Summary
Grasses are now moderate in Vanderbijlpark (a city south of Johannesburg), Kimberley and Pretoria. Trees, weeds and moulds were flat at all sites.
Cape Town
At this time of year flowering trees would include the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria angustifolia), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae), white stinkwood (Celtis) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds would be plantain (Plantaginaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Pollen and mould concentrations are low. 5-year means are shown.
Johannesburg
No significant pollen or mould concentrations were found at this site. The average daily grass count was low, but moderate scores occurred twice so grasses are increasing. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betulus), bushwillow (Combretaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), willow (Salicaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae).
Johannesburg South
Grasses are increasing at this site to moderate levels on some days. Trees were insignificant and included palm (Arecaceae). Birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae) ash (Fraxinus), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericacea), bulrush (Typhaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticacea). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Trees detected in early December in the last five years were acacia (Acacia-type), jacaranda (Fabaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak Quercus), pine (Pinaceae) and birch (Betulus) in low concentrations. Weeds would be plantain (Plantaginaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and moulds would be low. Grasses are usually moderate.
Bloemfontein
Tree pollen is slowly disappearing from the air at this site. Acacia (Acacia-type), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), false olive (Buddleia), white stinkwood (Celtis), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia) were present in low concentrations. Low weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae) goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), mallows (Malvaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
High temperatures exceeding 40ºC occurred regularly during this sampling week and no rain fell. Olive (Oleaceae) was the only tree pollen detected. Weeds included goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were scarce and grasses were moderate, despite the heat.
Durban
Pollen and mould concentrations were low, but small peaks for basidiospores (mushrooms) are noted. Trees included gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and birch (Betulus). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae).
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations were all low. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria angustifolia), The sumac family (Anacardiaceae), waxberry (Moraceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were ice-plants (Aizoaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ericas (Ericaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low. Last week’s findings were repeated as no results were sent this week.
George
The pollen concentrations at this site could not be quantified as the clock stopped once again. Tree pollen detected was willow (Salicaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae).
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
