Summary
Bloemfontein had significantly high pollen levels due to an increase in tree pollen, as well as moderate levels of weed and grass pollen. The overall pollen count in Cape Town was also high, with moderate tree and weed pollen levels detected. Moderate levels of grass and tree pollen were seen in Johannesburg. Public holiday courier delays and festive season site closures meant no new data were available for Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Kimberley and Durban but new results should be available next week. Pollen counts in Calvinia were low.
Cape Town
Low grass levels with moderate trees and weeds were recorded. Trees detected included acacia (Acacia-type), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), birch (Betulaceae), linden (Tiliaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), and buckthorns (Rhamnaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), nettles (Urticaceae, plantain (Plantaginaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae), mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). knotweed (Persicaria spp.), protea (Proteaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.), the citrus/buchu family (Rutaceae), figworts (Scrophulariaceae), and caltrops (Zygophyllaceae). Fungal spores were low.
Calvinia
Pollen in all categories: Trees, grasses and weeds were scanty during this sampling period. Trees detected included bushwillow Combretaceae) and weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), knotweed (Persicaria spp.) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were very low.
Johannesburg
Moderate grass and tree counts, with low weed counts, were observed. The tree pollen recorded included birch (Betulaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), carnations (Caryophyllaceae), buckwheat (Polygonaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae). Fungal spores were very low.
Pretoria
This site is still closed for the festive season but new data should be available next week. December results: Moderate to high grass counts, moderate tree counts, and low weed counts were recorded. Trees included birch (Betulaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), Cape holly (Ilex sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), oak (Quercus sp.) and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). The weeds observed were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Fungal spores were not significant.
Bloemfontein
High tree counts with moderate weed and grass counts were recorded. Trees included elevated levels of olive (Oleaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae), as well as acacia (Acacia sp.), false olive (Buddleja sp.), pecan (Carya sp.), ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), and karee (Rhus/Searsia sp.). The weeds detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), erica (Ericaceae), and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fungal spores were low.
Kimberley
Public holiday courier delays meant no new data were available for this site but new data should be available next week. December results: Pollen levels were low. Trees detected included elm (Ulmaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and gum (Myrtaceae). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae) and buckwheat (Polygonaceae). Moulds were low with one spike for the allergenic spore Cladosporium. Intermittent rain removed pollen and mould from the air at this site.
Durban
Public holiday courier delays meant no new data were available for this site but new data should be available next week. December results: Low tree, grass and weed levels were recorded. Tree pollen included the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), mulberry (Moraceae) and chestnut (Hippocastanaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria spp.). Moulds were significant with strong spikes for ascospores and basidiospores during a week of heavy rainfall.
Gqeberha
This site is still closed for the festive season but new data should be available next week. December results: Very low levels of grass, tree and weed pollen were detected. Trees included acacia (Acacia sp.), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.) and waxberry (Morella sp.). The weeds detected were sedges (Cyperaceae), lilies (Liliaceae), and proteas (Proteaceae). Fungal spores were also very low.
Potchefstroom
This site is still closed for the festive season but new data should be available next week. December results: Moderate grass counts with very low tree and weed counts were recorded. Tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and plane (Platanus sp.). The weeds detected were only the daisy family (Asteraceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Fungal spores were very low.
