Summary
Low temperatures and storms with flooding in some cities reduced pollen and mould in the air. No significant counts were seen.
Cape Town
Continued storms and heavy rain reduced pollen from the air. Trees detected were gum (Myrtaceae), forest elder (Nuxia spp.), olive (Oleaceae), chestnut (Hippocastanaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low with spikes for ascospores during spates of sunshine following rain.
Calvinia
Little pollen was detected at this site. Trees were bushwillow (Combretaceae) and no weed or grass pollen was seen. Mould spores were extremely low.
Johannesburg
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were low. Trees detected were beech (Fagus spp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae, karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and linden (Tiliaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), fern (Polypodiaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this site. Trees detected were birch (Betulaceae), hackberry (Celtis spp.), mulberry (Moraceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), beech (Fagus spp.) and oak (Quercus spp.). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Mould spores were low.
Bloemfontein
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this site. Trees included mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were sedges Cyperaceae). Mould spores were low.
Kimberley
Low tree concentrations included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Tree pollen was low at this site and the types detected were pecan (Carya) and gum (Myrtaceae). No grass or weed pollen was detected and mould spore concentrations were extremely low.
Gqeberha
All pollen concentrations were low at this site. Tree pollen detected was cedar (Cedrus spp.) and weeds were mugwort (Artemisia spp.) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were low.
Potchefstroom
Pollen concentrations were extremely low at this site. Trees detected were ash (Fraxinus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds were low but approached the significant threshold as Cladosporium spikes occurred.
