Summary
Tree pollen remains high in some parts of the country. The highest counts were seen in Johannesburg, followed by Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Grasses, weeds and fungal spore levels were low across South Africa, except in Durban where moderate mould counts were recorded.
Cape Town
Grass levels were very low. Trees were low but varied, with some species approaching moderate levels. The trees detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), pine (Pinaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.) and ash (Fraxinus sp.). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia sp.), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould levels were extremely low in response to the rain and low temperatures.
Calvinia
No new findings are available, as the public holiday caused delays in the couriering of pollen samples to the lab. Last week’s results are repeated here. Pollen loads were very small during this sampling period. Only cypress (Cupressaceae) was detected in the tree category. Weeds seen were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia sp.) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
High tree counts were detected at this site, due to peaks in cypress (Cupressaceae) and plane (Platanus sp.) pollen. Other trees detected were birch (Betulaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and fern (Polypodiaceae). Mould counts were low.
Pretoria
Elevated tree levels included birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), willow (Salix sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). The weeds detected were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae, goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and iris (Iridaceae). Mould counts were low.
Bloemfontein
Tree counts were high, while grass and weed pollen levels were low. The tree types detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Weeds included only the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Fungal spores were low.
Kimberley
No new findings are available, as the public holiday caused delays in the couriering of pollen samples to the lab. Last week’s results are repeated here. Low grass counts were seen. Tree pollen was also low and included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), false olive (Buddleja sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), poplar (Populaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Low weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and spruce (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Trees included acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), sweetgum (Liquidambar sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpus sp.). The weeds detected were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould counts were moderate.
Gqeberha
Very low pollen and fungal spore counts were detected. Tree pollen included cedar (Cedrus sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). The weeds found were katstert (Anthospermum sp.), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and the iris family (Iridaceae). Fungal spores were low.
