It was a small Pondoland CREW group—just enough of us to
squeeze into a single vehicle—and so we set off, cautiously navigating the
unkept grasslands toward Western Heights, our destination: the Iron Crown.
This place was once a favourite. A landscape of pristine
grassland, rich in flora and promise. But times have changed. With little
reserve management, cattle now roam unattended, and the damage is unmistakable.
We entered with heavy hearts, reminded that these grasslands—like the distant Amazon
rainforest—are under increasing pressure. Human development, neglect, and
misuse threaten not only the land, but the intricate web of life it supports.
Our first stop was not botanical, but no less special. We
paused to look for the European roller, a migrant preparing to depart. This
striking bird breeds across a vast range—from Morocco and Spain to Poland,
India, and Siberia—yet here it was, part of our fleeting moment in the
grasslands.
Before even entering the reserve, the flora began to speak.
Along the roadside, we encountered Erica aspalathifolia var. aspalathifolia,
its flowers still fresh—something of a rarity for us, as we so often arrive too
late, greeted only by the remnants of flowers. Nearby, Watsonia densiflora
stood vibrant and welcoming, its bright pink flower heads almost ceremonial,
ushering us into the reserve.
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| Erica aspalathifolia var. aspalathifolia ERICACEAE South African endemic |
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| European Roller Europese Troupant
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Botanically, the day unfolded generously. Protea simplex
was in flower, while among the rocks we found a rich assembly: Euryops
brevipapposus,Brachystelma australe, Asclepias praemorsa, Berkheya rhapontica, and Loxostylis
alata, the latter revealing male flowers upon closer inspection.
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| Protea simplex PROTEACEAE Dwarf Grassveld Sugarbush
APOCYNACEAE South African endemic |
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| Euryops brevipapposus ASTERACEAE
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| Loxostylis alata ANACARDIACEAE Wild Peper Tree South African endemic |
Even the more familiar held our attention. Syncolostemon
parviflorus and Lasiosiphon triplinervis are commonly encountered,
yet never fail to draw the eye.
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| Lasiosiphon triplinervis THYMELAEACEAE South African endemic
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The flower of the day, however, was undoubtedly Aloe myriacantha.
Delicate and easily overlooked, this tiny grass aloe
revealed itself only to those who slowed down enough to see. Its slender leaves
mimic blades of grass, its soft salmon-coloured flowers give it away.
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| Aloe myriacantha ASPHODELACEAE |
Nearby, nestled among rocks, Crassula alba drew us in
with its red-speckled leaf bases—a subtle but striking detail. In terms of
habitat, it is surely among the most perfectly placed, thriving in conditions
that seem almost too harsh to sustain such beauty.
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| Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Crassula alba CRASSULACEAE |
The Crassulas kept us entertained. We found Crassula obovata var. dregeana,Delosperma subpetiolatum, Crassula expansa subsp. expansa and Crassula perforata var. perforata, —the latter affectionately named Sosatiesbossie, its leaves neatly stacked like skewered pieces on a sosatie stick.
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| Crassula obovata var. dregeana CRASSULACEAE Vulnerable D2 South African endemic |
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| Crassula perforata subsp. perforata CRASSULACEAE Sosatiesbossie South African endemic
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And then there is Crassula obovata var. obovata, a plant so rich in synonyms that one imagines it might be thoroughly confused if it could hear what we’ve called it over the years. Perhaps it is not the plant that is confused—but us.
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| Crassula obovata var. obovata CRASSULACEAE
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As the heat of the day intensified, we drifted toward the forest edge in search of shade. There, a puzzling Searsia caught our attention. Initially thought to be Searsia nebulosa, it defied easy identification. Insight from Richard Boon clarified the uncertainty: it was “not tree-like enough to be rehmanniana and not scrambling enough to be nebulosa”—a reminder of how fluid and nuanced plant identification can be.
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| Searsia rehmanniana var. glabrata ANACARDIACEAE
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Nearby, Centella glabrata var. natalensis surprised us with its unexpected hairiness—a tactile detail that invites closer inspection.
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| Centella glabrata var. natalensis APIACEAE |
On the slopes, Lotononis lotononoides (a true tongue twister) and Rhynchosia caribaea made their presence known, the latter scrambling up surrounding vegetation. We admired the flowers of Heteromorpha arborescens subsp. collina and found Monsonia natalensis nestled quietly in the grass.
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| Lotononis lotononoides FABACEAE |
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| Photo credit: Tracy |
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| Heteromorpha arborescensvar. collina APIACEAE Small Parsley-tree South African endemic |
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| Rhynchosia caribaea FABACEAE |
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| Photo credit: Tracy Gail taking refuge in the shade of the long grass looking at Rhynchosia carabaea. |
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| Monsonia natalensis GERANIACEAE South African endemic |
A freshwater pool offered brief relief, and we found ourselves dipping neck scarves into the cool water—small comforts on a hot day—before heading back into the sun.
Eventually, we rested beneath the shade of Syzygium cordatum, its contorted form providing both shelter and a sense of calm. Here, the pace slowed, and conversation flowed as easily as the shade was welcomed.
Days like this fill one’s tank. They remind us why we do this—why we return, again and again, to places both loved and threatened.
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For the love of CREW
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| Pondoland CREW Anne Skelton, Gail Bowers-Winters, Tracy Taylor, Ushi Tercher & Alf Hayter A heartfelt thank you to this incredible community—those who assist with identifications near and far, those who provide cameras to document these moments, those who offer transport to reach these places, and, most importantly, those who bring the passion, enthusiasm, and motivation that carry each day. Special thanks as well to Beaver Creek Coffee Estate for providing a welcoming space in which to work and create the blog so it can be shared. It is this collective spirit that makes every outing so meaningful. |
“To walk these grasslands is to understand what stands to be lost—and why noticing, recording, and caring are no longer optional, but essential.” GBW
