Summary
Grass was moderate in Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Tree counts are high in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein where the dominant tree is false olive. Weeds were low at all sites and moulds were high in Durban.
Cape Town
Grass was moderate. High tree concentrations included acacia (Acacia-type) palm (Arecaceae, birch (Betulus), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), lemon (Citrin), beech (Fagus), Cape Holly (Ilex), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and oak (Quercus). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen is still high at this site and the types included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus). Cape Holly (Ilex), privet (Ligustrum), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (ULmaceae). Low weed concentrations included the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), lily (Liliaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Tree counts were moderate and included birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), pine(Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), lily (Liliaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
The spore trap motor is being repaired so 5-year means are given. High tree counts would include pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), false olive (Buddleia), karee (Searsia), acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betulus) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds would be plantain (Plantaginaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds are generally low.
Kimberley
Low pollen and mould concentrations were seen at this site. Trees were birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane), Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low. Trees included birch (Betulus), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cedar (Cedrus), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), ash (Fraxinus), plane (Platanaceae), and pecan (Carya). Weeds were nettles (Urticaceae) and plantain (PLantaginaceae).Moulds were significant with a significant peak for the allergenic mould (Cladosporium)
Gqeberha
Pollen in the categories of trees, grasses and weeds was low. Trees included cedar (Cedrus), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were iceplants (Aizoaceae), pigweed (Amaranthaceae), katstert (Anthospermum, spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), protea (Proteaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Pollen in all categories was low. Trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and no weeds were detected. Grasses 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