Summary
Tree pollen is subsiding but is still high at most of the sites. The dominant trees are oak (Quercus), plane and false olive. Grasses are increasing in Pretoria and Bloemfontein.
Cape Town
Grass is low. Tree pollen concentrations are still high. Trees detected were sumac (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulus), lemon (Citrin), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae), olive (Oleaceae), waxberry (Morella) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were the carrot family (Apiaceae), goosefoot (Cenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae, nettles (Urticaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Significant tree concentrations included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), privet (Ligustrum), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), the dominant tree oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and willow (Salicaceae). Oak is the dominant tree pollen. Low weeds were lily (Liliceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Grasses were low as were moulds.
Pretoria
Tree concentrations decreased at this site, but grasses were moderate. Flowering trees included hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), beech (Fagus), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the carrot family (Apiaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
High tree concentrations continue at this site and include the dominant tree false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Searsia). Low weed counts included mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae) pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), evening primrose (Oenothera), mallows (Malvaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) rose (Rosaceae, ferns (Polpodiaceae) and nightshade (Solanaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Tree, grass and weed pollen was low at this site. Trees were acacia (Acacia-type), cypress (Cupressaceae), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia). Moulds were low.
Durban
All pollen concentrations were low at this site during a week with rain bouts. Trees were yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), pine (Pinaceae), beech (Fagus), plane (Platancaeae), oak (Quercus) and hackberry (Celtis). No grass was detected, Weeds were ferns (Polypodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Small spikes were seen for the allergenic mould Cladosporium but moulds were generally low.
Gqeberha
Tree pollen was significant and the types detected were Australian pine (Casuarina), cedar (Cedrus), sand olive (Dodonea), ebony (Ebenaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Seasia). Weeds were katstert (Anthospermum), sedges (Cyperaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). moulds were low.
George
Pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees detected were acacia (Acia-type), coral tree (Erythrina), waxberry (Morella) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and moulds were low. These are last week’s findings as the public holiday caused courier delays and the pollen strip did not reach the laboratory in time.
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