Weekly Report

16 April 2021

City
Overall Risk
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Weed Pollen
Mould Spores

Cape Town

Grass pollen levels were low. Tree pollen were moderate and included forest elder (Nuxia sp.), pepper tree (Schinus sp.), birch (Betulaceae), pine (Pinus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae) and waxberry (Morella sp.). Weeds were low with erica (Ericaceae), English plantain (Plantago), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia sp.) detected. Mould counts were low.

Johannesburg

Grasses were moderate. Trees were low and included pine (Pinaceae), bush willow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Morus spp.), olive (Oleaceae) and gum tree (Myrtaceae). Weeds were moderate due largely to slangbos (Stoebe-type), but spurges (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopdiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), heather (Ericaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia sp.) were also detected. Moulds were low.

Pretoria

Grass counts were moderate. Tree and weed levels were low. Trees detected were elm (Ulmaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), and Australian pine/beefwood (Casuarina sp.). Weeds detected were goosefoot (Chenopodiacea), sunflower (Helianthis sp.) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Moulds were low.

Bloemfontein

Due to a technical fault with the spore trap at this site, the data from last week is repeated. Grasses were moderate. Trees were low and included waxberry/bayberry (Morella sp.), pine (Pinaceae), Australian pine or beefwood (Casuarina sp.) and eucalyptus (Myrtaceae). Low weed levels were detected and the pollen types were mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), English plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds were low but some significant spikes for Alternaria are noted.

Kimberley

Grass levels were high. Tree and weed levels were low. Trees detected included elm (Ulmaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae) and pepper tree (Schinus sp.). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Overall mould levels were low but significant levels were consistently seen for Alternaria as well as small spikes for Cladosporium.

 Durban

Grasses were high. Tree levels were low and included mulberry (Morus sp.), pepper tree (Schinus sp.), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) and waxberry (Morella sp.). Weeds were low and the daisy family (Asteraceae), nettles (Urticaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) were detected. Moulds were high with large spikes for ascospores and smaller spikes for Cladosporium.

Gqeberha

Grasses were low. Trees were low and only Australian pine/beefwood (Casuarina sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.) and the cashew or sumac family (Anacardiaceae) were detected. Weeds were also low and included sedges (Cyperaceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Moulds were low with small spikes for Ascospores.