Cape Town
Grass levels were low. Tree pollen increased slightly mainly due to the contribution of elm (Ulmaceae) but cypress (Cupressaceae) and waxberry (Morella) were also detected. A slight but insignificant increase in weed levels occurred as sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) privet (Ligustrum) and ferns (Polypodiaceae) appeared regularly. Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Grass counts were moderate and decreased from the previous sampling period. Tree and weed pollen counts were low. Tree pollen types included ash (Fraxinus), mulberry (Moraceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanus), pine (Pinus) and oak (Quercus). Weeds detected were erica (Ericaceae), euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), the jute family (Tiliaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), fern (Polypodiaceae) and pollen from the daisy family (Asteraceae). Mould counts were low.
Pretoria
Grasses were moderate. Low tree levels included mulberry (Moraceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), kareeboom (Rhus) and Australian pine (Casuarina). Weeds were also low and the types detected were ragweed (Ambrosia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopdiaceae) and pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Grasses were high. Tree and weed levels were low. Tree pollen detected included karee (Rhus/ Searsia), pine (Pinus), false olive (Buddleja) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weed types present were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), fern spores (Polypodiaceae), dandelion (Taraxacum) and pollen from the daisy family (Asteraceae). Mould levels were high and significant levels of Alternaria and Cladosporium were recorded.
Kimberley
Grass pollen counts remain high. Tree and weed pollen counts were low. The tree pollen types of elm (Ulmaceae), pine (Pinus) and eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) were present. Weed pollen types included waxberry (Morella), pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria spp) and pollen from the daisy family (Asteraceae). Mould counts were moderate, but very high levels of Alternaria were detected throughout the sampling period.
Durban
Part of the pollen strip was lost. This report is based on the remainder of the strip, together with the findings from last week. Grasses were low. Low tree levels were seen which included only mulberry (Moraceae) and eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). Weeds were low and the types detected were ferns (Polypodiaceae) and the mallow family (Malvaceae) which includes pelargoniums. Moulds were moderate.
Gqeberha
Grasses were low at this site. Trees were also low as only olive (Oleaceae) was detected. Low weed levels included the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and pigweed (Amaranthus). Moulds were low.
