Summary
Tree counts are decreasing but are still high at many South African sites. The dominant tree is oak at most sites, but in Johannesburg it is bushwillow. Grasses are increasing to moderate levels in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Weeds are low at all sites except Cape Town and moulds but increasing at most of the sites.
Cape Town
Grass counts are rising and although the average count is low, moderate grass counts occurred on several days during this sampling week. High tree counts included birch (Betulus), sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), palm (Arecaceae), lemon (Citrus), mulberry (Moraceae), Cape Holly (Ilex), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae) acacia (Acacia-type), oak (Quercus) and gum (Myrtaceae). Low weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), protea (Proteaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and erica (Ericaceae), Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Grasses are low but increasing slowly. High tree counts include acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), hachberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus), hackberry (Celtis), Cape holly (Ilex), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulbery (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and willow (Salex). Low weed counts included lilies (Liliaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Grass counts were generally low but several days had moderate counts during this sampling week. Trees were low to moderate and included birch (Betulus), false olive (Budleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), ash (Fraxinus), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia), willow (Salix), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), aloe (Sphelodaceae), spurges (Euphorboaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the carrot family (Apiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low with small spikes for the allergenic mould Cladosporium.
Bloemfontein
Trees were significant and included false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), oak (Quercus), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and (Morella). Weeds were low and these included sedges (Cyperaceae) and lilies (Liliaceae). Moulds were low. Only three days could be read due to the motor failing but the spore trap is being repaired.
Kimberley
Low but varied tree pollen concentrations included false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), olive (Oleaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia), ash (Fraxinus), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), lily (Liliaceae), sedges (Cyperacreae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
All pollen and mould concentrations were low during a week with rainy interludes. Trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), mulberry (Moraceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds were not detected and moulds were low despite small surges following rain.
Gqeberha
Tree, grass and weed pollen counts were low. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), Australian pine (Casuarina) cedar (Cedrus), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), katstert (Anthospermum), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
George
No pollen was detected during this sampling week and the mould counts were very low indeed. The spore trap was checked and is functioning correctly.
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