Summary
Cape Town had moderate grass and tree counts, and moderate grass and weed counts were seen in Kimberley. Pretoria and Gqeberha both had low pollen counts, with Pretoria showing small spikes for the allergenic fungal spore, Cladosporium. Due to unforeseen circumstances, data from the other three sites were not available at the time of reporting.
Cape Town
Moderate grass and tree levels were seen, with low weed pollen counts. The trees detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), pine (Pinaceae), olive (Oleaceae), karee (Rhus / Searsia sp.), the persimmon family (Ebenaceae), sweetgum (Liquidambar sp.) mesquite (Prosopis sp.) and yellowwood (Podocarpaceae). Weed pollen included the daisy family (Asteraceae), borages (Boraginaceae), English plantain (Plantaginaceae), the protea family (Proteaceae), erica (Ericaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), sorrel (Rumex), sedges (Cyperaceae), the citrus family (Rutaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould counts were low.
Johannesburg
Power failures prevented data from this site to be available at the time of reporting. The findings from the previous sampling period are repeated here and will be updated as soon as new data becomes available: Very low grass, tree and weed counts were detected. Tree pollen included pecan (Carya sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). The weed pollen detected were only spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Moulds were also low.
Pretoria
Pollen and mould levels were low during this sampling period, but small peaks in the allergenic fungal spore Cladosporium were seen. Tree pollen detected were cypress (Cupressaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and the persimmon family (Ebenaceae). The weed pollen seen included sedges (Cyperaceae), English plantain (Plantaginaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae).
Bloemfontein
A technical issue was experienced at this site and no new data is available. The findings from the previous sampling period are repeated here: All pollen and fungal spore counts were low during this sampling period. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), olive (Oleaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanus sp.) and karee (Rhus sp. / Searsia sp.). The weed pollen detected were from the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), English plantain (Plantago sp.) and pigmyweeds (Crassula sp.).
Kimberley
Moderate levels of weed and grass pollen were detected. Low tree counts included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), pecan (Carya sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), mesquite (Prosopis sp.) and the persimmon family (Ebenaceae). The weed pollen detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mallows (Malvaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and the mint or sage family (Lamiaceae). Mould levels were low.
Durban
Due to courier delays, this sample did not arrive in Cape Town and could not be analysed in time for this week’s report. The findings from the previous sampling period are repeated here and will be updated as soon as new data becomes available: All pollen categories had low scores during this sampling week. Trees detected included the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.), olive (Oleaceae), acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), buckthorn (Rhamnaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and poplar (Populus sp.). Weeds found were nettle (Urticaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and English plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were high with strong spikes for ascospores.
Gqeberha
Overall low pollen and fungal spore counts were seen. Grasses have decreased. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia-type), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and the monkey puzzle tree (Araucariaceae). The weed pollen detected were pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and mugwort (Artemisia sp.).
