Summary
Tree counts are peaking at most of the sites, especially the inland sites. The dominant trees this week are hackberry, plane and mulberry, but strong peaks were also seen for cypress, birch and false olive.
Cape Town
Significant plane (Platanaceae) and pine (Pinaceae) pollen was found in Cape Town and a large variety of other tree taxa are increasing and these are sumac (Anacardiaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), lemon (Citrin), cypress (Cupressaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were low and included erica (Ericaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Grasses and moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen was significant at this site. The dominant tree was plane (Platanus), followed by hackberry (Celtis) and mulberry (Moraceae). Other flowering trees were acacia (Acacia-type), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betulaceae), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae). beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), sweetgum (Liquidamber), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were low and included lily (Liliaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceous), ferns (Polypodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and mallows (Malvaceous). moulds were low.
Johannesburg South
Trees were significant at this site and the dominant tree was mulberry (Moraceae). Other tree pollen detected included ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betulaceae), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Searsia), gum (Myrtaceae) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). No grass pollen was found and in the category of weeds only the daisy family (Asteraceae) was found. Moulds were low.
Pretoria
4-year means are given. Trees increase to significant levels at this time of year and include birch (Betulaceae), plane (Platanaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), oak (Quercus), jacaranda (Fabaceae), pine (Pinaceae), hackberry (Celtis), gum (Myrtaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds are likely to be the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Moulds are generally low.
Bloemfontein
Extremely high tree counts were seen at this site. The dominant trees was hackberry (Celtis) but significant counts were also seen for birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae) ash (Fraxinus), poplar (Populaceae)and cypress (Cupressaceae). Other flowering trees included oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), lily (Liliaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Grasses and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Tree pollen was significant and included hackberry (Celtis), the dominant tree, cypress (Cupressaceae), false olive (Buddleia), acacia (Acacia-type), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and rose (Rosaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree pollen increased and the trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae). Pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yxellowwood (Podocarpaceae), willow (Salix) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the carrot family (Apiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), sedges (Cyperaceae) ferns (Polypodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
No data was received so last week’s counts are repeated. Trees are low but many different tree species are appearing in the air, including acacia Acacia-type), monkey puzzle (Araucaria,) Australian pine (Casuarina), cedar (Cedrus), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and olive (Oleaceae).Low weeds included pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), guarri (Euclea), sand olive (Dodonea), mulberry (Moraceae), karee (Searsia), birch (Betulaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). No weed pollen was detected and moulds were low. Last week’s data is shown due once again to courier delay.
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