Summary
Tree pollen counts are picking up as we head into the new pollen season, with high counts seen in Bloemfontein and moderate levels in Johannesburg. Fungal spore counts and pollen in the other plant categories remained low across the country.
Cape Town
All pollen types were low during this sampling period. Trees included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), palm (Arecaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), Australian pine (casuarina) pine (Pinaceae) gum (Myrtaceae) oak (Quercus sp.) and olive (Oleaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould spores were low.
Calvinia
Low grass, weed and tree counts were recorded. Tree pollen included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae) and olive (Oleaceae). The weeds found were the daily family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spore counts were low.
Johannesburg
Tree pollen continues to increase at this site and cypress pollen showed a spike. Tree types detected included acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), white mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae),and oak (Quercus sp.). Low grass levels were seen and no weed pollen was detected. Mould spores were very low.
Pretoria
Grass and weed levels were low. Tree counts fluctuated from low to moderate and the types detected were birch (Betulaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), oak (Quercus sp.), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and willow (Salicaceae). Weeds detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Mould spores were low.
Bloemfontein
A spike in cypress pollen (Cupressaceae) was seen in the trees category. Other tree pollen detected were the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) and pine (Pinaceae) at lower levels. Weeds were low and included only the daisy family (Asteraceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Grass and mould counts were also low.
Kimberley
Delays in courier delivery of pollen samples meant no new data are available for this week. The results from the previous week are repeated. All pollen types were low during this cold midwinter period. Trees identified included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.) and poplar (Populaceae). Weeds detected were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and rockfoils (Saxifrage sp.). Fungal spores were very low.
Durban
Tree, weed and grass pollen levels were low during this sampling period. Trees detected included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.) and white mulberry (Moraceae). Weeds detected included the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), mistletoe (Loranthaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Mould spores were low.
Gqeberha
Low grass counts were seen. Low tree loads included Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). Weeds were low and included only katstert (Anthospermum sp.) and erica (Ericaceae). Moulds were very low.
