Summary
The low temperatures with snow on high lying ground have reduced pollen loads in the air, but tree pollen is still high in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom.
Cape Town
Heavy rain and showers throughout this sampling week with little sunshine reduced pollen loads to slight amounts in the atmosphere. Trees detected included mulberry (Moraceae), poplar (Populaceae), pine (Pinaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), oak (Quercus spp,), plane (Platanaceae), ash (Fraxinus spp), sweet gum (Liquidamber spp,) and gum (Myrtaceae). The only weeds identified were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Calvinia
This spore trap is not operating
Johannesburg: Awaiting counts.
Pretoria
This site has been moved from CSIR to Irene and findings will be available soon.
Bloemfontein
Tree concentrations are decreasing but high counts were recorded for mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae) and poplar (Populaceae). Other flowering trees included birch (Betulus), ash (Fraxinus spp.), pine (Pinaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), false olive (Buddleja spp.), elm (Ulmaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds seen were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmy weeds (Crassulaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Low concentrations of pollen and moulds were found at this site. Trees were cypress (Cupressaceae), African stinkwood (Celtis africana), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia spp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae),
Durban
Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included cypress (Cupressaceae), cedar (Cedrus spp.), African stinkwood (Celtis africana), pine (Pinaceae), linden (Tilia spp.), plane (Platanaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Low weeds included knotweed (Persicaria spp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Fungal spores were low until the end of the week when the ascospore levels increased after rain.
Gqeberha: This site is trapping but findings were not posted..
Potchefstroom
Trees were high in first half of week with Platanus, Morus, Quercus, Betula. Pinus peak, Cupressus declining. Some Podocarpus, Celtis, Fraxinus, Gingko, Salix were detected. Grasses were low. Weeds were Caryophyllaceae. Isolated Plantago and Urticaceae plus Asteraceae and Stoebe. Moulds were low.
George: The sample was sent on Monday but not delivered to the UCT lab.
