Summary
Moderate grass counts were found in Potchefstroom. A significant concentration of ragweed pollen was detected at that site as well as spikes for Alternaria, Epicoccum and Cladosporium, all allergenic moulds. Moderate mould levels were also found in Pretoria.
Cape Town
Very little pollen was detected during this sampling period. Low tree concentrations included gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella spp.) and linden (Tiliaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), (Ericaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), sorrel (Rumex spp.), plantain (Plantaginaceae), fern (Polypodiaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.). Mould spores were very low.
Calvinia
Archived findings are repeated as the spore trap is not running at present. Grass and weed counts approached significance. Waxberry (Morella sp.) was the only tree pollen found at very low levels. The weed pollen included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould counts were low.
Johannesburg
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this site. No tree pollen was detected. Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia spp.), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), fern (Polypodiaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were consistently low.
Pretoria
Grasses were low. Low trees included bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia spp.) the daisy family. Goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sedge (Cyperaceae). Mould spores were moderate.
Bloemfontein
Pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees detected were waxberry (Morella spp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.), and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sedge (Cyperaceae). Mould spores were extremely low.
Kimberley
Very low pollen concentrations were detected from this week’s catch. No tree pollen was found. Weeds were sorrel (Rumex spp.) and buckwheat (Polygonaceae), Mould spore loads were light.
Durban: Pollen concentrations in the ambient air were extremely low. Trees were gum (Myrtaceae) and waxberry (Morella spp.). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia spp.), sorrel (Rumex spp.), plantain (Plantaginaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia spp.) and fern (Polypodiaceae). Mould spores were very low.
Gqeberha
Very low pollen concentrations occurred at this site. Trees detected were Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), gum (Myrtaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were low.
Potchefstroom
Grass concentrations were moderate. Trees were low and included cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus spp.). Pine (Pinaceae), waxberry (Morella spp.) oak (Quercus spp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weed concentrations were moderate but included high concentrations of ragweed (Ambrosia spp.). Other weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), mugwort (Artemisia spp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), sorrel (Rumex spp.) and nettle (Urticaceae). Mould spores were high with significant spikes for the allergenic fungal (mould) spores, Alternaria and Epicoccum and a huge spike was seen for Cladosporium.
