Summary
Tree pollen is still dominating the pollen count, while grasses and weeds are low. Mould concentrations are high in Durban.
Cape Town
Tree pollen decreased a little as temperatures dropped and rain fell. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), beech (Fagus), sweetgum (Liquidamber), persimmon (Ebenaceae), white stinkwood (Celtis) and willow (Salix). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sorrel (Rumex), sedges (Cyperaceae) and English Plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.:
Johannesburg
High tree concentrations included the dominant trees plane (Platanacaeae), white stinkwood (Celtis), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae) and oak (Quercus). Other trees included Australian pine (Casuarina), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were low and included pigmyweeds (Crrassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae) and moulds were low. Last week’s findings are repeated as the power to the spore trap was turned off for this sampling week.
Pretoria
Grasses are low at this time of year. Trees are moderate and include birch (Betulus), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mesquite (Prosopis) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds would be English plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds are usually low. 4-year means are given.
Bloemfontein
The high tree counts continued, but the dominant tree pollen is now false olive (Buddleja) and elm (Ulmaceae) followed by plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Other trees were white stinkwood (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), oak (Quercus), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), poplar (Populaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Low weed counts included iceplants (Aizoaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and sorrel (Rumex) and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Low concentrations of pollen were seen at this site. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were plantain (Plantaginaceae) and moulds were scarce.
Durban
Low pollen concentrations were seen during this sampling week. No grass was detected. Trees were birch (Betulus) and mulberry (Moraceae). No weed pollen was found. Moulds were high with spikes for ascospores.
Gqeberha
All pollen and mould concentrations were low. Trees detected were the pea family (Fabaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and buckthorns (Rhamnaceae), Weeds were iceplants (Aizoaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), katstert (Anthospermum), ferns (Polypodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae).
Potchefstroom: This site is not operating.
George
Tree pollen is increasing at this site. Trees included pecan (Carya), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were present in low concentrations. Previous findings are repeated as the spore trap was 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
