Bitterly cold weather with snow on mountaintops and in cities at high altitude like Johannesburg, prevailed during this sampling week. In response pollen and fungal spore concentrations remained low. The rain spore, Pleospora appeared in the Cape and complaints about indoor mould increased.
Cape Town
Pollen and fungal spore/mould concentrations remained at very low levels during this sampling week. Trees detected were forest elder (Nuxia spp), chestnut (Hippocastanaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) sedges (Cyperaceae).and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). A small spike was seen for the rain spore Pleospora, which flourishes in wet conditions.
Calvinia
This spore trap is not operating.
Johannesburg:
The trend of low pollen concentrations continued in this very cold midwinter period. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus spp.), pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Weeds were the daisy family and mould spores were very low.
Pretoria
No pollen was detected in this cold winter period. Mould spores were low.
Bloemfontein
Pollen concentrations were very low during this sampling period. Tree pollen types detected in the air were cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), olive (Oleaceae). The sumac family (Anacardiaceae) mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigmy weeds (Crassulaceae) and mould spores were low.
Kimberley
The sample did not reach the laboratory so findings for the same time period in 2022 are repeated. There were very few pollen grains in the atmosphere during this sampling week. Tree pollen detected included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Grasses and moulds were low and no weed pollen was detected.
Durban
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this sampling site. No grass pollen was detected. Trees were yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), beech (Fagus spp) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae). Mould spores were very low.
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations in all three categories were very low during this sampling period. Tree pollen included yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Weeds were sedge (Cyperaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Mould spores were low.
Potchefstroom
Low pollen and fungal spore concentrations were reported from this site. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus spp.), mulberry (Moraceae), oak (Quercus spp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). No weed pollen was detected.
