Summary
Tree counts are high at all the inland sites and in Cape Town at the coast, but low at the other coastal sites. Dominant flowering trees are plane, ash, mulberry, poplar, false olive, hackberry and pine. The highest tree counts were at Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein, but even the sites with low readings had high plane pollen counts.
Cape Town
Tree concentrations were high and included the dominant tree, plane (Platanaceae), sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and mesquite (Prosopis). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
The pollen trap was disconnected so no findings are available and five-year means are given. At this time of the year tree pollen would be high and flowering trees would be plane (Platanaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betulaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), pine (Pinaceae), ash (Fraxinus), pecan (Carya) and oak (Quercus). Grasses would be low. Low weed counts might be plantain (Plantaginaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), pigweed (Amaranthaceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Moulds would be low.
Pretoria
5-year means are used but we hope to have real counts very soon. At this time of the year trees would be high and might include acacia (Acacia-type), bushwillow (Combretaceae), oak (Quercus), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae), birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), ash (Hackberry), willow (Salicaceae), elm (Ulmaceae) and jacaranda (Bignoniaceae). Low weeds might include goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Grasses and moulds would be low.
Bloemfontein
Extremely high tree concentrations were seen at this sampling site. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleia), hackberry (Celtis), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), ash (Fraxinus), oak Quercus), poplar (Populaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), karee (Searsia). and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), The highest count was recorded for plane, but high counts were also seen for false olive, hackberry, pine and cypress. Grasses were low and low weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were detected and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Tree counts were significant and included cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), birch (Betula). Oak (Quercus), poplar (Populaceae), acacia (Acia-type), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), karee (Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulacae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were seen and moulds were low.
Durban
The courier did not deliver the pollen strip on time. Last week’s findings are shown.Pollen was low at this site. Trees included the dominant pollen oak (Quercus), cypress (Cupressaceae), palm (Arecaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Arecaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were nettles (Uricaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae) were also detected. Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations were low at this site but tree pollen is increasing and trees detected were acacia (Acacia-type), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and the dominant tree: Plane (Platanaceae). Weeds were iceplants (Aizoaceae), cypress (sedges), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Grasses and moulds were low.
George
The cage to protect this site from baboons is being constructed and we expect the spore trap to be installed within the next week. Two-year means are given. At this time of the year the pollen counts would be low in all categories, but flowering trees would be varied and might include pecan (Carya), bushwillow (Competencies), mulberry (Moraceae), acacia (Acacia-type), guarri (Euclea), sand olive (Dodonaeae), karee (Searsia), birch (Betula) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds could be erica (Ericaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and grasses and moulds would be low.
Potchefstroom
Very high tree counts were detected at this site and included birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae). Plane (Platanaceae). Oak (Quercus), karee (Searsia) and lindens (Tiliaceae). The dominant trees were ash, plane and mulberry. Weeds were low and included ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Grasses and moulds were 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