Summary
Mould, grass, and weed counts were generally low across South Africa. Cape Town displayed moderate grass and weed pollen levels, with weeds similarly moderate in Calvinia and Bloemfontein. Tree counts were significant in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, and moderate counts were observed in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Kimberley.
Cape Town
Tree counts were significant, with moderate grass and weed pollen counts. Trees detected were the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the ebony family (Ebenaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), elm (Ulmaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.) pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and buckthorns (Rhamnaceae). Weeds were borages (Boraginaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), plantain (Plantaginaceae), protea (Proteaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), wood sorrel (Oxalidaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and figworts (Scrophulariaceae). Moulds were low, but the allergenic mould Alternaria breached the significant threshold.
Calvinia
Grass and tree pollen counts were low but weeds were moderate. The trees detected were gum (Myrtaceae) only. Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), protea (Proteaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), and figworts (Scrophulariaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
Due to rain damage to the sampling equipment, no new data were available at this site and results from last week are repeated here. Tree counts were moderate to high, while grass, weed and mould counts were very low. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), spruce (Picea sp.), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). The weeds recorded were pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), daisies (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae).
Pretoria
Low grass counts were seen at this site. Tree pollen decreased but a large variety of types were detected, including acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Due to a technical issue, no new data were available at this site and the results from last week are repeated here. Moderate weeds and trees with low grass counts were seen. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), false olive (Buddleja sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). The weeds recorded were daisies (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould counts were low.
Kimberley
Tree counts were moderate and included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), the pea family (Fabaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and plane (Platanus sp.). Grasses, moulds, and weeds were low. The weeds detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.), and nettles (Urticaceae).
Durban
Tree, grass, and weed pollen remained low at this site. Trees detected were mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), birch (Betulaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), pine (Pinaceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), and linden (Tiliaceae). Weeds included only sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Overall low counts for trees, weeds, grasses, and moulds. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), the monkey puzzle family (Araucariaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). The weeds recorded were pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), katstert (Anthospermum sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae).
