Summary
High to very high tree pollen levels were observed across most of South Africa – especially in Bloemfontein. Grasses, weed pollen and fungal spore counts were low in most cities, except for Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and likely Calvinia (no new data) where weed counts were moderate.
Cape Town
Trees were very high, especially plane (Platanaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Other flowering trees included gum (Myrtaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), willow (Salicaceae), birch (Betulaceae), poplar (Populaceae), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), beech (Fagus sp.) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weed levels were moderate and included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), erica (Ericaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.) and nettles (Urticaceae). Grasses and fungal spore counts were low.
Calvinia
Courier delays from this site meant no new data were obtained for this week. The findings from the last available sampling period are repeated. Very high weed pollen counts were likely seen due to elevated mugwort (Artemisia sp.) levels. Other weed pollen included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the cabbage family (Brassicaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moderate tree counts included elevated hackberry (Celtis sp.) and mesquite (Prosopis sp.), as well as pollen from the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Moulds and grasses were very low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen levels were very high, with very low grass, weed and mould counts observed. The dominant trees were hackberry (Celtis sp.), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Lower levels of acacia (Acacia sp.), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populus sp.) and willow (Salix sp.). Only pigweed (Amaranthus sp.) and sedges (Cyperaceae) were detected in the weeds category.
Pretoria
Tree counts were very high and included elevated levels of birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and plane (Platanus sp.). Other trees detected include acacia (Acacia sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) and buckthorns (Rhamnaceae). Weeds were low and included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Grass and fungal spore levels were very low.
Bloemfontein
Tree counts were very high due to very high levels of hackberry (Celtis sp.), as well as elevated counts of cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) and olive (Oleaceae). Lower counts of birch (Betulaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), beech (Fagus sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) were also seen. Weed levels were moderate and included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spore counts were low.
Kimberley
Tree counts were high, weeds were moderate and grasses were low. The dominant tree pollen included birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanus sp.) and pine (Pinaceae), with lower levels of Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.) also seen. The weeds detected were mugwort (Artemisia sp.), daisies (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), rushes (Juncus sp.), bulrush (Typhaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae). Grass and mould counts were low.
Durban
Low levels were seen for grasses, trees and weeds. Tree pollen included hackberry (Celtis sp.) pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) oak (Quercus sp.), olive (Oleaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds detected were nettles (Urticaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Very low fungal spores loads were observed.
Gqeberha
Very low levels of weeds, trees and fungal spores were observed. The trees detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), cedar (Cedrus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds included katstert (Anthospermum sp.), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), vygies (Ruschia sp.), and sheepbush (Pentzia sp.). No grass pollen was recorded.
