Summary
Tree pollen is waning but a variety spring flowering trees are still well represented in the air. Grasses are increasing in the winter rainfall areas and veld fires have left large deposits on the strip in Kimberley.
Cape Town
Grass pollen disappeared from the air on rainy days, but high concentrations were seen at the end of the sampling week. Tree pollen concentrations included significant concentrations for cypress (Cupressaceae) on the few days without rain. Other trees included pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), oak (Quercus spp.), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae) and gum. Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), protea (Proteaceae), sorrel (Rumex spp.), sedges (Cyperaceae), bulrush (Typhaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and nettles (Urticaceae), Moulds were low.
Calvinia
This site is not operational.
Johannesburg
This site is not operational.
Pretoria
This site is not operational.
Bloemfontein
Grasses were low. Tree pollen is decreasing but types identified included birch (Betulaceae), false olive (Buddleja spp.), mulberry (Moraceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), plane (Platanaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia spp.) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmy weeds (Crassulaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae). A small spike was seen for sedge. Moulds were low.
Kimberley
The entire strip was covered in a layer of particulate matter, phytoliths and burnt grass stamens from veld fires. This obscured much of the catch. Grass pollen was minimal. Low tree pollen included acacia (Acacia-type), pecan (Carya spp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and African stinkwood (Celtis africana). Low weed pollen concentrations included protea (Proteaceae) and mallows (Malvacaeae). Moulds were low.
Durban
Last week’s results are repeated. No grass was detected during this sampling week. Tree pollen was low and included pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), oak (Quercus spp.), ash (Fraxinus spp.) and African stinkwood (Celtis spp.). Weeds were equally low and the types were the daisy family (Asteraceae), nettles (Urticaceae) and knotweed (Persicaria spp.). Moulds were moderate on days without rain.
Gqeberha
No results were posted.
Potchefstroom
No results were available from this site.
George
Grasses were low. Tree pollen decreased but a variety of tree pollen is still airborne, including birch (Betula), cypress (Cupressaceae), pine (Pinaceae), a small spike for yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), acacia (Acacia-type), plane (Platanaceae), and oak (Quercus spp.). Low weed concentrations included goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), erica (Ericacaeae), knotweed (Persicaria spp.|), sedges (Cyperaceae) and bulrush (Typhaceae). Moulds were low, but a spike was noted for Alternaria on 30 September.
