Tree pollen has increased to moderate or high levels at most of the sites and the dominant tree is cypress. Grasses and weeds were very low.
Cape Town
Repeat of the same week in 2022. Grass levels were very low. Trees were low but varied, with some species approaching moderate levels. The trees detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), pine (Pinaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.) and ash (Fraxinus sp.). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia sp.), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould levels were extremely low in response to the rain and low temperatures.
Calvinia
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Johannesburg:
Tree pollen concentrations increased and included acacia (Acacia spp.), birch (Betulaceae), ash (Fraxinus spp.), beech (Fagus spp), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and plane (Platanaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and lily (Liliaceae). No grass pollen was detected and fungal spores were low.
Pretoria
Pollen and fungal spore concentrations were very low. Trees included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae) and plane (Platanaceae). No weed pollen was detected.
Bloemfontein
Grass and weed concentrations were low. Trees were moderate and were dominated by cypress (Cupressaceae). Other trees were sumac (Anacardiaceae), pine (Pinacedae), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were pygmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and sedge (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley:
The same week in 2022 are repeated here. Low grass counts were seen. Tree pollen was also low and included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), false olive (Buddleja sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), poplar (Populaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Low weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and spruce (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Last year’s findings for the same time period are shown. Trees included acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), sweetgum (Liquidambar sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpus sp.). The weeds detected were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould counts were high.
Gqeberha
The findings for this week were delayed so last week’s findings are repeated here. Pollen concentrations were low in all three categories. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia spp), pine (Pinaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia spp.), aloe (Asphodelaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Mould were low.
Potchefstroom
Tree pollen increased rapidly from low to high concentrations with a strong spike on 2 August for cypress (Cupressaceae). Other trees detected were sand olive (Dodonea spp), the pea family (Fabaceae spp.), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were low, as were moulds.
