Summary
Moderate to high grass counts were detected in the inland, summer rainfall cities of Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Kimberley. Elm trees are flowering and significant counts were seen in Vanderbijlpark, where weeds were also significant (sedge grass).
Cape Town
The pollen catch was slight in all three categories in response to warm dry weather. Trees included gum (Myrtaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were plantain (Plantaginaceae) and citrus (Rutaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Grasses were moderate. Moderate trees included false olive (Buddleia), Australian pine ( Casuarina), white stinkwood (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), olive (Oleaceae)and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were pigmyweeds (Amaranthaceae), lily (Liliaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg South
High grass and tree concentrations were seen at this sampling site, where the dominant tree was elm (Ulmaceae). Other trees included ash (Fraxinus) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the dominant weed, plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae).
Pretoria
4-year means are given. At this time of year, grass concentrations are high while trees and weeds are low. Trees typically include acacia (Acacia-type), palm (Arecaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds would be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), knotweed (Persicaria) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds are usually low, with small spikes appearing for Cladosporium, the allergenic fungal spore/mould.
Bloemfontein
The findings for the same time of year in 2024 are given. Grass concentrations were moderate. Tree and weed pollen was detected in small quantities. Trees included birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Moderate grass concentrations were seen at this sampling site. Trees were low and included olive (Oleaceae), elm (Ulmaceae) and acacia (Acacia-type). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae) and moulds were low.
Durban
Moulds were high at this sub-tropical site owing to the contribution of ascospores and basidiospores. Pollen was low in all three categories. Trees included birch (Betulus), pecan (Carya), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were plantain (Plantaginaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and sorrel (Rumex).
Gqeberha
Pollen and mould concentrations were all low at this windy, coastal site. Trees included acacia (Acia-type), sumac (Anacardiaceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), waxberry (Morella) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds are ice-plants (Aizoaceae), pigweeds (Amaranthaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type).
George
Pollen concentrations were low at this site. Few grass pollen grains were detected and in the trees category only chestnut (Hippocastanaceae) were identified. Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and the citrus/buchu family (Rutaceae) were seen. Moulds were moderate, with a strong spike for the allergenic fungal spore Cladosporium and smaller spikes for ascospores and basidiospores (includes mushrooms). Last year’s findings for this time of year are given as the spore trap is malfunctioning.
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
