Another look at the Kniphofias at Banners and Rennie's

We continued our attempts to distinguish between K. coddiana and K. littoralis in the coastal grassland.  Having marked several flowering Kniphofia specimens at Banners' Triangle three weeks ago, we returned to see how the fruits of the marked flowers were developing. The size of the fruits at this stage seem to indicate that these plants are Kniphofia littoralis rather than K. coddiana as previously thought.

While crossing this small grassland we came across several of the white form of Orthochilis ensatus - the first time we have recorded this species at Banners'.

Orthochilis ensatus  white form

We then drove to the Rennies' grassland to repeat the exercise of marking the Kniphofias. We were surprised by the numbers of Acrolophia cochlearis we found while walking across the grassland - both flowering and in fruit. 

Acrolophia cochlearis flowers

Acrolophia cochlearis fruits

Apart from some persistent Lotononis bachmannii flowers we found the Dyschoriste burchellii to be flowering well, as well as one Disa versicolor in flower and another in fruit.

Dyschoriste burchellii

Disa versicolor

Participants: Graham G, Kate G.

Visiting a new corner of the Western Heights

While undoubtedly former Thursday Group stalwarts like Hugh Nicholson and Tony Abbott explored these areas of the Western Heights, for most of us participating in the walk this Thursday we were venturing into terra incognita. While we wanted to head in a generally southerly direction towards the confluence of the Bulolo and Umtamvuna Rivers, we allowed ourselves to be diverted by interesting attractions. The first of these was a Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides in full flower.

Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides

Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides

Below this on a wet slope were several Scilla kraussii in flower, a well-lit Drosera madagascariensis and a rather attractive fruiting moss. Clustered on the same slope was a colony of Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum with both male and female flowers

Drosera madascariensis

Moss

Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum - female flower

Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum - male flower

We then headed towards a stream to look at the forested edges and found Alberta magna in flower and Eugenia natalitia with a flush of new red leaves.

Alberta magna

Eugenia natalitia

Determined to get back to our original heading, we worked our way over a rise, past a striking stunted Psychotria capensis and into some old unburned grassland - unfortunately there were relatively few flowers in these grasslands so we headed towards some interesting pools in a stream below us. We found a solitary Utricularia livida at the side of the stream as we moved down towards a small cascade.

Psychotria capensis

Utricularia livida

The cascade looked inviting so we found a way down into the streambed below where we could enjoy our lunch in the shade, accompanied by the sound of the waterfall. While it was too dark to get a photo of the falls, there was light at the opposite end of the tunnel of forest trees.  On investigation we were delighted to find that this was a further cascade down a steep slope into the Umtamvuna River some 300 meters below us. As we found several of Anemone brevistylis (formerly Knowltonia brevistylis) in flower near the edge of the falls, we named these Anemone Falls.  

The view from the top of Anemone Falls

Anemone brevistylis

Looking upstream into the Umtamvuna River gorge with Anemone falls on the right

Climbing out of the gully we skirted the forest on the way back and found the well known to us but as yet undescribed species of Clutia in flower and fruit, and a little further along saw what we think is two stalks of the parasitic Harveya huttonii.

Clutia sp. nov.

Harveya huttonii

Walking back along the stream we found yellow-flowered Ludwigia octovalvis and small mounds of Geranium flanaganii with their delicate deep pink flowers.

Ludwigia octovalvis

We then entered a small forested patch where we found Dietes butcheriana flowering in the shade and a big colony of Clivia robusta, some bearing clusters of red fruits.

Dietes butcheriana

Back in the grasslands we found a Disa brevicornis in flower.

Disa brevicornis

Looking amongst the rocks near the vehicle, we found wonderful clusters of Polystachya pubescens and Merwilla (Scilla) krausii. By now the weather had turned much cooler with a cold wind blowing so we were glad to get back into the shelter of the vehicle.

Polystachya pubescens

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

Manilkara Meander revisited

As we were unable to identify several plants on our previous visit to this area, we sent off photos to consult with experts. Geoff Nichols reverted with suggestions but expressed a wish to go to Manilkara Meander to take his own photos of some of these puzzling species. So on a Saturday morning for which rain was predicted we headed off, bundled up against the cold wind.

The first of our puzzles was a large tree - we were agreed on the genus (Strychnos) but needed to sort out which species. After checking the tree - still in bud, we agreed that this was Strychnos henningsii. 

Strychnos henningsii

The next plant in question was a small upright tree growing on the edge of the cliffs. On the previous visit we had found it with tiny white buds in the leaf axils and we had not been able to identify it with certainty, even to genus level. On this occasion it was in full flower and putting on a real show. After further head scratching and consultation we determined that this was Dovyalis lucida. The flowers depicted in the photo below are the male flowers. This seems to be a species worthy of horticultural attention, as even without flowers it is a striking plant with its shiny oval leaves and upright stance.

The eponymous Manilkara nicholsonii (endangered), of which there are several along this stretch of cliffs, were looking very healthy with a flush of shiny new leaves. 

Dovyalis lucida

Dovyalis lucida

A little further along we found a number of a species of Gerbera growing on a fairly sheer face in forest shade and this has presented us with another taxonomic puzzle to be solved. We need to get back there again to collect fruits which should aid us in identifying this to species level.

Gerbera sp.

Participants: Graham G, Geoff N.

Vying with vultures at Oribi Flats

Our group was considerably boosted in numbers for the walk at Oribi Flats, as Benny Bytebier and three students from UKZN joined us as did Dineo Dibakwane and a colleague from the Millenium Seed Bank. We gathered for tea at the Neethling's farm and proceeded to a grassland patch, which we have been monitoring for some time. This patch was burned in May and this was a second visit post burn.

Initially we saw many of the usual suite of grassland flowers. However we were very lucky to find a small population of the vulnerable species Turraea pulchella and hopefully Dineo will be able to collect seed for the seed bank in due course.

Commelina africana

Heliophila rigidiuscula

Hibiscus pedunculatus

Turraea pulchella

Hilliardiella aristata

Indigofera pondoensis

Ledebouria ovatifolia

After completing our routine survey of this grassland, we then drove over to the vulture restaurant (Mike's Restaurant - Mike Neethling's pride and joy) and meandered along the cliff edges above the Umzimkulu River gorge, all the while being observed by lots of magnificant wheeling Cape Vultures. 

Gibraltar pinnacle serves as a fine backdrop to a soaring Cape Vulture

These cliff edges provide a good example of the rich biodiversity of the area and we were soon finding interesting examples. One of the more rewarding of these was Cadaba natalensis with its rather elongate flowers. Obetia tenax invites one to get closer to examine its small flowers but you do so at your peril as this tree-nettle packs a powerful punch.

Osyridicarpus schimperianus

Agelanthus kraussianus

Cadaba natalensis

Obetia tenax

Lycium acutifolium

Streptocarpus haygarthii

Eriospermum flagelliforme

Aspalathus abbottii - an endemic to these clifftop rock plates

Homalium rufescens

Crotalaria capensis

Wahlenbergia madagascariensis

Several of our visitors were impressed with the size of the tubers developed by some of the Petopentia natalensis. These creepers with their shiny leaves and yellow-green flowers were climbing over many of the shrubs and trees at the edge of the cliff.

Pondoland CREW with the UKZN team

Participants: Anne S, Benny B, Dineo D, Gail B-W, Graham G, Heidi N, Kate G, Nicky, Nkosana G, Sachin D, Tanya, Uschi T.

Scorched earth at Manilkara Meander

As we were intending to concentrate on trees along the cliff edge, we were not too dismayed to find the grassland at Manilkara Meander had been burned only days before we got there. It certainly made the walking easier and there were no distractions from grassland plants. We found several trees in flower along the cliff edges, and several of them had us scratching our heads trying to identify them - some identities are still eluding us.

There were some beautifully twisted and weathered bits of dead shrubs lying exposed - this one looks distinctly like the head of one of our heavily besieged rhinos.

Interesting stump

The first flowering shrub we wrestled with was a Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus.

Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus

The snake-like vines of Petopentia natalensis were very evident with their shiny, red-veined leaves and delicate clusters of flowers.

Petopentia natalensis

One Acokanthera oppositiflora had a small spray of sweet scented white flowers, and there were several Ochna arborea with their bright yellow flowers.

Acokanthera oppositiflora

Ochna arborea fruit

Clausena anisata trees were producing a spring flush of pale green leaves and amongst these were scattered flowers.
 

Clausena anisata

Perched above the Umtamvuna River

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