Summary
The tree flowering season is in full swing now especially in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. Dominant trees are plane, mulberry, white stinkwood, oak, olive and false olive. Grasses, weeds and moulds are low.
Cape Town
Trees are continuing their flowering season, especially oak (Quercus) and cypress (Cupressaceae), Other trees appearing are plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), birch (Betulaceae) and white stinkwood (Celtis). Weeds are erica (Ericaceae), nettle (Urticaceae) and the daisy family) Asteraceae) and moulds are extremely low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen concentrations increased again this week. The highest counts were for plane (Platanaceae), white stinkwood (Celtis) and mulberry (Moraceae). Other flowering trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), Australian pine (Casuarina) lemon (Citrus), Guarri (Euclea), ash (Fraxinus) gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were lily (Liliaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and spurges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
4-year means are shown. Trees are reaching the peak of their flowering cycle at this site and the dominant trees are birch (Betulus), mulberry (Moraceae) and plane (Platanaceae). Other trees seen at this time include acacia (Acacia-type), white stinkwood (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds are seen in low concentrations and are typically mugwort (Artemisia) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
A surge was seen in tree pollen at this site led by white stinkwood (Celtis), false olive (Buddleja), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Other flowering trees included sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and caltrops (Zygophyllaceae). Moulds were present in low concentrations.
Kimberley
Trees increased especially mulberry (Moraceae) and white stinkwood (Celtis). Other trees appearing are poplar (Populaceae), ash (Fraxinus), pine (Pinaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), white stinkwood (Celtis), sumac (Anacardiaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were few and included the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were minimal.
Durban
Pollen concentrations remained low at this coastal site. Tree pollen included white stinkwood (Celtis), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), oak (Quercus), plane (Platanaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), acacia (Acacia-type) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Pollen in all categories remained low during this sampling period. Trees included ebony (Ebenaceae), pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Mould concentrations were low.
Potchefstroom
This site is not operating.
George
Tree pollen is increasing at this site. Trees included pecan (Carya), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were present in low concentrations.
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
