A visit to a grassland within the Margate residential area (23 March 2017)

We were first alerted to the presence of this grassland by Braam van Wyk after his recent visit to our area and subsequently we had a referral about the conservation value of this grassland via the CREW Regional Office in Durban after Dr. Adrian Armstrong of KZN Wildlife had visited the site and found two endemic butterfly species. We felt that it was also important to assess the diversity of plant species on the site to help the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality officials gain a better understanding of the importance of conserving this site. We certainly appear to have KZN Wildlife support for this cause.

In a note from Dr. Armstrong, he states: "Owing the very high conservation value of the primary Sea Slopes grasslands, this area was set aside from urban expansion by the Margate Municipality. The grasslands are still in good condition, especially the primary grasslands."

The grassland is tucked away just north of the Margate airport and is roughly 1,2 km wide by 0,9 km long (about 100 ha). It has a fairly large, forested watercourse on the northern boundary (the Kongweni River?) as well as three smaller watercourses that arise on the grassland.  Some of the areas close to these watercourses is waterlogged, with these parts of the grassland being hygrophylic. We were joined on this walk by Suvarna Parbhoo and her colleagues from the CREW Regional Office.

This grassland is a very valuable remnant of the highly threatened Coastal Grassland biome, and although the local authority previously earmarked this site for conservation, it is not known whether the site enjoys formal legislated protection.

Google Earth extract of the grassland area.
The end of the Margate Airport airstrip can be seen on the
lower left of the image.

There had evidently been a fire in parts of this grassland about eight weeks earlier - probably started by an arsonist. One of the first plants we saw was Eriosema parviflorum in the unburned section and a little later Eriosema kraussianum, a resprouter in the burned section.  It is likely the fire will bring on a number of other flowers in the weeks to come.

Eriosema parviflorum

Eriosema kraussianum

We found Crassula vaginata in the longer grass and then the first of the Red Listed species for this site, Euphorbia flanaganii (Vulnerable endemic).  There were several growing at the edges of rock plates. We were recently advised that specimens of this threatened species had been offered for sale by hawkers in Port Edward, so presumably there is a market for this succulent species amongst collectors and gardeners - this is likely to increase the threat to this species.

Crassula vaginata

Euphorbia flanaganii

We came to one of the streams and here we found Cassipourea gummiflua (Vulnerable), Voacanga thouarsii and Gerrardina foliosa, all in flower. 

Cassipourea gummiflua

Voacanga thouarsii

Gerrardina foliosa

Crossing the stream we headed up towards the rocky rise where we found more of the succulent Euphorbia flanaganii. Clambering up nearby shrubs were several Macrotyloma axillare with their rather attractive cream coloured flowers with a purple throat. Another creeper found nearby was Ipomoea obscura. 

Macrotyloma axillare

Ipomoea obscura

At the edge of another forested patch on a south-facing slope we found several Aspalathus gerrardii (Vulnerable endemic) although these were not in flower. We made a final sweep across the burned section and found Ledebouria ovatifolia, Ursinia tenuiloba (endemic), and Oldenlandia affinis.

Ledebouria ovatifolia

Ursinia tenuiloba

Oldenlandia affinis

We have compiled a preliminary species list for this grassland - preliminary as this is a first visit and was undertaken at the end of our flowering season. We will no doubt be able to add to this list with further visits. The list can be found here. With 11 endemic species and 11 species of conservation concern recorded here to-date, this is a grassland worthy of protection from a botanical point of view.

We found a number of alien species on the property but generally the primary grassland is in fairly good condition. There are however threats from illegal dumping, use for recreational purposes by 4X4 vehicles, quadbikes and offroad motorbikes and cycles, and illegal plant harvesting. It is clear that the property would benefit from more active management by the local authority, together with input from KZN Wildlife.

We decided to have our lunch in the shade at the Whale Deck in Ramsgate before going our separate ways.

The PCE and CREW Regional office teams at the Whale Deck at Ramsgate. 

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Hlengiwe M, Kate G, Kaveesha N, Suvarna P, Uschi T.

More unusual flowering times at Beacon Hill (Thursday 16 March 2017)

As our walk was washed out by persistent rain last week we had a little catching up to do.

We wanted to see whether the different Olea tree we found with Braam van Wyk in January had produced fruits, and if so, whether these looked different to those from the more common Olea capensis subsp. enervis, so headed off to Maggie's Gully. On the way we came across Sebaea bojeri, Psoralea glabra, Senecio panduriformis, Setaria sphacelata and Buchnera dura.

Sebaea bojeri

Psoralea glabra

Senecio panduriformis

 

Setaria sphacelata

Buchnera dura

Fortunately we had our timing right as there were fruits on this unknown Olea tree, looking very different from typical Olea capensis subsp. enervis fruits.

Ripe fruits (circa 3mm long) on Olea sp. nov

Green fruits on Olea capensis subsp. enervis (circa 5mm diameter)

On the rocks near Maggie's Gully we found Crassula pellucida subsp. brachypetala in flower.

Crassula pellucida subsp. brachypetala

Having made collections of fruits of the Olea, we could tick off this objective. We then headed back past the Beacon Hill office towards Ingrid's Falls to check the status of a small population of Exochaenium sp. nov. that we have been monitoring. There were still several in flower.

From there we walked down to the top of Ingrid's Falls, pausing to look at a Brunsvigia natalensis on the way. 

Brunsvigia natalensis

 After enjoying an early lunch looking out over the Bulolo River gorge, we made our way back to the office, pausing to look at a very late flowering Apodytes dimidiata. Nearby was a Cassine peragua with clusters of flower buds and growing amongst some rocks were a few Lotononis eriocarpa. 

Apodytes dimidiata

Cassine peragua

Lotononis eriocarpa

Almost back at the office a lone Lotononis bachmanniana flowered boldly in the path, about four months before its normal flowering time.

Lotononis bachmanniana

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

Visits to two grasslands near Kokstad (27 and 28 February 2017)

An old friend had suggested we contact Mike and Jeanette Rennie of the farm Palmiet near Kokstad to see if we could find some grasslands in good condition near the farmed lands. We arranged to visit their farm but decided to make a repeat visit to the Mount Currie Nature Reserve on the way.

At Mount Currie, we decided to stay up in the high-lying areas as these had appeared to be more species-rich on our previous visit. On the way up the district road to the top gate we came across a tall, handsome, glossy leafed Berkheya in flower - this was a species which, on our previous visit, had yet to flower and which we thought might be a form of Berkheya binnatifida. However, when we saw it in flower, it was clear this was a different species. It turned out to be Berkheya acanthopoda, endemic to the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal. Soon after that we came across several Gladiolus oppositiflorus, also flowering in the road reserve.

Berkheya acanthapoda

Gladiolus oppositiflorus

After scaling the gate we found some Helichrysum callicomum in the path and amongst the rocks were Chaenostoma floribundum. Satyrium neglectum and Satyrium sphaerocarpum were scattered in the grassland.

Helichrysum callicomum

Chaenostoma floribundum

Satyrium neglectum

Satyrium sphaerocarpum

Amongst the pink Hesperantha baurii were numbers of Kniphofia linearifolia,  interspersed with the occasional Kniphofia parviflora, although the latter were mostly already in seed.

Hesperantha baurii

Kniphofia linearifolia

We found an unusual looking tree with khaki coloured leaves and on finding another one with fruits we realised it was Kiggelaria africana.

Kiggelaria africana fruits

On a slope leading down to a wetland we found the first of many Brownleea parviflora we were to see during our visit to this reserve.

Brownleea parviflora

There were many Brunsvigia grandiflora flowering or in bud in the grassland but it was evident that baboons had been making a meal of the fleshy lower parts of the flower stalk as there were several flower heads abandoned in the grass.

Brunsvigia grandiflora

We came to a rocky knoll where we sat and had lunch. Surrounding us were dozens of Crassula obovata var. obovata and in a nearby wet patch was another small Crassula, Crassula dependens. Munching on some of these was a very brightly coloured grasshopper.

Crassula obovata var. obovata

Crassula dependens

Amongst the plants growing on the rocks were some clumps of Clematis brachiata, and nearby some yellow-flowered Senecio oxyodontus

Clematis brachiata

Senecio oxyodontus

Other residents of rocky grassland were Moraea inclinata, Monsonia grandiflora, and Helichrysum adenocarpum. At the edge of a forested section, we found Cephalaria natalensis.

Moraea inclinata

Monsonia grandiflora

Helichrysum adenocarpum

Cephalaria natalensis

Hiding in the grass were several Zaluzianskya microsiphon.

Zaluzianskya microsiphon

Turning back we found a few tall stalks of Disa chrysostachya. We were lucky to see a Secretary Bird stalking elegantly across the grass when we neared the gate.

Disa chrysostachya

Secretary Bird

We then made our way to the farm of Mike and Jeanette Rennie, and we were lucky to be shown a splendid colony of Kniphofia linearifolia at the top of a small hill, all glowing in the late afternoon sunlight while we were being serenaded from below by a pairs of Blue and Grey-crowned Cranes.

Late afternoon sunlight on Kniphofia linearifolia

The next morning Mike kindly took us to an adjacent farm (along very obscure tracks through long grass) and we set off up a rocky slope - apparently the geology of the rocks on these slopes is different to those around Kokstad and Mount Currie. Shortly after setting off up the slope we were treated to the sight of about 30 Cape Vultures soaring eastwards along the thermals rising along the ridge above us.

It did not take us long to start finding flowers, despite the fact that goats regularly cross the fence to graze here - some were watching us from the protection of a huge exposed lava flow. We found Diclis rotundifolia in sandy patches between the rocks and here and there in the grassland was Lantana rugosa, a non-invasive, indigenous member of the Lantana genus.

The steep slope down which a herd of goats descended head-first at speed

Diclis rotundifolia

Lantana rugosa

Once we reached the rocks we started finding more interesting plants. First we noticed Delosperma caespitosum  and then Pelargonium sidoides. The rocks were liberally draped with Cyphostemma natalitium and Stachys grandifolia

Delosperma caespitosum

Pelargonium sidoides

Cyphostemma natalitium

Stachys grandifolia

We forced our way further through tall and rather moribund grass to another rock outcrop where we found a number of tall, shrub-like Senecio linifolius.

Senecio linifolius

Secluded in a rock crack we found Anacampseros rufescens - a species we have previously only seen on sandstone outcrops near the Umzimkulu Gorge. Not far away was a group of Hebenstretia dura, surprisingly still in flower, as at the coast this is one of our early spring flowering species. Hiding secluded on the ground between the tall grass stalks were many Crabbea hirsuta. In a disturbed area we found Polygala serpentaria flowering well, together with Delosperma lineare and Bulbine abyssinica.

Anacampseros rufescens

Hebenstretia dura

Crabbea hirsuta

Polygala sepentaria

Bulbine abyssinica

By this stage it had become uncomfortably hot so we were glad when Mike arrived as arranged to pick us up. The hillside shows great promise for further exploration, particularly if Mike is able to burn off some of the moribund grasses as he has wanted to do for some time, but conditions have not permitted this. Thanks to Mike and Jeanette for hosting us and making this trip possible.

Participants: Graham G, Kate G.