Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: A day in the Ngele mountain Reserve

After seeing good flowers during the Weza Conservation Area meeting (see post: Weza Conservation area visit) we decided that we should visit the higher-altitude grasslands at Belfast Lookout. As we had a bigger group with us we travelled in two vehicles and met at the Ingeli Forest Resort. After picking up Robertson Madwe and Wiseman Bhayisa at the DAFF offices, we headed upwards along the circuitous commercial forestry roads towards Belfast. Before long we came across a broken-down timber truck blocking the road - fortunately there was a tracked loader nearby and the operator obligingly made a route so we could bypass the truck.

Climbing for a while through pine plantations, we eventually emerged in open grassland near the Belfast Lookout pass. Here we saw some bright pink Watsonia confusa flowers and stopped to check if any were actually Disa pulchra, a species which mimics these Watsonia flowers. Unfortunately there were no Disa but there was an interesting Xysmalobium, which we will need to work on to get an identity.

The approach to the highest point involves driving along a rough, narrow track with a precipitous drop to the left. Having navigated this safely we stopped just after the highest point. Here we hoped to see Xysmalobium rhodanthum (ined.), as we had previously discovered a big population of this undescribed species here and we wanted to reassess the current health of the population. There were many of the similar looking Ledebouria lachanalioides (formerly Resnova lachanalioides) emerging from the grass but it took a while before we discovered the first of the Xysmalobium rhodanthum flowers. Another pink flower in this area was Helichrysum vernum.

Ledebouria lachanalioides

Xysmalobium rhodanthum ined.

Helichrysum vernum

It was soon evident that once again there were far fewer Xysmalobium rhodanthum than on the previous occasion when we originally discovered the population. If we had not known that the population existed, we would probably have overlooked them this time. There were many of the bright yellow-flowered Xysmalobium tysonianum amongst the rocks and prominent in the open grassland were Albuca setosa and Cycnium racemosum.

Xysmalobium tysonianum

Albuca setosa

Cycnium racemosum

Another relatively common but very obvious grassland flower was Dierama ambiguum; these very slender grass-like plants tower above most of the grassland plants. Their flowers are a real challenge to capture in a photo if there is any sort of wind blowing, as the slightest breeze has them dancing.

Dierama ambiguum

It took a while before we spotted the first of the orchids for the day. The first to be seen was a Disa stricta, followed a little later by Disa stachyoides. We also found an unusual white-flowered form of Ledebouria lachanalioides.

Disa stricta

Disa stachyoides

White form of Ledebouria lachanalioides

While Hypoxis species are common in these grasslands, most of the species have yellow flowers. In a small hollow we came across one of the few white species, Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora. Nearby were some robust-flowered Helichrysum cooperii and Senecio napifolius.

Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora

Helichrysum cooperii

Senecio napifolius

Hidden in the grass on a steep slope were some Jamesbrittenia breviflora. Another ubiquitous flower in this area was Senecio barbatus.

Jamesbrittenia breviflora

Senecio barbatus

We then headed back to the vehicles and drove a little further to the Belfast plains and set off walking again. Amongst others we found Cerastium arabidis, Aspidonepsis flava, Corycium dracomontanum and the unusual, hairy-flowered Fanninia caloglossa.

Cerastium arabidis

Aspidonepsis flava

Fanninia caloglossa

Corycium dracomontanum

Further up a hill we found some Lessertia perrenans in flower and clinging to a small cliff were a few Disa oreophila subsp. oreophila. We also found Streptocarpus pusilus in a small vertical rock cleft.

Lessertia perrenans

Disa oreophila subsp. oreophila together with pink Rhodohypoxis baurii

Streptocarpus pusilus

Crossing a small stream we found some Wahlenbergia rivularis and then, on the way back to the vehicle we came across a small, white Kniphofia species (found here on a previous visit but at that time we were confused about the identity), which we have now confirmed as Kniphofia brachystachya.

Wahlenbergia rivularis

Kniphofia brachystachya

We then bumped back down the track and delivered Robertson and Wiseman to their office base. On the way home we stopped briefly at the small triangle of grassland/wetland near the Weza sawmill. Here we found Eucomis comosa subsp. striata flowering near the stream, as well as some tall Albuca rupestris. There were a few Crotalaria globifera but the area was dominated by waist-high Senecio isatideus.