Summary
Small spikes were seen for tree pollen at some sites and moulds have increased in Durban after considerable rain.
Cape Town
Pollen and moulds were found in low concentrations. Trees included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Rhus/Seersia). Weeds detected were mustards (Brassicaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), English plantain (Plantaginaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).
Calvinia
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Johannesburg
Means of the past four years are given. Trees usually detected are gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds seen during this period are sedges (Cyperaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), nettle (Urticaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds are usually low.
Pretoria
Grass, tree and weed pollen was present in low concentrations. Trees included bushwillow (Combretaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae) willow (Salix) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were lily (Amaryllidaceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Pollen in all three categories was found in low concentrations. The dominant tree pollen was gum (Myrtaceae). Other trees were false olive (Buddleja), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). In the weed category, sedges were detected most often and other weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), plantains (Plantaginaceae) and caltrops (Zygophyllaceae). Moulds were low. This is a repeat of last week’s readings.
Kimberley
Pollen and moulds were found in very low concentrations after a week of very hot, dry weather. Trees detected were bushwillow (Combretaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), protea (Proteaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were scarce. This is a repeat of last week’s findings.
Durban
Grasses, trees and weeds were found in low concentrations in the air. Trees were acacia-type (Acacia), birch (Betulaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds were plantain (Plantaginaceae), the carrot family (Apiaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were moderate.
Gqeberha
Grass was low, tree pollen was minimal but a small spike occurred for sand olive (Dodonaea). Other trees were buckthorns (Rhamnaceae), karee (Searsia/Rhus) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds included lily (Amaryllidaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), reeds (Restionaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low with spikes for ascospores and Cladosporium.
Potchefstroom
Grasses were low. Low tree levels included pine (Pinaceae), gum ( Myrtaceae), copperleaf ( Acalypha) and the pea family (Fabaceae) Weeds were insignificant and included plantain (Plantaginaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae)and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Grass, tree and weed pollen was generally insignificant with the exception of a moderate tree count, dominated by cypress on 9/12/23. Other trees detected were birch (Betulaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Searsia/Rhus), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Maize (Zea mays) was present in low numbers and moulds were low.
