.
George
The spore trap has just been re-sited and findings should be available soon. Two year means are shown here. Low pollen counts were seen at this time of the year. Trees might include acacia (Acacia-type), coral tree (Erythrina), waxberry (Morella) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds could be the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds would be low.
Potchefstroom
The high tree counts persisted and included birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), sand olive (Dodonaea), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), the dominant tree plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were low and included ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), 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