Weekly Report

11 December 2020

City
Overall Risk
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Weed Pollen
Mould Spores

Cape Town

Long term averages are given. Typically in this period trees are low and include the types cypress (Cupressus), oak (Quercus spp), plane (Platanus), olive (Olea Spp), Casuarina(beefwood), gum (Myrtus) and white stinkwood (Celtis spp). Low weed levels for this week of the year include Erica (Ericaceae), English Plantain (Plantago), rush (Juncus), Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria) and Euphorbia . Moulds are invariably low.

Johannesburg

Low grass levels were detected. Trees were low and included gum (Myrtus) and olive (Olea spp). Low weed levels included the spurge family (Euphorbia), sedges (Cyperus) and bulrush (Typha). Moulds were low.

Pretoria

Grasses were low with some small spikes. Trees were low and the types detected were ebony (Euclea), olive (Olea spp), yellowwood (Podocarpus) and kareeboom (Searsia/Rhus). In the weeds category only sedges (Cyperus) were detected. Moulds were low but small spikes appeared after rain.

Bloemfontein

The previous week’s findings are reported as this spore trap is being repaired. Low levels were seen for grasses. Low tree levels included the types olive (Olea) yellowwod (Podocarpus) pine (Pinus) and plane (platanus) Weeds were low and only the daisy family(Asteraceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae) were detected. Moulds were generally low but occasional significant spikes were seen for Alernaria, an allergenic fungal spore.

Kimberley

Grasses increased strongly to moderate levels despite low counts due to a thunderstorm at the end of the sampling week. Tree levels were low and included only gum (Myrtaceae) and olive (Olea spp). Weeds were low but varied as aloe (Aspodelaceae), goosefoot (chenopod), sedges (Cyperus), bulrush (Typha) the daisy family (Asteraceae), Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria) and ferns (Polypodiaceae) were detected. Moulds were low with one significant peak for Alternaria, an allergenic fungal spore.

Durban

Grass levels were a low but constant presence. Low tree levels included the types olive (Olea spp) and birch (Betula). Weed levels were low and included sedges (Cyperus), English Plantain (Plantago), the daisy family (Asteraceae), ragweed (Ambrosia), mugwort (Artemisia), Ferns (Polypodiaceae) and Pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria). Moulds were low with strong spikes for ascospores.

Gqeberha

Low grass levels were detected. Low tree levels included waxberry (Morella) gum (Myrtus) olive (Olea spp) and pine (Pinus). Low weeds included heather (Erica), sedges (Cyperus) the pink or carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) the spurge family (Euphorbia), Lily (Liliaceae), gonna (Passerina) and pigweed (Amaranthus). Moulds were low.