Summary
The tree season has begun in Cape Town where the dominant tree is mulberry. Durban is following and cypress is the dominant tree at that site. Weeds and grasses are low at all the sampled sites and moulds were moderate in Durban.
Cape Town
Tree pollen is increasing at this sampling site where the highest concentrations were for mulberry (Moraceae). Some significant counts were seen for this tree. Other trees included hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), hemp (Cannabaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Grasses and moulds were low.
Johannesburg
All pollen concentrations were low. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), guarri (Euclea), mulberry (Moraceae) and gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were detected. Moulds were low.
Pretoria
At this time of the year all pollen and mould concentrations would be low. Trees seen at this time of the year include cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Searsia), birch (Betula), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), mulberry (Moraceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds would be the daisy family (Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), hopbush (Dodonaeae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and rushes (Juncaceae). Fern spores might be present (Polypodiaceae) and moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
Extremely low pollen and fungal spore concentrations were detected at this sampling site. Trees were birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), plane) Platanaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and caltrops (Zygophyllaceae) and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Pollen was low in all three categories. Trees in included birch (Betula) and poplar (Populaceae) and weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Pollen counts are increasing as trees begin their flowering season. Trees were birch (Betula) pecan (Carya), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Persimmon), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morealla), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were moderate with small peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium
Gqeberha
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this sampling site. Trees were cedar (Cedrus), the Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), karee (Searsia), gum Myrtaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were katstert (Anthospermum) and coffee bush (Bruniaceae) and moulds were low. Weeds were katstert (Anthospermum) and coffee bush (Bruniaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Pollen would be low at this sampling site during the mid-winter period. Trees might be bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and pine (Pinaceae) and weeds could be spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds would be low. Two-year means are shown.
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