Durban and Kimberley findings have been added.
Cape Town
Grass counts were low. Tree and weed pollen levels were also low. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus) and elm (Ulmus). Weed pollen types detected were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), waxberry (Morella), English plantain (Plantago sp.), nettle (Urticaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Fungal spore counts were low.
Johannesburg
Grass counts were moderate. Tree and weed counts were low. The tree pollen types detected were birch (Betula sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinus sp.), plane (Platanus sp.), oak (Quercus) and Australian pine (Casuarina). Weed pollen present in this sampling period included goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), carnations (Caryophyllaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), English plantain (Plantago sp.), fern spores (Polypodiaceae) and pollen from the daisy family (Asteraceae). Mould counts were low.
Pretoria
Grasses were moderate. Low tree levels included pine (Pinaceae) and Australian pine or beefwood (Casuarina). Weeds levels were low and ragweed (Ambrosia spp), English plantain (Plantaginaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and fern spores (Thelipteris) were detected. Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Grass levels were high. Tree and weed pollen counts were low. The tree pollen types detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), pine (Pinus sp.), olive (Oleaceae) and Australian pine (Casuarina sp.). Weed pollen types present in this sampling period were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Fungal spore counts were low.
Kimberley
Rain reduced the pollen concentrations but increased the fungal spore loads. Grasses were low. Low tree levels included only waxberry/bayberry (Morella). Low weed levels were seen and the weeds detected were ragweed (Ambrosia spp), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria). Moulds were generally low but significant spikes were seen throughout the week for Alternaria (302/cu M on 15/03) and Cladosporium (> 1000/cu M on 15/03, 19/03 and 21/03).
Durban
Grasses were low. Low tree levels were seen and the types detected were elm (Ulmaceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) mesquite (Prosopis) and kareeboom (Searsia/Rhus). Low weed concentrations included ragweed (Ambrosia spp), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), slangbos (Stoebe) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were high as large spikes were seen for ascospores, Basidiospores and Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
Grasses were low. Low tree levels included Australian pine or beefwood (Casuarina), waxberry (Morella sp.), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), palms (Arecaceae)and the cashew and mango family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds detected were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), lilies (Liliaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), heather (Ericaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe). Mould counts were low.
