Summary
No strong pollen or mould peaks are reported for this early winter period.
Cape Town
Pollen and mould concentrations were extremely low. Trees detected included gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were knotweed (Persicaria) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Grasses were insignificant. These findings are repeated from the same week in 2024 as the 2025 sample was unreadable.
Johannesburg
4-year means are given. Pollen in all categories is low at this time of year. Trees present include bushwillow (Combretaceae), beech (Fagaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and linden (Tiliaceae). Weeds would be pigweed (Amaranthaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and heather (Ericaceae). Moulds are low.
Johannesburg South
Tree grass and weed pollen remains low. Tree pollen included gum (Myrtaceae) and weed pollen was pigweed (Amaranthaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
4-year means are given. Trees might include gum (Myrtaceae), beech (Fagaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds are likely to be the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and heather (Ericaceae). Moulds are low.
Bloemfontein
Tree, grass and weed pollen was consistently low at this site. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia-type), monkey-puzzle (Araucaria) birch (Betulus). European Hornbeam (Carpinu), false olive (Buddleia) and red milkwood (Mimusops). No weeds were detected and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Moderate grasses were seen during this sampling week. Trees were insignificant and included mesquite (Prosopis), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Low weed concentrations included goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sorrel (Rumex) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were extremely low. The courier did not deliver the pollen sample in time so 2024 findings for the same time period are given.
Durban
Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Low weed pollen levels included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphoriaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low with small peaks for basidiospores (Mushrooms).
Gqeberha
Pollen in all three categories was low. Trees were gum (Myrtaceae) and weeds were pigweed (Amaranthceae), katstert (Anthospermum), lily (Liliaceae) and reeds (Restionaceae).Moulds were low.
George
Low concentrations of trees, grasses and weeds were detected during this cold and rainy sampling week. Trees included karee (Rhus/Searsia) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), protea (Proteaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were low, with small spikes for basidiospores. These findings are repeated from 2024 for the same time period dure to courier delays.
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
