Summary
Pollen and fungal spore (mould) concentrations were flat in all cities except Potchefstroom, where mould spores were moderate, in response to rain and low temperatures.
Cape Town
Pollen in all the categories was low during this sampling period. Trees included Nuxia (forest elder), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), birch (Betulaceae), waxberry (Morella spp.) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds were erica (Ericaceae), mugwort (Artemisia spp), sorrel (Rumex spp), sedge (Cyperaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low.
Calvinia
Low concentrations of pollen were detected at this sampling site. Tree taxa were gum (Myrtaceae) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds were lily (Liliaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.). Mould spores were extremely low.
Johannesburg
All pollen categories had low concentrations during this sampling week. Tree taxa included Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and linden (Tiliaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Combretaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were low.
Pretoria
Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included beech (Fagus spp.), gum (Myrtaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were low.
Bloemfontein
Low pollen concentrations were seen at this sampling site. Trees were the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), false olive (Buddleja spp.), poplar (Populaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae) and sedge (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
The spore trap has been repaired and is running once again. Findings will be available from next week.
Durban
Pollen concentrations were extremely low. Tree pollen included the following types: Gum (Myrtaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae) and forest elder (Nuxia spp.). Weeds were mallows (Malvaceae). Moulds were moderate but with spikes for the allergenic spores Cladosporium and Epicoccum.
Gqeberha
The tree, weed and grass pollen concentrations were all low at this sampling site. Tree pollen types were gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella spp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Mould spores were consistently low.
Potchefstroom
Grass, trees and weed pollen was low. Tree pollen detected was Australian pine (Casuarina spp.) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthaceae) and plantain. Mould spores were moderate.
