Summary
Pollen at all the sites was low, but again a greater variety of trees was seen in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Indicating that spring is approaching.
Cape Town
Pollen concentrations were low at this site but significant peaks were seen for mulberry (Moraceae). Other trees detectedwere sweet gum (Liquidamber), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), olive (Oleaceae) and citrus (Rutaceae). Weeds were hemp (Cannabaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Tree, grass and weed pollen was very low at this sampling site. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Searsia) and weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), lily (Liliaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and sorrel (Rumex). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Pollen is low at this time of the year. Trees might be cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betula), Australian pine (Casuarina), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) palm (Arecaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Mould would be low. 6-year means are shown.
Bloemfontein
All pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees were birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), ash (Fraxinus), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were sedge and moulds were low.
Kimberley
6-year means are shown because the pollen strip could not be read. Pollen is low at this time of year and trees might be sumac (Anacardiaceae) or cypress (Cupressaceae) while weeds could be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds would be low.
Durban
The pollen concentrations were low in all three categories at this sampling site. Trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), aloe (Asphelodaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), bulrush (Typhaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were just below the significant threshold.
Gqeberha
Very low pollen concentrations were detected at this sampling site. Trees were cedar (Cedrus), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), pine (Pinaceae), buckthorns (Rhamnaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were katstert (Anthospermum), mugwort (Artemisia) and coffee bush (Bruniaceae) and moulds were low,
George
2-year means were used. At this time of year pollen would be low and trees might include cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), karee (Searsia) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds could be erica (Ericaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and grass would be low. Moulds would be very low. Arrangements are being made to start operating the spore trap at this site very soon.
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