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.