Summary
Grasses were moderate in Cape Town and moulds were moderate in Durban and George. Tree and weed pollen concentrations were low at all the sampling sites.
Cape Town:
Grasses were moderate on average but high on most of the days of this sampling period. Trees were low and included cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), oak (Quercus spp.), poplar (Populaceae) and chestnut (Hippocastanaceae). Weeds included a spike for English Plantain (Plantaginaceae) for the second week, sedges (Cyperaceae), mezereum (Thymelaceae), erica (Ericaceae), protea (Proteaceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Moulds were low but significant concentrations of the allergenic mould Alternaria were repeated for the second week.
Calvinia
This site is not operational
Johannesburg
This site is not operational
Pretoria
This site is not operational
Bloemfontein
Pollen was found in low concentrations in the the atmosphere at this site. Trees included acacia (Acacia spp.), birch (Betulaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus spp.), waxberry (Morella spp.), gum (Myrtaceae), plane (Platanaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), pigmyweeds (Crasula spp), sedges (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and citrus/buchu (Rutaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Pollen loads were slight at this sampling site. Trees included yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), pine (Pinaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria spp.). Moulds were low but increased briefly after a slight amount of rain.
Durban
Grasses, trees and weeds were very low. Trees included birch (Betulus), cypress (Cupressaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina spp) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were sorrel (Rumex spp) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were moderate.
Gqeberha
No tree or grass pollen was detected at this sampling site. Low weed pollen included sedges (Cyperaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), rockfoils (Saxifrage spp.) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low.
Potchefstroom
Tree, grass and weed pollen concentrations were very low at this site. Moulds were similarly low.
George
Grass, tree and weed pollen concentrations were low at this site. Trees included yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), cypress (Cupressaceae) and birch (Betulaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and sorrel (Rumex spp.). Moulds were low, but ascospores surged after rain.
