Summary
Increases in grass and weed pollen are seen at this time of year after the rains. Moulds increase in some coastal areas.
Cape Town
Tree, weed and grass pollen was low. Trees included gum (Myrtaceae), monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), ash (Fraxinus) and karee Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were English Plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and dandelion (Taraxacum). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
High grass counts with moderate tree and weed counts are usually recorded. The trees detected usually include birch (Betulaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae). Weeds include pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), carnations (Caryophyllaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds are generally low.
Pretoria
Moderate to high grass counts, moderate tree counts, and low weed counts are usually recorded at this time of year. Trees usually include birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), Cape holly (Ilex sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Weeds are the daisy family and moulds are generally low.
Bloemfontein
Tree, grass and weed pollen counts were low. Trees included beech (Betulus), false olive (Buddleja), cyoress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), olive (Oleaceae), poplar (Populacreae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
The strips harvested during the holidays are still in transit. Mean counts are given and the report shows expected findings Pollen levels at this time of year are usually low. Trees usually seen are elm (Ulmaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds are likely to be goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and buckwheat (Polygonaceae). Moulds are expected to be low occasional spikes for
the allergenic spore Cladosporium. Intermittent rain would remove pollen and mould from the air at this site.
Durban
Despite heavy rain on every day of this sampling period, spikes occurred for ascospores and basidiospores. Tree, weed and grass pollen was seen in low numbers. Trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), ash (Fraxinus) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), English Plantain (Plantaginaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae).
Gqeberha
Grass was moderate. Tree and weed pollen concentrations were very low during this sampling period. Trees included the pea family (Fabaceae) and waxberry (Morella). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), sorrel (Rumex) and reeds (Restionaceae). Moulds approached but did not exceed the moderate threshold.
Potchefstroom
This spore trap has not yet been restarted.
George
The pollen strip did not reach Cape Town in time for processing. The findings will be added once the strip is analysed.
