Summary
Trees are decreasing as they complete their flowering season but significant concentrations were seen In Cape Town, George, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Pine was the dominant tree in Cape Town and yellowwood was dominant in George. Moderate grasses were reported from Cape Town and Pretoria and weeds were low throughout the country. Peaks for the allergenic mould, Cladosporium were seen in Pretoria.
Cape Town
Grass counts were moderate. High tree counts included sumac (Anacardiaceae), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betula), hackberry (Celtis), beech (Fagus), Cape holly (Ilex), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae), the dominant tree pine (Pinaceae) and oak (Quercus). Low weeds included mugwort (Artemisia), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), protea (Proteaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Grass pollen was low. Low trees included birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), sweetgum (Liquidamber), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Searsia) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Grass was moderate. Low tree concentrations included acaia (Acacia-type), maple (Acer), bushwillow (Combretaceae), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were aloe (Asphelodaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), knotweed (Persicaria) plantain (Plantaginaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae), Moulds were moderate as peaks appeared for the allergenic mould, Cladosporium.
Bloemfontein
The spore trap is being repaired. 5-year means showed significant tree counts which included ash (Fraxinus), birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), karee (Starsia), bushwillow (Competencies), gum (Myrtaceous), mulberry (Morceau), sumac (Anacardiaceous) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds are likely to be stoebe (Stoebe-type), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ericas (Ericaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), protea (Proteaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds are low.
Kimberley
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees were false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae) and mistletoe (Loranthaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Pollen in all categories was low. Trees included ebony (Ebenaceae), ash (Fraxinus), pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae)birch (Betula), mulberry (Morceau), bushwillow (Competencies) and poplar (Populace). Weeds were nettles (Urticaceae).
Gqeberha
Grass, tree and weed pollen concentrations were consistently low at this site. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), cedar (Cedrus), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceous) and bulrush (Syphacia). Moulds were low.
George
No grass pollen was detected at this site. High tree counts included Australian pine (Casuarina), waxberry (Morella) and the dominant tree yellowwood (Podocarpus). Low weed were erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and reed (Restionaceous). Moulds were low.