Summary
Moderate grass counts were detected in Gqeberha. Tree and weed pollen was not significant and moulds were low at all the sites except Durban, which has subtropical climate.
Cape Town
Tree, grass and weed concentrations were insignificant. Tree pollen in the air included gum (Myrtaceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), karee (Rhus/Searsia), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weeds were English Plantain (Plantaginaceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and protea (Proteaceae) and moulds were low with small spikes for Alternaria, an allergenic fungal spore.
Calvinia
This site is not operating.
Johannesburg
Means of the past four years are given. Trees usually detected are gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae) and elm (Ulmaceae). Weeds seen during this period are sedges (Cyperaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), the daisy family (Asteraceae), nettle (Urticaceae) and spurges (Euphorbiaceae). Moulds are usually low.
Pretoria
Means of the past four years are given. Tree pollen detected in the air includes mulberry (Moraceae), monkey puzzle (Araucariaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), birch (Betulus), ash (Fraxinus) ebony (Euclea), olive (Oleaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Moulds are usually low but increasing.
Bloemfontein
Pollen in all three categories was found in low concentrations. The dominant tree pollen was gum (Myrtaceae). Other trees were false olive (Buddleja), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), poplar (Populaceae) and bushwillow (Combretaceae). In the weed category, sedges were detected most often and other weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), pigmyweeds (Crassulaceae), plantains (Plantaginaceae) and caltrops (Zygophyllaceae). Moulds were low.
Kimberley
Pollen and moulds were found in low concentrations after a week of very hot, dry weather. Trees detected were bushwillow (Combretaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were the daisy family (Asteraceae), protea (Proteaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were scarce.
Durban
Pollen was found in small concentrations in the air at this site. Trees were pecan (Carya), birch (Betula), gum (Myrtaceae), acacia-type (Acacia), karee (Rhus/Searsia), and willow (Salix). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), plantain (Plantaginaceae), ferns (Polypodiaceae), mugwort (Artemisia) and the daisy family (Asteraceae), Moulds were low to moderate, with spikes for ascospores and basidiospores.
Gqeberha
Grasses were moderate. Pollen concentrations in the air were low. Trees included the pea family (Fabaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) and karee (Rhus/Searsia). Weeds were goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), reeds (Restionaceae), plantains (Plantaginaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), ice plants (Aizoaceae), pigweeds (Crassulaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and mezereum (Thymelaeaceae). Moulds were low.
Potchefstroom
Low tree pollen concentrations included olive (Oleaceae), karee (Searsia/Rhus), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and acacia (Acacia-type). Grasses were low. Weeds were low to moderate as were sedges (Cyperaceae), sorrel (Rumex), bulrush (Typhaceae) and plantains (Plantaginaceae). Moulds were low.
George
Last week’s findings are repeated due to courier failure. Pollen and moulds were low at this sampling site. Trees included gum (Myrtaceae), linden (Tilia), mulberry (Moraceae), pine (Pinaceae), olive (Oleaceae), oak (Quercus) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). Weeds were sedges (Cyperaceae), mugwort (Artemisia), English plantain (Plantaginaceae), knotweed (Persicaria), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), sorrel (Rumex) and ferns (Polypodiaceae). Moulds were low with small spikes for ascospores following rain.
