Due to courier delays, the Pretoria counts could not be completed in time for this report and the data from last week are repeated here.
Cape Town
Low tree, grass and weed levels were detected. Trees identified were waxberry (Morella sp.), Australian pine or beefwood (Casuarina sp.), forest elder, (Nuxia sp.) and pepper tree (Schinus sp.). Low weed levels included the daisy family (Asteraceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Moulds were low. Particulate matter and charcoal, presumably from the recent Cape Town fire was also seen.
Johannesburg
Grass and weed pollen counts were moderate, whereas tree pollen counts were low. The tree pollen detected included acacia (Acacia sp.), birch (Betula sp.), bush willow (Combretaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum tree (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinus sp.), karee (Rhus sp.), poplar (Populus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The weed pollen detected were the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), mallows (Malvaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type), ferns (Polypodiaceae), the jute family (Tiliaceae), spurges (Euphorbia sp.) and heather (Ericaceae). Mould counts were low.
Pretoria
Grasses were moderate and trees and weed levels were low. Trees detected included bush willow (Combretaceae), the soapberry family (Dodonaea sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) and jacaranda (Bignoniaceae). Weeds included ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), slangbos (Stoebe-type) and nettle (Urticaceae). Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Grass counts were moderate. Tree and weed levels were low. The tree pollen detected were waxberry (Morella sp.) and acacia (Acacia sp.). Weed pollen included mugwort (Artemisia sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae) and goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae). Mould counts were low.
Kimberley
Grass counts were high. Trees were low and included the types pepper tree (Schinus sp.) and waxberry (Morella sp.). Weed levels were low and included the daisy family (Asteraceae) and buckwheat (Polygonaceae). Moulds were generally low, but significant spikes for the allergenic mould Alternaria were detected.
Durban
Grasses were low, as were trees. Trees detected included waxberry (Morella sp.), elm (Ulmaceae), birch (Betula sp.), eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) and cypress (Cupressaceae). Low weed counts included ferns (Polypodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) and the daisy family (Asteraceae). Moulds were high.
Gqeberha
Grass, tree and weed levels were low. Tree pollen included Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), waxberry (Morella sp.) and the cashew or sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds detected were sedges (Cyperaceae) and slangbos (Stoebe-type). Mould levels were low.
