Summary
Tree counts remain high in Cape Town, but a slight decrease in grass counts were seen in response to lower temperatures. Moderate to low tree counts were seen at the other monitoring sites, indicating the decline of the tree pollen season. Bloemfontein recorded moderate grass counts, an increase from the previous sampling period. The grass season is slowly getting underway. Durban had high moulds / fungal spore counts.
Cape Town
Grasses decreased to moderate levels in response to lower temperatures. High tree pollen levels were detected for cypress (Cupressaceae), gum (Myrtaceae) and pine (Pinaceae), while oak (Quercus sp.), palm (Arecaceae), birch (Betulaceae), cedar (Cedrus sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanaceae) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae) were found in low numbers. Low weed levels included the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), English plantain (Plantaginaceae), nettle (Urticaceae), erica (Ericaceae), dandelion (Taraxacum sp.), sorrel (Rumex sp.), ice plants (Aizoaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and protea (Proteaceae). Mould counts were low.
Johannesburg
Moderate tree counts, low weeds and low grasses were detected. Tree pollen included ash (Fraxinus sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanus sp.), birch (Betulaceae), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina sp.), hackberry (Celtis sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) karee (Rhus sp. / Searsia sp.) and linden (Tiliaceae) were seen. The weed pollen detected were the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), spurges (Euphorbiaceae), pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria sp.), mallows (Malvaceae) and fern spores (Polypodiaceae). Mould levels were low.
Pretoria
Grasses and weeds were low. Lower levels of tree pollen were seen including acacia (Acacia sp.), the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), ash (Fraxinus sp.), birch (Betulaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), jacaranda (Jacaranda sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), pine (Pinaceae), plane (Platanaceae), red milkwood (Mimuseps), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae) poplar (Populus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.), and Marula (Sclerocarya sp.). Weeds were very low and only sorrel (Rumex sp.) and knotweed (Polygonaceae) were detected. Moulds were low.
Bloemfontein
Overall significant pollen counts were seen, with moderate levels of trees, weeds and grasses. Tree pollen included acacia (Acacia sp.), false olive (Buddleja sp.), bushwillow (Combretaceae), cypress (Cupressaceae), the pea family (Fabaceae), waxberry (Morella sp.), gum (Myrtaceae), olive (Oleaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), plane (Platanus sp.), pine (Pinaceae) and karee (Rhus sp. / Searsia sp.). The weed pollen detected were mugwort (Artemisia sp.), aloes (Asphodelaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), erica (Ericaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and pigmyweeds (Crassula sp.). Mould counts were low.
Kimberley
Moderate tree counts were seen during this sampling period. The tree pollen detected included a peak in bushwillow (Combretaceae) and the sumac family (Anacardiaceae), with lower levels of hackberry (Celtis sp.), cedar (Cedrus sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae), mulberry (Moraceae), gum (Myrtaceae), pine (Pinaceae), yellowwood (Podocarpaceae), plane (Platanus sp.), oak (Quercus sp.) and olive (Oleaceae) also present. Low weed pollen counts included aloes (Asphodelaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), nettles (Urticaceae), sedges (Cyperaceae) and buttercups (Ranunculaceae). Mould and grass levels were also low.
Durban
Grass and tree levels were low. Tree pollen types detected included palm (Arecaceae), hackberry (Celtis sp.), mulberry (Moraceae), pecan (Carya sp.), pine (Pinaceae), gum (Myrtaceae), Australian pine (Casuarina), acacia (Acacia sp.), plane (Platanaceae), birch (Betula sp.), cypress (Cupressaceae) and oak (Quercus sp.). Low weed levels were found including protea (Proteaceae), the daisy family (Asteraceae), goosefoot (Chenopodiaceae), nettle (Urticaceae), sorrel (Rumex sp.), knotweed (Polygonaceae), erica (Ericaceae) and pellitory-of-the-wall (Parietaria sp.). Moulds were high as ascospores increased and small spikes weed detected for the allergenic fungal spores Epicoccum and Cladosporium.
Gqeberha
No grass pollen was detected during this sampling period. Low tree pollen included cypress (Cupressaceae), olive (Oleaceae) and pine (Pinaceae). Weed levels were low as katstert (Anthospermum sp.) erica/heather (Ericaceae), the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae) were detected. Moulds were very low.
