Summary
Grasses were moderate in Kimberley and Pretoria and trees were high only in Pretoria but a wide variety of trees are still flowering in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg.
Cape Town
The lower temperatures, wind and rain reduced pollen counts during this sampling week. Trees were sumac (Anacardiaceae), Cape Holly (Ilex), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae and oak (Quercus). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), protea (Proteaceae), sorrel (Rumex), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae0). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
All pollen concentrations were low. Trees were birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and willow (Salix). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Grasses were moderate. Trees were high and included palm (Arecaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), guarri (Euclea), sweetgum (Liquidamber), ash (Fraxinus), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were iceplants (Aizoaceae), pigweed (Amaranthaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia), the carrot family (Apiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae), borage (Boraginaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae), Fern spore (Polypodiaceae) were present and moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
All pollen concentrations are now low at this sampling site. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), and karee (Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and caltrops (Zygophyllaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Grasses were moderate at this sampling site. Trees were low and included birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), waxberry (Morella), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
All pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), Australian pine (Casuarina), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low. A peak occurred for Cladosporium, the allergenic mould.
Gqeberha
Low tree, grass and weed pollen was seen at this sampling site. Trees included olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and buckthorns (Rhamnaceae) and weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae0. sedges (Cyperaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Grass, tree and weed pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), cypress (Cupressaceae) and birch (Betulaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and sorrel (Rumex spp.). Moulds were low, but ascospores surged after rain. Two-year means are shown.
Potchefstroom
All pollen concentrations were low at this site, possibly reduced by the rain during this week. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betula), syringa (Melia), maple (Acer), pecan (Carya), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). 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