Summary
Very high tree pollen levels were recorded in Pretoria, with a large spike specifically for plane, olive and ash. Tree counts were high in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Kimberley, and moderate in Cape Town. Grasses increased to moderate levels in Kimberley and Cape Town and moderate weed counts were seen in Kimberley and Calvinia. Durban had moderate levels of fungal spores.
Cape Town
Grass counts were moderate on average but several daily counts were high. Tree counts decreased but were varied and pine (Pinaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), acacia (Acacia sp.), olive (Oleaceae), birch (Betulaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and hackberry (Celtis sp.) were detected. Weed pollen levels were low and included plantain (Plantaginaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae),knotweed (Persicaria sp.), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), reeds (Restionaceae) and dandelion (Taraxacum sp.). Moulds were very low.
Calvinia
Weeds increased to moderate levels as goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and ice-plant (Aizoaceae) pollen counts breached the significant threshold. Other weed pollen detected included the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Tree pollen was scarce and only the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) was seen. Grass counts were low and moulds were extremely low in this hot, dry Northern Cape city.
Johannesburg
Grass and weed pollen levels remained low but significant tree counts were observed. Trees detected included acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). High counts were also seen for oak tree pollen (Quercus sp.). Weeds included pigweed (Amaranthaceae), mugwort (Artemisia sp.) and sedges (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Pretoria
Tree pollen was high at this site and included acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and oak (Quercus sp.). Very high scores were also found for plane (Platanaceae) tree and high counts for olive (Oleaceae) and ash (Fraxinus sp.). Weed counts were high and the types detected included the daisy family (Asteraceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae ), dandelion (Taraxacum sp.), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Grasses were low, as were moulds.
Bloemfontein
Tree counts approached significance, but grass and weed counts remained low. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), false olive (Buddleja sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), syringa (Melia sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), mesquite (Prosopis sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). The weeds detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Tree counts increased to high levels, while weed and grass counts were moderate. The tree types detected were very diverse and included maple (Acer sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), the monkey puzzle family (Araucariaceae), birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), pecan (Carya sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus sp.), sweetgum (Liquidambar sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), mesquite (Prosopis sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) and buckthorns (Rhamnaceae). Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the cabbage family (Brassicaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), figworts (Scrophulariaceae), dandelions (Taraxacum sp.), bulrush (Typhaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), caltrops (Zygophyllaceae) and African daisies (Gazania sp.). Fungal spores were low.
Durban
Tree, weed and grass pollen counts were low during this sampling period. Trees detected included bushwillow (Combretaceae), pine (Pinaceae), birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), elm (Ulmaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), pecan (Carya sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds included knotweed (Persicaria sp.), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), protea (Proteaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were moderate.
Gqeberha
Low levels of weeds, and very low levels of grasses, trees and fungal spores were recorded. Weeds included pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). The trees detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), cedar (Cedrus sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae).
