Summary
A new site was added to the South African Pollen Monitoring Network – Potchefstroom in the North West province – which had moderate grass levels. High overall pollen counts were seen in Cape Town, with moderate levels of trees and weeds detected. In Johannesburg, grass and tree pollen counts were moderate. No new data were available for Pretoria and Bloemfontein, but counts likely remained high like in the previous week. Mould levels were moderate in Durban.
Cape Town
Low grass counts with moderate tree and weed counts were recorded. Trees included acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), the monkey puzzle family (Araucariaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and lindens (Tiliaceae). The weeds detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), borages (Boraginaceae), erica (Ericaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), the citrus/buchu family (Rutaceae), the nightshade family (Solanaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Calvinia
Pollen in the atmosphere was scanty in all categories. Trees detected included olive (Oleaceae), sweet gum (Liquidambar sp.), gum (Myrtaceae) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and mallows (Malvaceae). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
Moderate grass and tree counts, with low weed counts, were observed. The tree pollen detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds included pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were very low.
Pretoria
No new data were available for this site, and last week’s findings are repeated. Moderate to high grass counts, moderate tree counts, and low weed counts were recorded. Trees included birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), Cape holly (Ilex sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). The weeds observed were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were not significant.
Bloemfontein
No new data were available for this site, and last week’s findings are repeated. High tree counts, moderate weed counts, and low grasses were recorded during this sampling period. The tree pollen detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), false olive (Buddleja sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), a peak in mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), mesquite (Prosopis sp.), buckthorn (Rhamnaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), a peak in plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Pollen levels were low. Trees detected included elm (Ulmaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and buckwheat (Polygonaceae). Moulds were low with one spike for the allergenic spore Cladosporium. Intermittent rain removed pollen and mould spores from the air at this site.
Durban
Tree, grass and weed pollen levels were low. Trees detected included gum (Myrtaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella spp.), chestnut (Hippocastanaceae), the monkey puzzle family (Araucariaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds were plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were moderate largely due to an ascospores spike following rain.
Gqeberha
All pollen counts as well as mould levels were low. Only acacia (Acacia sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) were detected in the trees category. Weeds included pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), katstert (Anthospermum sp.), sedges (Cyperaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae).
Potchefstroom
Site added to the website. Moderate grass counts with very low tree and weed counts were recorded. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and plane (Platanus sp.). The weeds detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Mould spores were very low.
