Summary
Tree pollen counts were moderate in Pretoria. Grasses are increasing in Kimberley where moderate counts were seen and mould counts were high in Pretoria and Durban.
Cape Town
Pollen in all categories was low. Strong SSE winds prevailed during this sampling week and pollen would have been removed from the ambient air swiftly, but grass pollen may have been moderate in sheltered areas. Tree pollen included sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), hackberry (Celtis), beech (Fagus), pine (Pinaceae), jacaranda (Bignoniaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), and mesquite (Prosopis). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Tree, grass and weed pollen was low at this site. Trees were birch (Betula), false olive (Buddleja), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) and moulds were low.
Pretoria
Tree counts were moderate and included birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), sweetgum (Liquidamber), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), mesquite (Prosopis) and oak (Quercus). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), nettles and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were moderate and significant peaks were seen for ascospores and the allergenic spore, Cladosporium.
Bloemfontein
The spore trap is under repair. At this time of year tree counts are moderate and might include false olive (Buddleia), palm (Arecaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), hackberry (Celtis), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Searsia). Weeds would be the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae). Moulds would be low.
Kimberley
Grasses breached the significant threshold and were moderate. Trees were low and included birch (Fagus), Australian pine (Casuarina), bushwillow (Combretaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (PLantaginaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree, grass and weed pollen counts were low. Trees were birch (Betula), gum (Myrtaceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), karee (Searsia), olive (Oleaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), sumac) Anacardiaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) and gum (Myrtcaceae). Weeds were mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginacee) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were high due to strong peaks for ascospores following rain and the allergenic mould, Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
5-year means are given. Pollen in all categories is low at this time of the year. Trees would be gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Searsia), hackberry (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), olive (Oleaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), cedar (Cedrus), olive (Oleaceae) and monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), pigweed (Crassulaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and mugwort (Artemisia). Moulds were low.
George
Extremely low pollen counts were measured at this sampling site. Trees were waxberry (Morella) and olive (Oleaceae) and no weed pollen was detected. Moulds were very 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