The website will be paused until mid-January. Grasses are likely to increase in summer rainfall inland cities. Ragweed has started its flowering cycle in Durban and may increase.
Summary
The public holiday on Monday delayed strip transport to the laboratory and so last week’s findings were repeated for some sites as shown. Grasses are increasing at inland sites and moulds had strong peaks in Durban this week.
Cape Town
Pollen and mould concentrations were consistently low. Trees included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were English plantain (Plantaginaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae).
Johannesburg
Grass counts were high at this site. Trees and weeds were not significant. Trees included birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae), ebony (Ebenaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae). Pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were mugwort (Artemisia) the daisy family (Asteraceae) sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) ferns (Polypodiaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Johannesburg South
Grasses are increasing at this site as moderate concentrations were detected. Trees were insignificant and included palm (Arecaceae). Birch (Betulus), false olive (Buddleia), bushwillow (Combretaceae) ash (Fraxinus), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericacea), bulrush (Typhaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticacea). Moulds were low. These data are repeated from last week.
Pretoria
All pollen and mould concentrations were low. Trees included karee (Rhus/Searsia), olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), olive (Oleaceae), palm (Arecaceae) and acacia (Acacia-type) Weeds were mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae),
Bloemfontein
Tree pollen is slowly disappearing from the air at this site. Acacia (Acacia-type), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), false olive (Buddleia), white stinkwood (Celtis), mulberry (Morceau), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpus) and karee (Rhus/Searsia) were seen in small concentrations. Low weed counts included the daisy family (Asteraceae) goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), mallows (Malvaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
High temperatures exceeding 40ºC occurred regularly during this sampling week and no rain fell. Olive (Oleaceae) was the only tree pollen detected. Weeds included goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were scarce and grasses were moderate. Last week’s data are repeated.
Durban
Moulds were very high due to the large contribution of ascospores and basidiospores (includes mushrooms). All pollen concentrations were low. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), pecan (Carya), olive (Oleaceae), birch (Betulus, oak (Quercus) and palm (Arecaceae). Weeds were ragweed (Ambrosia), ferns (Polypodiacae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae).
Gqeberha
Pollen concentrations were all low. Trees included acacia (Acacia-type), the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria angustifolia), The sumac family (Anacardiaceae), waxberry (Moraceae) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were ice-plants (Aizoaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ericas (Ericaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds were low. Last week’s findings were repeated as no results were sent this week. Last week’s data are repeated.
George
The pollen concentrations at this site could not be quantified as the clock stopped once again. Tree pollen detected was willow (Salicaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae).
Reference Range
Grass: Low: 0-5 Moderate: 6-20 High: 21-200
Trees: Low: 0-15 Moderate: 16-90 High: 91-1500
Weeds: Low: 0-10 Moderate: 10-50 High: 51-500
Moulds: Low: 0-900 Moderate: 900-2500 High 2500-25000
Unit: per cubic metre
