Summary
Tree, grass and weed pollen was low at most sites that were read during this chilly midwinter period, when rain, hail and snow removes pollen from the air.
Cape Town
In this week of torrential rain and stormy cold weather, the only tree pollen detected was pine (Pinaceae) and the only weed pollen was the allergenic weed mugwort (Artemisia). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
Please see Johannesburg South. The spore trap is being repaired.
Johannesburg South
Pollen was low in all three categories at this site. The few tree pollen grains detected were karee (Searsia/Rhus), gum (Myrtaceae) and ash (Fraxinus). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low. Last week’s findings are shown as no data were received this week.
Pretoria
Low tree counts might include karee (Rhus/Searsia), oak (Quercus), bushwillow (Combretaceae), waxberry (Morella), beech (Fagus) and hopbush (Dodonaeae). Weeds are likely to be the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds are invariably low. 5-year means are shown.
Bloemfontein
Very little pollen was detected in the ambient air. Tree pollen included sumac (Anacardiaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were extremely low.
Kimberley
Pollen and mould concentrations have steadily decreased at this sampling site. Grasses were low to moderate. Trees detected included sumac (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), sand olive (Dodonaeae), waxberry (Morella), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia. Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), mallows (Malvaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low. These findings are from early June but closely match the 4-year means for this site.
Durban
Tree pollen was low but varied and included false olive (Buddleia), ash (Fraxinus), beech (Fagus), mulberry (Moraceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia), slangbos (Stoebe-type), sedges (Cyperaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations remained low at this sampling site. Trees detected were cypress (Cupressaceae) and waxberry (Morella). Weeds were blacktips (Bruniaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Very little pollen was detected in the air. No tree pollen was seen and weed pollen included aloe (Asphodelaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were very low.
