Braving the drizzle at Oribi Flats

As we have had less than our normal rainfall in this early part of the summer season, we were delighted that we were faced with drizzle and a cold wind when we started our walk along the top the cliffs on the north bank of the Mzimkhulwana River. The views from the top of the sheer cliffs down into the gorge are always imposing, but the weather conditions gave these views an untamed feel.

Extreme botanising in wet and windy conditions

It was not long before we came across some flowers also braving the conditions. Tucked under a rock was a beautiful spray of Streptocarpus trabeculatus. Hilliard and Burtt in "Streptocarpus - An African Plant Study" suggest that this species seems to undergo synchronised flowering; we did see others in flower, and also saw several of the more common Streptocarpus haygarthii in flower.

Streptocarpus trabeculatus

In the "shade" of a Seemannaralia gerrardii at the cliff's edge

The showers came and went, as did the waterproof jackets as we headed seawards along the cliffs. A target species for this area is Caputia oribiensis but we found no sign of it where it is expected, i.e. hanging down along the cliffs - so we will have to try further down the gorge on another occasion.

We did however find a fairly robust specimen of Seemannaralia gerrardi peeping over the edge of the cliffs, a tree we do not often come across, despite its Least Concern rating in the Red List.

An interesting feature of this section of cliff edge was the number of succulents, particularly Crassulaceae (about 10 species), growing mostly in semi-shaded positions. Below is a photo of a particluarly venerable Crassula ovata hanging out over the abyss.

Crassula ovata

After having a quick lunch in a sheltered place we went off to a nearby grassland where we have been monitoring the flowering plants over the seasons between bi-annual burns. This area was subject to a management burn on 23 August and is looking very colourful at the moment. Berkheya and Helichrysum are particularly prolific.

Patch monitoring

The view down into the Mzimkhulwana River gorge

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