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