Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: November 2015

Friday, 27 November 2015

A trip to Terraces and Dissotis Dawdle

With 28mm of overnight rain to boost our spirits, a small group of us braved the cold and windy conditions to see what the area adjacent to the Umtamvuna NR we call the Terraces had to offer other than its impressive scenery. After fighting our way through an old sugar-cane land we came across the unexpected sight of a number of Erica aspalathifolia var aspalathifolia (Declining) flowering in the tall grass of the old cultivated field.

Erica aspalathifolia var aspalathifolia

A short distance further and we were on flat rock pavements of Msikaba sandstone, the parent rock type that forms the basis of the Pondoland Centre of Endemism. There we found Lampranthus fugitans flowering shyly in the overcast conditions.

Lampranthus fugitans

We were happy to find several Craterostigma sp. nov. flowering on these rock plates too, and were able to collect some flowers to use to measure and finish off the illustration for a species description for this plant.

Craterostigma sp. nov.

Once we encountered the open and undisturbed grassland over the Reserve boundary we were struck by the many showy Aspalathus chortophylla and Aspalathus spinosa.

Anne and Kate in amongst the Aspalathus chortophylla

How big?

We worked our way along the clifftops and across a crevasse in which we saw two species of Streptocarpus, S. formosus and one other still to be identified, as well as a small population of Hypoxis membranaceus. Rangaeris muscicola and Tridactyle bicaudata were also flowering well on the rocks along the cliff edges. Here we also were lucky to find a very colourful adult Flatid Bug, the nymphs of which feed on Salacia gerrardii in the forest. A short distance further we came across some Aspalathus dahlgrenii (ined.), the first of this species we have yet found inside the reserve.

Adult Flatid Bug

After having lunch in the lee of some large rocks while sitting under an extremely old and gnarled Erythrina humeana, we made our way back to the vehicle and then on to our second stop of the day at a rocky outcrop which we decided to name Dissotis Dawdle after the bright display of Dissotis canescens in a depression.

Seed capsules of Erythrina humeana

A number of Moraea inclinata had decided the sun was bright enough and had opened. We were also gratified to find a small group of Aspalathus gerrardii. There is also an interesting looking forest patch here which might warrant a special trip in future.

Moraea inclinata

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

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

The south-west bank of the Umtamvuna gorge

Over the weekend, some of us provided local knowledge to two scientists involved with an EIA for a proposed commercial timber project on community land on the south-western side of the Umtamvuna River gorge. The major part of the land was previously devoted to sugar cultivation and few remnants of the original plant diversity remain, but there are fringe areas with intact grassland and it is hoped these can be retained if the timber plantings go ahead.

This gave us the opportunity to visit areas which we might not otherwise be inclined to visit and gave us a very interesting view of the cliffs of the Western Heights area of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve.

Panorama of Western Heights cliffs from the south-west bank of the Umtamvuna River

Participants: Anne S, Christina P, Graham G, Isabel J, Kate G.

Friday, 20 November 2015

Tackling the Ingonyama River gorge

In several outing reports by Tony Abbott, he made reference to a forested gorge in northern Pondoland which he found to be particularly rich in Pondoland endemic species. We have wanted to return there for some time but lacked knowledge of how to get there, so when local nurseryman, Simon Woodley spoke of visiting there we leaped at the opportunity.

Apart from delays caused by the construction work on upgrading the R61, the road access was surprisingly good (for a Pondoland site) and it was not long before we were walking off across grasslands towards the Ingonyama gorge (a tributary to the Mzamba River) with Simon as our guide. When we arrived at the edge of the cliffs above the gorge, he said we would decend via an "easier" route than the "traditional route". If the route we used was easier than the traditional route then those that visited the gorge before us were made of stern stuff!

Heading across the grassland towards the gorge in the background.

Once we reached the bottom of the valley, it was a relatively simple boulder-hop from there on. Just before we reached the stream, we came across a large, fallen Lydenburgia abbottii (Endangered endemic), probably brought down during one of the fairly violent wind storms we have experienced recently.

Our guide, Simon, and Pondoland Crew ladies in front of the fallen Lydenburgia trunk.

All along the forested edges of the stream we were finding endemic species such as Rhynchocalyx lawsonoides, Eugenia umtamvunensis and some as-yet undescribed species, Eugenia sp. and Syzygium sp., but most noteworthy were several old, gnarled, Lydenburgia abbottii. We stopped to pose in front of one venerable specimen (Tony's tree) which, some years ago, was subjected to a number of tests by Prof. Braam van Wyk.

In front of Tony's big tree

While the riverside trees were interesting it was hard to keep looking at them as the scenery unfolding before us as we continued down the stream was splendid. Nevertheless we did note the Plectranthus stylesii (Critically Rare) in the shade along the banks.

A big pool upstream of the waterfall

We eventually reached the waterfall and paused for lunch in a small cave overlooking the falls. Anne even braved the drop down to the pool below to capture a photo on her phone.

Anne getting the photo of the day

The lunch stop - Simon taking a nap on the right

The top of the waterfall

Panoramic view of waterfall from one of the caves

Necessarily fortified by our lunch, we toiled back out of the gorge, and up onto the grasslands to get back to the vehicle, tired but very satisfied with what we had seen.

Making our way out of the gorge

Participants: Anne S, Graham G, Kate G, Simon W, Uschi T.

Friday, 13 November 2015

Hunting for Commelinaceae at Red Desert

On this Thursday's outing we were joined by Frank Chidawanyika, a researcher from the Agricultural Research Council. He is researching biological control of the invasive species, Tradescantia flumenensis (Commelinaceae), and needs to collect indigenous members of the Commelinaceae family to confirm that the biocontrol vector being considered for release has no inclination to skip species and cause damage to indigenous species.

At the Red Desert Nature Reserve we were able to show him the natural habitat for several species of Commelina, Cyanotis and Floscopa. In addition, Pondoland CREW members gave him cuttings from their gardens for the trials. Although it was too early for the Floscopa to be flowering, a photo from an earlier visit to the same site is attached below to show what Floscopa glomerata looks like.

Floscopa glomerata

We found a number of Brachycorythis ovata, but fewer than in previous years. In a nearby wetland the numbers of Orthochilus (Eulophia) milnei were more severly reduced by the dry conditions. Near the wetland we came across two Brachystelma sandersonii (vulnerable).

Orthochilus milnei

Brachystelma sandersonii

Scattered in the wetland were a few Satyrium sphaerocarpum, and in another wetland area near the Zolwane stream we found a number of Eulophia angolensis.

Satyrium sphaerocarpum

At this stage the light drizzle we had been enjoying intensified into real rain and it did not take long for us to be wet to the knees and to be squelching along in soaked boots. We nevertheless had time, after lunch under the shelter of an umdoni tree (Syzygium cordatum), to enjoy the flowers of Dianthus zeyheri, Protea simplex and Protea roupelliae on the way back to our vehicles.

Dianthus zeyheri

Protea roupelliae

Protea simplex

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Frank C, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Uschi T.

Friday, 6 November 2015

A scramble around Aspalathus Amble

This was a new area for us to walk in and Maggie was given the honour of naming the walk. With the preponderance of Aspalathus chortophylla in flower around us it did not take her long to come up with the name Aspalathus Amble, and true to the name, in the hot and windy conditions we did no more than amble along the cliff edges.

Aspalathus chortophylla

There were still a few Watsonia inclinata in flower in the dessicated grassland.

We dropped down into a valley to cross a stream and saw a flash of orange in a tree. This determined this to be Agelanthus gracilis after we collected a specimen; strangely, this is a species not previously collected in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve.

Agelanthus gracilis

On the slope beyond the stream, Uschi found a Monsonia praemorsa with its delicately etched outer petal surfaces and very hairy stems and leaves.

Monsonia praemorsa

A little further on we came across a rather large Manilkara nicholsonii with the remnants of this season's fruits. A useful character for this species is the presence of woody galls on most of the branchlets. This time we also noted the presence of galls on the leaves.

Manilkara nicholsonii fruits

Galls on leaves of Manilkara nicholsonii

Uschi, Dorothy and Maggie hotly debating the identity of Dichrostachys cinerea

On the route back to the vehicle we paused to admire the many hungry pollinators on the bright yellow Helichrysum acutatum flowers.

Pollinators on Helichrysum acutatum

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

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Southern KZN CREW target species of the month - November

Impatiens flanaganiae BALSAMINACEAE [Vulnerable]

A rare tuberous species may be known as Giant Pink busy lizzy or Mrs Flanagan’s impatiens. It is known from a few localities near Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It can also be found in less well-known locations in central southern KwaZulu-Natal, such as Pondoland and southern KwaZulu-Natal, growing in shade, usually on boulders on steep slopes or near the base of waterfalls, mostly on sandstone.

It is threatened by harvesting for medicinal use, alien plant invasion and water extraction from river systems.

It is a soft perennial herb that forms tubers to enable it to go dormant during dry season. It grows up to 1 m tall, in colonies. Tubers can grow to 6 inches long. Stems are fleshy, upright, branched, reddish, dying back in winter. Leaves large, longer than broad, gradually narrowing to a tip, margins toothed, stalks 10–45 mm. Flowers with side petals, rosy pink with yellow markings inside. It flowers from November to January. The flowers make their appearance in the summer and autumn along the tops of the stems. It is reported that under conditions of excessive heat the plant continues to grow but flowers abort.

If you have seen this plant, please contact Mbali Mkhize, CREW programme: KZN Node Project Assistant m.mkhize@botanicalsociety.org.za

References:

Pooley, E. 1998. A field guide to wildflowers KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern region. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.

Von Staden, L., Victor, J.E. & Cloete, E. 2006. Impatiens flanaganiae Hemsl. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2015.1. Accessed on 2015/10/22

Impatiens flanaganiae [online].
Available from: http://www.strangewonderfulthings.com/188.htm. [Accessed on 2015/10/22]

Impatiens flanaganiae [online].
Available from: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Impatiens [Accessed on 2015/10/27]

Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and threatened plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions. KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service, Pietermaritzburg.

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Argyrolobium longifolium FABACEAE [Vulnerable]

Twiggy subshrub, up to 1.5 m tall, upright, sparingly branched below. Distributed around Pietermaritzburg to Tugela and Port Shepstone, growing in sandstone grassland. The species is quite likely also more common in suitable sandstone grasslands elsewhere within southern KwaZulu-Natal. Leaf surface smooth; sparsely silky, with closely-lying soft straight hairs and shiny silky sheen at the lower surface of the leaf. Inflorescence almost directed to the same side, up to 20-flowered. It flowers from September to February. Calyx (outer-most whorl of floral organs) are silky with closely appressed soft straight hairs and shiny silky sheen, deeply two-lipped, upper lip incipiently double toothed, 9−12 mm long, lower lip 10−14 mm long. Corolla lemon yellow, becoming black in drying plants. Fruits are linear, flattened between seeds.

Argyrolobium longifolium (Photo Alison Young)

If you have seen this plant, please contact Mbali Mkhize, CREW programme: KZN Node Project Assistant m.mkhize@botanicalsociety.org.za

References:

Edwards, T.J. 1994. South African Journal of Botany 60(1): 39−43.

Edwards, T.J., Raimondo, D. & von Staden, L. 2014. Argyrolobium longifolium (Meisn.) Walp. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2015.1. Accessed on 2015/10/22