Summary
Grass, tree and weed pollen counts plummeted at all the sampled sites. Moulds were equally low, as rain and low temperatures negatively affected the pollen catch and fungal load. Loadshedding is reducing the counts, but autumn peaks are usually weeds (Artemisia, ragweed, goosefoot) and moulds.
Cape Town
Heavy rainfall removed pollen and fungal spores from the air. Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included gum (Myrtaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were scanty and the types detected were knotweed (Persicaria spp.), plantain (Plantaginaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Mould spores were low.
Calvinia
Extremely low pollen and fungal spore (mould) concentrations were detected from this sampling site. No grass pollen was seen. Low tree concentrations included only palm (Atrecaceae) and the weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria spp.).
Johannesburg
Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included palm (Arecaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina spp.), gum (Myrtaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were low and included pigweed (Amaranthaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae, lily (Liliaceae), fern (Polypodiaceae) and slang-bos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were low.
Pretoria
No tree or weed pollen was detected from this sampling catch. Grass pollen was very low and moulds were moderate.
Bloemfontein
Pollen concentrations were all low at this site. Trees included acacia (Acacia spp.), birch (Betulus), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella spp.), plane (Platanaceae) and poplar (Popiulaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedge (Cyperaceae) and erica (Ericaceae). Mould spores were low.
Kimberley
Grasses were low. Low tree concentrations included bushwillow (Combretaceae), poplar (Populaceae), elm (Ulmaceae) and waxberry (Morella spp.). No weed pollen was detected. Mould spores were low.
Durban
Grasses were low. Low tree types included gum (Myrtaceae), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betula), mulberry (Moraceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were similarly low and these were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia spp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae) and the carrot and carnation family (Apiaceae). Mould spore loads were slight.
Gqeberha
All pollen concentrations were low at this sampling site. Trees included cedar (Cedrus spp.), waxberry (Morella spp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedge (Cyperaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and slang-bos (Stoebe-type). Mould spores were low.
Potchefstroom
The counts were delayed and will be added when completed.
