Summary
Grasses in all the coastal cities in this pollen network were insignificant, while inland cities all had significant grass concentrations. Weeds and trees have completed their major flowering cycle.
Cape Town
Very low concentrations of tree, grass and weed pollen were detected during this sampling period. Trees included gum (Myrtacae), karee (Rhus/Searsia) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllacaee), nettles (Urticaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodicaeae. Moulds were very low.)
Johannesburg: Mean counts were calculated. Grass counts were significant. Low tree pollen included palm (Arecaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were also low and included pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae). Moulds spore counts were low.
Pretoria
Means are given, as no pollen findings were sent. Significant grass counts with low tree and weed counts were found during this sampling period. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The weed pollen detected was the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were not significant.
Bloemfontein
No aerobiologists were available so means from the previous four years are given. Significant grass and weed pollen counts were seen, with low tree and mould counts. The tree types detected were acacia (Acacia), birch (Betulaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were dominated by sedges (Cyperaceae) and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmy weeds (Crassulaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae).
Kimberley Grasses were moderate. Low trees included elm (Ulmaceae), ash (Fraxinus) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) mugwort (Artemisia) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were low but a strong spike was seen for ascospores following rain.
Durban
Grasses were low. Few trees were detected and these included mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and birch (Betulaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), ferns (Polypodiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and nettles Urticaceae). Moulds/fungal spores were very high with strong peak for ascospores and smaller spikes for the allergenic mould, Cladosporium and basidiospores.
Gqeberha
The findings were not received so means are given here. Grass tree and weed pollen levels were all very low during this sampling period. Only Australian pine (Casuarina) and waxberry (Morella) were detected in the category of trees. Weed pollen included the pink or carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were low.
Potchefstroom
Just one day is represented in this week’s catch due to faults with the spore trap. No tree or weed pollen was detected but grasses were high.
George
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were all low at this site. The only tree detected was elm (Ulmaceae) and weeds were nettles (Urticaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.
