Summary
Pollen counts were low at all sites except Bloemfontein where moderate grass counts were seen. Tree and weed pollen counts were low at all the sites and the Durban mould count was just below the significant threshold.
Cape Town
Pollen concentrations were low at this sampling site. The mean grass count is low, but moderate counts were seen during the week. Trees included sumac (Anacardiaceae), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), hackberry (Morella), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were consistently low.
Johannesburg
Grass, tree and weed pollen was low at this site. Trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleja), Australian pine (Casuarina) cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Pollen concentrations would be low at this site and trees would be likely to include birch (Betula), bushwillow (Combretaceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupreassaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Searsia), sumac (Anacardiaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress, olive (Oleaceae) and mesquite (Prosopis). Weeds would be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae) and moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
The spore trap is not operating so 5-year means are shown. Pollen is low in all the categories at this time of the year. Trees would include olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), hackberry (Celtis), false olive (Buddleja), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), sumac (Anacardiaceae) acacia (Acacia-type), waxberry (Morella) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). Weeds would be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), plantain (Plantaginaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae). Moulds would be low.
Kimberley
Pollen concentrations were low in all three categories at this sampling site. Grasses were generally low, but moderate counts were seen on some days. Trees were birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleja), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
The courier failed to deliver the strip so 5- year means are shown. Low pollen concentrations and moderate mould counts are seen at this time of the year. Trees would be yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), olive (Oleaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae). Weeds would be the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia), ferns (Polypodiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds would be moderate.
Gqeberha
Low pollen concentrations were seen. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae. Moulds were low.
George
No significant pollen counts were found during this sampling week. Trees were olive (Oleaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and weeds were ferns (Polypodiaceae). 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