Summary
The Public Holiday on Thursday has not allowed enough time for the analysis of the pollen catch this week so averaged counts were used. At this time of the year, tree counts are usually high at all sites except for the coastal sites; George, Gqeberha and Durban and an inland site, Kimberley. Plane has been the dominant tree at most sites, followed by cypress and mulberry. Weeds and grasses would still be low and moulds have been high in Durban only.
Cape Town
High tree counts at this site would include poplar (Populaceae), willow (Salicaceae), waxberry (Morella). cypress (Cupressaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Searsia), acacia (Acacia-type), oak (Quercus), and hackberry (Celtis). Weeds would be the daisy family (Asteracae), erica (Ericaceae), sorrel (Rumex), plantain (Plantaginaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), protea (Proteaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), knotweed (Persicaria), mugwort (Artemisia) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds would be low.
Johannesburg
High tree counts at this site have historically included plane (Platanaceae), birch (Betula), oak (Quercus), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Morceau), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) the coral tree (Erythrina), linden (Typhacreae), Australian oak (Casuarina), willow (Salicaceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), and bushwillow (Combretaceae). Weeds might be erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and sorrel (Rumex). Ferns might be present and moulds would be low.
Pretoria
Tree counts have been significant for all the sampled years at this time and might include birch (Betula), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupressaceae), mesquite (Prosopis), plane (Platanaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and the coral tree (Erythrina). Low weeds could be plantain (Plantaginaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
Tree pollen would still be very high at this sampling site and might include false olive (Buddleia), plane (Platanaceae), ash (Fraxinus), oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), hackberry (Celtis), pine (Pinaceae), willow (Salicaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds might be the daisy family (Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), knotweed (Persicaria) and pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and moulds would be low.
Kimberley
Trees have been low at this time of the year in this semi-arid region and might include mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia), hackberry (Celtis) and sumac (Anacardiaceae). Weeds might include knotweed (Persicaria), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and nettles (Urticaceae) and mould would be low.
Durban
Low tree counts would include yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), hackberry (Cletis), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) ash (Fraxinus), gum (Myrtaceae), willow (Salicaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia), sumac (Anacardiaceae), plane (Platanaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds would be the daisy family Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), erica (Ericaceae), knotweed (Persicaria) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds are usually moderate at this time of the year.
Gqeberha
All pollen concentrations were low at this time of the year but since moving the spore trap moderate to high tree counts have been recorded and might include plane (Platanaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae), oak (Quercus), acacia (Acacia-type), cedar (Cedrus) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds would be katstert (Anthospermum), sedge (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and the carnation family (Euphorbiaceae) and moulds would be low.
George
Pollen has been low at this time of the year at this site, but varied tree counts have included pecan (Carya), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), the coral tree (Erythrina) and waxberry (Morella). Weeds could be mugwort (Artemisia), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae), Fern spores could be seen and moulds would be low.
Potchefstroom
Only one sampling year exists for this site, Trees were high and included plane (Platanaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), oak (Quercus), birch (Betula), pine (Pinaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), hackberry (Celtis), ash (Fraxinus), gingko (Ginko biloba) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds have been the carnation family (Caryophllaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type) and moulds are usually low.
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