Two sets of visitors on one day

At relatively short notice we were asked by two groups of botanists from Gauteng to show them certain taxa in the grasslands and forests along the Umtamvuna River,

The first was a group from the University of Pretoria who are investigating the possible effect of an Invasive Alien rust on indigenous Myrtaceae. We set off in search of the Eugenia species growing in our forests and forest fringes.  Inspection of this genus in a local nursery had revealed significant infestation and they wanted to check whether the infestations have reached natural populations as well.  Unfortunately this is indeed the case. While Eugenia erythrophylla (NT) and E. umtamvunensis (EN) both show signs of the rust, both on new and old leaves, E. verdoorniae seems to be more vulnerable and we found a number of fairly old trees which had suffered significant die-back. It is possible this rust (and perhaps in combination with other environmental factors) may sufficiently stress plants to cause them to die altogether. This is a great concern as all three of these species are endemic to our area. We will have to monitor the health of our populations. 

Dieback on Eugenia verdoorniae

Interestingly, it seems that the genus Syzygium has not yet been affected by this rust.

Other plants of interest encountered while searching for Eugenia trees were Streptocarpus porphyrostachys (NT) and Mystacidium aliceae (VU).

 

Streptocarpus porphyrostachys

Mystacidium aliceae

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Uschi T, from CREW and Alisteir M, Esna duP, Jolanda R, Stewart F, from UP.

In the afternoon we were joined by a team from SANBI Pretoria who were on their way back to Pretoria after a protracted field trip and who were keen to see an unknown species of Aspidoglossum we recently encountered in the grassland at Cubica Heights. We were lucky enough to find several of these unobtrusive plants and Pieter Bester has undertaken to give us an ID next week once he gets back to Pretoria.

While out in the grassland we were able to show them other Apocynaceae in flower, namely Cryptocarya capensis and Riocreuxia torulosa, and finally a rather splendid specimen of Xysmalobium orbiculare.

Riocreuxia torulosa

Xysmalobium orbiculare

The Aspidoglossum hunters

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Uschi T, from CREW and Hester, S, Marinda K, and Pieter B from SANBI.

Emplectanthus hunting at Ngele - success at the second attempt

We have annual planning sessions with Suvarna Parbhoo and her team from the CREW Offices in Durban. Among the species for which the Pondoland CREW team have been tasked with verifying current population details is Emplectanthus gerrardii. 

Tony Abbott collected a specimen which was identified subsequently as Emplectanthus gerrardii at Ngele some years back, and at the beginning of 2015 we made an attempt to find this "population". Apparently, when the collection was made, only one plant was found. While we were equipped with GPS coordinates and photocopies of specimens we failed to find the plant in 2015. This year we decided to try again and this time arranged for Isabel Johnson - a member of the group accompanying Tony when the collection was made - to join us in the search.

Isabel recognised the area we took her to and very soon was able to confirm that the plant was no longer where they collected the specimen. However she felt that the habitat was right for the Emplectanthus so we continued scouring the area for some time (in between the many flowering Calanthe sylvatica) - but unfortunately this search was unsuccessful.

Calanthe sylvatica

We then decided to investigate another similar location and this time our luck was in. First we found a single plant in flower, and then a more thorough search in the area revealed more small plants. We found around 10 plants in total - a great success! Especially so as Robertson Madwe, our guide allocated to us for the day by the DAFF Forestry office, had noticed the shoulders beginning to droop at the thought of an unsuccessful search.

Emplectanthus gerrardii

Emplectanthus gerrardii

Buoyed by this success we could afford to enjoy the other flowers in the forest and adjacent grassland habitats. In the dense forest we found a number of Dracaena aletriformis in flower, and alongside a stream was a cluster of Begonia sutherlandii.

Dracaena aletriformis

Begonia sutherlandii

Also growing in dense shade were several large-flowered Begonia geranioides.

Begonia geranioides

We also came across some interesting looking fungi - one a perched on the bark of a live tree, and the other a puffball on the ground. 

 

Large fungus

Brain-like Puffball

On the forest margin was a Grewia lasiocarpa with a single flower posed in a patch of sunlight.

Grewia lasiocarpa

And on a steep boulder-strewn grassland we found the interesting member of the Hyacinthaceae, Boweia volubilis subsp. volubilis, a plant highly sought after by traditional healers for its medicinal properties and which therefore has a status of Vulnerable..

Bowiea volubilis

The team of successful Emplectanthus hunters

Participants: Dean P, Graham G, Isabel J, Kate G, Robertson M.

  

Searching for the forest path at Smedmore

It has been some years since we were thwarted in our attempt to follow the forest path at Smedmore where a large tree had blocked the path. We were hoping time might have allowed some self clearing and that would allow us the opportunity to get past the great old Podocarpus falcatus (known as Mr. Nic) and then to visit the known sites of some of our endemic special plants.

Shortly after entering the forest we came across two long bamboo poles and a home-made bush knife - brought into this protected area for unknown nefarious purposes but presumably for reaching high up into the canopy. Fortunately, anticipating further deadfalls, we were equipped with a small saw and could cut these poles up. We found the old path to be in reasonable condition, and managed to get past the point that had halted us on the previous attempt. However, our progress was once again blocked, this time by a tangle of Acacia ataxacantha and Adenopodia spicata, both equipped with many hooked thorns. This, combined with the steamy forest heat made us decide to push no further.

We had, on the way, encountered several Excoecaria simii in flower and fruit, and spent some time under a tall Atalya natalensis studying the fallen flowers and trying to work our what the tree was.

Excoecaria simii fruit

Excoecaria simii

Atalaya natalensis

In the dense shade in the forest we found a Pavetta bowkeri with a cluster of white flowers and a few scattered Disperis anthoceros.

Pavetta bowkeri

Disperis anthoceros

Once we left the forest we came across Lotononis meyeri with a few small whitish flowers set against the silvery foliage. At the edge of the cliffs we found a Cassine peragua covered in small white flowers.

Cassine peragua

Lotononis meyeri

A final check at the cliff edges near the vehicle revealed Cryptolepis capensis in flower.

 

Cryptolepis capensis

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

New invasive alien plant (IAP) in our area.

When one of us recently came across a brightly coloured flowering herb in our Admiralty protected area we were distressed to find that this is regarded as an "emerging weed" and early preventative measures might still get this plant under control. This plant is Ruellia simplex. Fortunately we have found this small population early and it should easily be eradicated.

Ruellia simplex

Generally we try to focus on the many indigenous special flowering plants of this area, but with IAPs so obvious at the moment it is probably a good time to mention some of the worst. Particularly obvious at this time of year is Campuloclinum macrocephalum or pompom weed. There are major infestations in Gauteng province and it is possible seeds from these populations are brought down by vehicles as it seems most of our current infestations are along the roadsides. The other very obvious invader is Formosa Lily, Lilium formosanum and their white trumpet-shaped flowers are also to be found along the roadsides.

A useful source of information on Invasive Alien Plants is SAPIA News.

Further visits to montane areas

Our scheduled CREW visit to Ntsikeni Nature Reserve was cancelled due to the lack of rain. However, we were asked to assist a tour group by providing local knowledge of the plant species at Ntsikeni and used this as an opportunity to visit Garden Castle Nature Reserve as well.

The internal road at Ntsikeni is now much improved making access to this delightful reserve far easier. We met the tour group at the entrance to Ntsikeni and within a short while we were exploring the grassland. We found the orchids Disa stachyoides, Habenaria laevigata and Orthochilus foliosus and close by an Aspidonepsis flava.

Aspidonepsis flava

At the next stop we found some beautiful heads of Asclepias macropus close to the side of the road.

Asclepias macropus

We decided to stop for lunch at the first river crossing despite the noise of the construction team working on the causeway. After a brief lunch the group were soon admiring the colony of endangered Disa scullyi in the wetland and the nearby Habanaria schimperiana.

Disa scullyi

Our last stop was at a ridge not far from the Lodge. Walking northward along the ridge we were able to show the group a yet-to-be-described Xysmalobium species, Kniphofia laxiflora, Disa cornuta and a good colony of Satyrium hallackii. 

We left the tour group shortly after this and headed for some friends who live near Underberg. Early the next morning we drove to the Garden Castle Nature Reserve and explored the grassland along the river. Here we found two species of orchid (both rare) that we had not previously encountered, Disa tysonii and Satyrium microrrhynchum, as well as many of the more common Bolusiana tysonii.

Bolusiana tysonii

Near the reserve we were happy to find a small group of Nerine appendiculata in flower. As there is a significant disjunct in the flowering time of this population and that of the same species at Ngele (May), it will be interesting to compare the DNA of these two populations.

Participants: Graham G, Kate G.

Exploring the cliff edges at Cubica Heights

We thought it was a good time to check what orchids were flowering near the Outeniqua Falls, so first went to the Klipspringer area. Fortunately the day was overcast and much cooler so it was a pleasure to get out into the field.

It was not long before we came across a few Stenoglottis macloughlinii although the flower spikes were almost all past their best. Nearby we found a good subpopulation of robust Polystachya mauritiana, and then a little further on discovered more Stenoglottis macloughlinii in good condition.

Stenoglottis macloughlinii

Polystachya mauritiana

Growing in well secluded shade between the rocks was a group of Liparis remota with their odd-shaped flowers.

Liparis remota

There were several other epiphytic orchid species on the rocks and trees but all of these flowered some time ago and just showed remnants of fruit capsules.

We then made our way around the gorge to the opposite side at Cubica Heights in the Umyamvuna NR and on the forested edges above the cliffs continued to find more of these same species. There was one good example of Searsia acocksii with its delicate spray of flowers, as well as some flowering Pseudoscolopia polyantha and one Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides in bud - these three taxa are red listed as Near Threatened.

Searsia acocksii

Looking over the cliff edge we spotted an interesting plant and with a bit of a scramble managed to reach a robust clump of Teedia lucida in flower and full of fruits - this species is not common in our area and several members of the group had not encountered it before.

Teedia lucida

Walking back to the vehicle we found a few Aspalathus dahlgrenii ined. Also in the grass were Relhania pungens, Zornia linearis and Tinnea galpinii. We got back to the vehicle just as a very welcome rain shower hit us.

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

Escaping from the crowded beaches

We decided to escape from the crowds of visitors who come for their holidays to enjoy the beaches of KZN by heading for the high Drakensberg and staying at Tenahead, not far from the top of Naude's Nek pass. There is a peak by the name of Tina Head as this is where the Tina River, a major tributary to the Umzimvubu River arises. As the altitude near the top of the pass is all above 2500m we were not surprised to be confronted with a suite of unknown alpine plant species.

The drive up the pass is always interesting as the vegetation changes with altitude, particularly over the last climb to the top where the steep slopes tend to provide more shadow and help keep the soil moisture higher, and the plants take full advantage of these conditions. The first of these to catch our eyes was Phygelius capensis with its bright red flowers.

Phygelius capensis

Close by were three orchid species which we had not seen previously, namely the rare Disa oreophila subsp. erecta, Disa thodei and Satyrium ligulatum. Another more familiar orchid species was Holothrix scopularia.

Disa oreophila subsp. erecta

Disa thodei

A common feature of the grasslands is the rather striking high-altitude Berkheya species Berkheya purpurea, but it shares some of this space with other robust, bright yellow (Berkheya multijuga) and white (Berkheya cirsiifolia) flowered members of the genus.

Berkheya purpurea

Berkheya multijuga

Berkheya cirsiifolia

At the top of the pass we explored some exposed basalt sheets and in gravel beds we found Romulea macowanii var oreophila in flower as well as some diminutive Massonia wittebergensis in fruit. There were also two Glumicalyx species on the gravel beds, G. montanus and G. nutans.

Romulea macowanii var oreophila

Massonia wittebergensis with fruit

The interesting thing about the Massonia was that on our first exploration of these gravel beds, there were only plants with fruit between the leaves. After an overnight shower of about 12 mm we found many of these plants to have flowered - presumably in response to the rain. Another interesting observation is that we saw virtually no bees on this trip. Most of the pollinating duties appeared to have been taken over by flies, beetles and wasps.
 

Massonia wittebergensis in flower being pollinated by a fly

One spectacular plant we encountered on this visit was the parasitic Harveya scarlatina.

Harveya scarlatina

Two Dierama species were flowering while we were at Tenahead - Dierama pauciflorum and D. robustum. And having recently had our interest in Thymelaceae stimulated by Lize and Rudi van Staden's visit to our area, we were very happy to find a very hairy Gnidia aberrans in flower.

Gnidia aberrans

There was a good variety of Kniphofia species, both in flower and in fruit. Unfortunately, while we found large patches of K. northiae, we only found fruit on some of these. However, the grassland was liberally dotted with flowering K. caulescens, K. gracilis, K stricta, and K. parviflora.

Kniphofia caulescens

The views from the top towards Maclear were breathtaking

 We also found attractive rosettes of Crassula setulosa growing on rocks and in the gravel beds. 

Crassula setulosa

While Rhodohypoxis baurii was common in damp seeps, we also were happy to find the diminutive Rhodohypoxis deflexa.

Rhodohypoxis deflexa

On the grassy slope were many of the low (shorter than 150 mm) variety of Satyrium longicauda var. jacottetianum.

Satyrium longicauda var. jacottetianum

We saw two recognisable species of Moraea, M. albicuspa and M. alticola and several species of Helichrysum. We came across one Ornithogalum regalis in flower but several plants nearby were in bud.

Ornithogalum regalis

There were several species of Geranium, all flowering well. Most notable were G. brycei and G. robustum.

Geranium brycei

Geranium robustum

We came across several Asclepias humilis in flower, the only member of the Apocynaceae family we found on this trip.

Asclepias humilis

Coming from the warm, humid climate at the coast it was a pleasant surprise to be enjoying a fire in our bedroom each evening, and the comfortable bed and good meals made our mountain escape all the more pleasant. A return trip is a must in a good rainfall year!

Kate with Tenahead in the background

Participants: Graham G, Kate G.