Summary
The high tree counts continued at the inland sites and at the coastal site of Durban. Weeds and grasses were consistently low at all the sampled sites and mould peaks were seen in Durban and Pretoria.
Cape Town
Pollen concentrations dropped sharply at this sampling site and no peaks were seen. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae). Waxberry (Morella), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) yellowwoood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen peaks were seen again and included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), sweetgum (Liquidamber), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia) and mould was low,
Pretoria
The high tree peak was sustained this week and tree types included palm (Rutaceae) birch (Betula), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus). lemon (Rutaceae) Australian pine (Casuarina) cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), guarri (Euclea), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), waxberry (Morella), spruce (Piceae), gum (Myrtaceae) olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae). yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were borage (Boraginaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae), Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen and moulds were generally low but moderate peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium were noted.
Bloemfontein
Significant tree concentrations continued at this site and included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), the dominant tree plane (PLatanaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Searsia). Low weed concentrations included the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lilies (Liliaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Averaged 6-year counts are shown as the pollen readers were away. Trees have been low at this time of the year in this semi-arid region and might include mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia), hackberry (Celtis) and sumac (Anacardiaceae). Weeds might include knotweed (Persicaria), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and nettles (Urticaceae) and mould would be low.
Durban
Tree pollen was significant and included palm (Arecaceae). Australian pine (Casuarina), hackberry (Celtis), birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceaea), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), spruce (Picea), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Low weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae), Fern spores (Polypodiaceaea). were present and moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Pollen and moulds were low at this site. Trees were acacia (Acacia-type), Australian pine (Casuarina), gum (Myrtaceae), cedar (Cedrus), pine (Pinaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae). plane (Platanaceae), and the dominant tree yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeceae).
George
Two-year means are shown. Pollen and mould concentrations were low. Trees included mesquite (Prosopis), pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae).
Potchefstroom
Tree counts were high at this sampling site and included birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), the dominant tree mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and willow (Salicaceae). Low weed concentrations included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) 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