Summary
Pollen and fungal spore counts were low across most of South Africa. The tree, weed, and grass counts in Cape Town were moderate with moderate weed counts also recorded in Bloemfontein. Fungal spores were high in Kimberley and Durban, and moderate in Pretoria.
Cape Town
Grasses, trees, and weeds were moderate during this sampling period. Trees detected were birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), beech (Fagus sp.), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and lindens (Tiliaceae). Weeds included bulrush (Typhaceae), rush (Juncaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the citrus family (Rutaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), ice-plants (Aizoaceae) erica (Ericaceae), borages (Boraginaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Fungal spores were low, with a small peak in the allergenic mould Cladosporium after rain.
Calvinia
Low pollen counts were recorded for trees, grasses and weeds. Tree pollen detected included Mesquite (Prosopisspp.), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus?Searsia) pecan (Carya spp.) and Australian pine (Casuarina spp.). Weeds included mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae) and figworts (Scrophulariaceae). Moulds were very low with a small spike following rain for the fungal spore Alternaria.
Johannesburg
All pollen categories (trees, weeds, grasses) were very low, as were fungal spores. The tree pollen types detected were bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Only sedges (Cyperaceae) were detected in the weed pollen category.
Pretoria
Fungal spores were moderate, but pollen counts for grasses, weeds and trees were very low. Tree pollen included birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). The weed pollen recorded was only from the daisy family (Asteraceae) and the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae).
Bloemfontein
Weed counts were moderate, with low grass and tree pollen levels. The trees detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), false olive (Buddleja sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populus sp.), and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Weeds included a peak in plantain (Plantaginaceae), as well as lower counts of mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spores were very low.
Kimberley
The tree, grass, and weed pollen count was slight during this sampling period. Trees detected included olive (Oleaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), pecan (Carya sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), and cypress (Cupressaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were high with significant daily peaks for the allergenic mould Cladosporium.
Durban: Tree, grass and weed pollen levels were low during this sampling period. Trees were birch (Betulaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Weeds detected included sedges (Cyperaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were high, largely due to the contribution of ascospores following rain.
Gqeberha
Pollen counts were moderate and fungal spore counts were low during this sampling period. Tree pollen included monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). The weeds detected were pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), katstert (Anthospermum sp.), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae).
