Summary
Pollen and fungal spore counts were low across South Africa, but tree pollen increased to moderate levels in Johannesburg.
Cape Town
Tree, grass and weed pollen levels were very low during this cold, rainy mid-winter period. Trees detected included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), sweet gum (Liquidambar sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), pine (Pinaceae) poplar (Populaceae) and waxberry (Morella sp.). Weeds included nettles (Urticaceae), erica (Ericaceae) sedges (Cyperaceae) and sorrel (Rumex sp.). Fungal spore loads were low but a spike was seen for the wet weather spore, Pleospora, which peaks in July.
Calvinia
The grass count was low. The only tree pollen detected was cypress (Cupressaceae) in low quantities. Low weed levels included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen increased to moderate levels because of elevated cypress (Cupressaceae) counts. Other tree species were birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Low weed pollen included only spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae). Grasses and fungal spore counts were low.
Pretoria
Grass, weed and tree pollen levels were low. Tree pollen included birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). The weeds recorded were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae). Mould counts were low.
Bloemfontein
Courier delays meant no new data were available. The results from last week are repeated here. Low grass, weed and tree counts were seen. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae) the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). No weed pollen was detected. Moulds were extremely low.
Kimberley
There were very few pollen grains in the atmosphere during this sampling week. Tree pollen detected included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Grasses and moulds were low and no weed pollen was detected.
Durban
Low grass, tree and weed counts were seen. Trees included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and oak (Quercus sp.). The weeds detected were sedges (Cyperaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), fern spores (Polypodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spore levels were low.
Gqeberha
Low grass counts were seen. Low tree loads included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were very low.
