Summary
On days without rain grass pollen is now high in the Cape Town winter rainfall area and in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom tree pollen was also high.
Cape Town
More sunshine hours during this sampling week brought about an uptick in grass pollen numbers. Grasses were moderate on average but high on rain free days. Tree concentrations were also high and included cypress (Cupressaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus spp), gum (Myrtaceae), linden (Tilia spp.), willow (Salicaceae), mulberry (Moraceae, pecan (Carya spp.), pine (Pinaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), protea (Proteaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sorrel (Rumex spp.) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low with small Alternaria spikes on warm days.
Calvinia
This sampling site is not operational.
Johannesburg
This spore trap is not running.
Pretoria
Bloemfontein: Grasses were low. Trees were high and included cypress (Cupressaceae), flamboyent (Delonix). Sand olive (Dodonaeae), coral tree (Erythrina spp.), the pea family (Fabaceae), beech (Fagaceae), chestnut (Hippocastanaceae) and larch (Larix spp.). No weeds were seen and moulds were low.
This spore trap has been moved and is not yet set up.
Kimberley
All pollen categories were low. Tree pollen included bushwillow (Combretaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Durban
All pollen and fungal spore levels were low during this sampling week. Trees identified included acacia (Acia-type), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), birch (Betulaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and monkey puzzle tree (Auracariaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and protea Proteaceae), Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Pollen and moulds were low at this sampling site. No grass pollen was detected. Trees were pine (Pinaceae) and weeds included sedges (Cyperaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) Moulds were low with small spikes for basidiospores (Includes mushrooms).
Potchefstroom
No grass was detected. Low tree concentrations included birch (Betulaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus spp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae and plantain (Plantaginaceae. Moulds were low.
George
Pollen remains low, but moulds increased as ascospores soared. Trees detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), pecan (Carya spp.), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus spp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp), birch (Betulaceae) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds included goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) sorrel (Rumex spp.), knotweed (Persicaria spp.) and nettles (Urticaceae).
