Weekly Report

26 February 2021

City
Overall Risk
Tree Pollen
Grass Pollen
Weed Pollen
Mould Spores

Cape Town

Overall counts of grass, weed and tree pollen were low. Tree pollen of elm (Ulmus), gum (Eucalyptus), karee (Rhus) and pepper tree (Schinus sp) were detected. Weed pollen of the daisy family (Asteraceae), waxberry (Morella), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), English plantain (Plantago), erica (Ericaceae), aloe (Asphodelaceae), nettle (Urticaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiacea) were present. Mould counts were also low.

Johannesburg

Grass counts were high. Tree counts were low, with pollen from acacia (Acacia sp), pine (Pinus), bush willow (Combretaceae), birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Eucalyptus), plain tree (Platanus), poplar (Populus), kareeboom (Rhus/Searsia), Australian pine (Casuarina) and oak (Quercus) detected. Weed counts were also low, with erica (Ericaceae), euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), fern (Polypodiaceae) and pollen from the daisy family (Asteraceae) present. Moulds were low.

Pretoria

Grasses increased to moderate levels. Tree levels were low and included the types kareeboom (Searsia/Rhus) bush willow (Combretaceae) and mulberry (Morus spp). Weeds were very low and the types detected were English plantain (Plantaginaceae) the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low.

Bloemfontein

Grasses were high. Tree levels were low as kareeboom (Searsia/Rhus), pine (Pinaceae), waxberry (Morella) and elm (Ulmaceae) were detected. Weed levels were also low and the types detected included the daisy family (Asteraceae), protea (Proteaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low.

Kimberley

Grass levels were high. Very low tree levels were seen and only karee (Rhus/Searsia) was detected. Weeds were low and the types detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), ragweed (Ambrosia spp), sorrel (Polygonaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and the pink or carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Moulds were low.

 Durban

Grass counts were low. Tree and weed pollen counts were also low, with a spike in pollen recorded on the last day of this sampling period. The tree pollen types of mulberry (Moraceae), stinkwood (Ulmus) and gum (Myrtaceae) were detected. Weed pollen included English plantain (Plantago), erica (Ericaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and pollen from the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were low until the last day of the sampling period, when the fungal load increased.

Gqeberha

Grass, tree and weed pollen levels were all very low during this sampling period. Only Australian pine (Casuarina) and waxberry (Morella) were detected in the category of trees. Weed pollen included the pink or carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were low.