Summary
Tree counts remain high in Pretoria, with elevated levels also seen in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Cape Town. Grass counts in Cape Town and Kimberley were moderate, with moderate weed counts seen in Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Fungal spore levels were not significant at any sites.
Cape Town
Grasses were moderate. Trees were generally not significant, but a large variety of species were present in the atmosphere: cypress, (Cupressaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), plane (Platanaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), beech (Fagaceae), elm (Ulmaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds included spurges (Euphorbiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), protea (Proteaceae), erica (Ericaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae) and sorrel (Rumex sp). Moulds were moderate with spikes for ascospores.
Calvinia
Grass, tree and weed counts were low. Trees detected were the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), linden (Tiliaceae) and mesquite (Prosopis sp.). Weeds were moderate and the types detected were ice plants (Aizoaceae), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the carnation family (Urticaceae) spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and sedges (Urticaceae). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
Tree counts were moderate to high, while grass, weed and fungal spore counts were very low. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), spruce (Picea sp.), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). The weeds recorded were pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), daisies (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae).
Pretoria
Tree counts were high with elevated levels of ash (Fraxinus sp.) and plane (Platanus sp.) recorded. Other tree pollen detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), Cape holly (Ilex sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Grass, weed, and mould counts were very low. Weeds included the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), protea (Proteaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.), dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) and bulrush (Typhaceae).
Bloemfontein
Moderate weeds and trees with low grass counts were seen. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), false olive (Buddleja sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). The weeds recorded were daisies (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spore counts were low.
Kimberley
Moderate levels of trees, weeds and grasses were recorded during this sampling period. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), maple (Acer sp.), birch (Betulaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), beech (Fagus sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), mesquite (Prosopis sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The weeds detected were from the daisy family (Asteraceae), the cabbage family (Brassicaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), pelargonium (Geraniaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), protea (Proteaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.), the citrus family (Rutaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spores were low.
Durban
Grasses, trees, and weeds were low at this site. Tree pollen included beech (Fagus sp.), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), pecan (Carya sp.), pine (Pinaceae), elm (Ulmaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), acacia (Acacia sp.) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds detected were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Moulds were low.
Gqeberha
All counts were low: trees, weeds, grasses and fungal spores. The tree pollen detected were acacia (Acacia sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds included pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), katstert (Anthospermum sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), dandelions (Taraxacum sp.), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae) and vygies (Ruschia sp.).
