Summary
Cape Town has moderate grass, weed and Alternaria (mould) counts. Trees are moderate in Bloemfontein and moulds were moderate in George.
Cape Town
Tree pollen increased as pine (Pinaceae) showed a strong surge. Other flowering trees were birch (Betulaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), olive (Oleaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), cedar (Cedrus spp.) acacia (Acacia spp.) and plane (Platanaceae). Significant spikes for sedge grass (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) were consistently present. Moulds were generally low but the allergenic fungal spore Alternaria is increasing earlier than usual (peaks in November) and significant Alternaria spikes occurred.
Calvinia
This site is not operating
Johannesburg
This site is not operating
Pretoria
This site is not operating
Bloemfontein
Tree pollen was moderate at this site but trees are nearing the end of their flowering season. Trees detected were acacia (Acacia spp.), birch (Betulaceae), false olive (Buddleja spp.),bushwillow (Combretaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Myricaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), plane (Platanaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Weeds were pigmyweeds (Crassula spp.) and sedges (Cyperaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Grasses were very low. Low tree counts included bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), birch (Betulaceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), mugwort (Artemisia spp.), and sorrel (Rumex spp.). Moulds were scanty during the first part of this period but increased towards the end.
Durban
Grasses were low. Low tree counts included birch (Betula spp.), Australian pine (Cauarina spp.), sweet gum (Liquidamber spp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weeds were pigmyweeds (Crassula spp) and sorrel (Rumex spp.). Moulds were low but small Cladosporium spikes were noted.
Gqeberha
No findings were posted for this site.
Potchefstroom
Pollen and moulds were low at this site. Trees included mulberry (Moraceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), oak (Quercus spp.) and sand olive (Dodonaea spp.). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae) nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were low but a small Cladosporium spike at the end of this sampling week was noted.
George
Grasses, tree and weed pollen concentrations were all low after copious rain. The rain is also reflected in the higher mould levels as ascospore levels surged, Trees detected included acacia (Acacia spp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), plane (Platanaceae). Poplar (Populaceae), beech (Fagus spp.), linden (Tilia spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), mulberry (Moraceae), beech (Fagus spp.). sweet gum (Liquidamber spp.) and maple (Acer spp.). Weeds were nettles (Urticaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae),sedges (Cyperaceae) and mugwort (Artemisia spp.), Moulds were moderate.
