Summary
Pollen counts were low at all sampling sites with spikes for weeds in Potchefstroom, where significant ragweed counts were recorded and Johannesburg, where mugwort counts were moderate.
Cape Town
Pollen concentrations were low during this sampling period. Trees include gum (Myrtaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were plantain (Plantaginaceae), sorrel (Rumex spp.), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) erica (Ericaceae), knotweed (Persicaria spp.), and mugwort (Artemisia), Mould spores were low but small spikes for basidiospores occurred after rain.
Calvinia
This site should be operational from next week but for this week averaged counts are given. Grass, tree and weed pollen levels were low during this sampling period. The only tree pollen detected was the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) Weeds included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg
No grass was detected during this sampling period. Tree concentrations were low, and the tree types were birch (Betula spp.), the pea family (Fabaceae), willow (Salicaceae) and linden (Tiliaceae). Weeds were moderate and consisted of the carnation family (Erodium), mallows (Malvaceae), mint (Lamiaceae), gentians (Gentianaceae) and Pellitory-of-the wall (Urticaceae). Mould spore counts were low.
Pretoria: No grass at all was detected during this sampling period. Tree counts were very low and the types identified were hackberry (Celtis spp.), cypress (Cupressus spp.), white mulberry (Moraceae) and karee (Rhus/ Searsia spp.). Weeds were low and included mugwort (Artemisia spp.) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were generally low but significant spikes were seen for the allergenic mould Alternaria.
Bloemfontein
Last week’s counts are repeated as no findings were received this week. Pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees detected were waxberry (Morella spp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.), and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and sedge (Cyperaceae). Mould spores were extremely low.
Kimberley
Grass and tree pollen concentrations were low. Tree types were karee (Rhus/Searsia spp) only. Weed pollen was scanty and only goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.) were detected. Moulds were low with small spikes for total mould counts occurring after rain.
Durban
Low concentrations were seen during a rainy sampling week. The only tree detected was gum (Myrtaceae). No grass pollen was caught and weeds identified were nettles (Urticaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and mallows (Malvaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
Grass concentrations were very low at this sampling site. Trees were equally low and those detected were waxberry (Morella spp.), gum (Eucalyptus spp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Few weed pollen grains were trapped and these were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), lily (Liliaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were low.
Potchefstroom
Tree, grass and weed concentrations declined to low levels during this sampling period as frequent rain washed pollen and spores from the air. Tree taxa included palm (Arecaceae), cypress (Cupressus), ash (Fraxinus spp.) oak (Quercus spp), olive (Oleaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia spp), mugwort (Artemisia app) and the daisy family. Mould spores were low, but significant Cladosporium concentrations were seen on some days.
