Outing to the Gogosa outpost area

With the traditional early September cold front whistling around our ears we set off for Gogosa outpost - at the northernmost part of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve and started walking along the boundary firebreak. Before long we found ourselves at the edge of a small forested gully where we encountered a number of the unmistakable but vulnerable Aspalathus gerrardii - unfortunately not yet in flower.

Aspalathus gerrardii

We then worked our way along the forest fringe where we found both Rothmannia capensis and R. globosa but their flowers were mostly past their best. We came across what looked like the endangered Maytenus abbottii but, without flowers it is difficult to be sure. We also found Cassinopsis tilifolia in flower and the declining species Cassipourea malosana with newly forming fruits.

Cassinopsis tinifolia

Young fruit of Cassipourea malosana 

At the bottom of the gully we found a male Stangeria eriopus (Vulnerable) with a cone and close by there was a Clivia robusta (Vulnerable) with its striking red fruits.

Stangeria eriopus

Clivia robusta

We returned via some unburned grassland where we found abundant Agathosma ovata, and scattered Dierama igneum flowers and then found some Eulophia hians var. hians where we spent some time investigating whether these early flowers had pollinia or not.

Dorothy and Uschi searching for Eulophia hians pollinia

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Uschi T.