Summary
The tree season is in full cry and the dominant trees are plane and cypress at the inland sites. Tree pollen is increasing at our coastal sites.
Cape Town
Tree pollen is increasing and included sumac (Anacardiaceae), lemon (Citrin), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sorrel (Rumex) and moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Very high tree counts included acacia (Acacia-type), birch (Betulus), white stinkwood (Celtis), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus), sweet gum (Liquidamber), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus), mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Searsia). The dominant tree was plane, followed by mulberry. Low weed concentrations included only lily (Liliaceae) and grasses and moulds were low.
Johannesburg South
The tree season is in full cry and the dominant trees are plane and cypress at most of the inland sites. At Sharpeville, south of Johannesburg, the dominant tree is mulberry (Moraceae) followed by cypress (Cupressaceae) and pine (Pinaceae).. Tree pollen is increasing at our coastal sites. Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and slangbos (Stoebe). Moulds were low.
Cape Town
Pretoria
Tree counts were significant at this site and included bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), pine (Pinaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), poplar (Populaceae), willow (Salix) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), nightshade (Solanaceae), ferns (Urticaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
High tree counts were seen at this sampling site. The dominant trees were cypress (Cupressaceae) and plane (Platanaceae). Other flowering trees were sumac (Anacardiaceae), false olive (Buddleia), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds were pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and rose (Rosaceae). gGasses and moulds were low.
Kimberley
Tree counts decreased this week, but a larger variety of flowering trees included birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus ), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and lily (Liliaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
The pollen concentrations remain low at this site but a greater variety of pollen taxa appeared in the air. Trees included pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), beech (Fagus) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), erica (Ericaceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Trees are low but many different tree species are appearing in the air, including acacia Acacia-type), monkey puzzle (Araucaria,) Australian pine (Casuarina), cedar (Cedrus), cypress (Cupressaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and olive (Oleaceae Low weeds included pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low. Trees included sumac (Anacardiaceae), waxberry (Morella)., pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and reeds (Restionaceae). Moulds were low, but a peak for basidiospores (includes mushrooms) was noted. Last week’s report is shown due to courier delay.
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