Summary
High tree count alert across most of South Africa including Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban and Kimberley. Very high tree counts were also recorded in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Very high weed counts were seen in Calvinia, with moderate counts in Cape Town. Moderate grass counts were seen in Johannesburg, and moderate fungal spore counts were recorded in Cape Town and Durban.
Cape Town
Tree counts were high due to increased cypress (Cupressaceae) levels. Other tree pollen detected were mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Moderate weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the cabbage family (Brassicaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Grasses were low and mould levels were moderate.
Calvinia
Very high weed counts were detected due to a peak in daisy (Asteraceae) pollen. Other weeds recorded were mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the cabbage family (Brassicaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), the rose family (Rosaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Grass, fungal spore and tree counts were low. Tree pollen included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and mesquite (Prosopis sp.).
Johannesburg
Very high tree counts were detected. High levels of cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanus sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae) were recorded. Other tree pollen seen were acacia (Acacia sp.), maple (Acer sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), gum (Eucalyptus sp.), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), lindens (Tiliaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Low weeds included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Grass counts were moderate and mould levels were low.
Pretoria
Very high tree counts were recorded due to elevated birch (Betulaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and plane (Platanus sp.) pollen. Other tree pollen detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), poplar (Populus sp.) and willow (Salix sp.). Weed counts were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Grass and fungal spore counts were low.
Bloemfontein
High tree counts were seen at this site due to elevated cypress (Cupressaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Other trees included olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Low weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae). Mould counts and grass levels were low.
Kimberley
High tree counts included elevated levels of birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and plane (Platanus sp.). Other trees detected were ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and willow (Salix sp.). Weed counts were low and the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould and grass counts were low..
Durban
High tree counts included a peak in mulberry (Moraceae) and lower levels of the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), acacia (Acacia sp.), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populus sp.) gum (Myrtaceae) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). Low weed counts were detected, and included the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spore counts were moderate.
Gqeberha
Low tree and weed counts were detected, with no grass pollen present. The tree pollen recorded were acacia (Acacia sp.), cedar (Cedrus sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Weeds included katstert (Anthospermum sp.), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
