Hugh Nicholson's daughters pay a visit to the HNTA herbarium (Thursday 11 May 2017)

We received a surprise call from Mrs Gilly Lay, daughter of Hugh Nicholson, asking if she could visit the herbarium (named after her father and Tony Abbott) at the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. Hugh Nicholson, who was Tony Abbott's mentor and friend, kept his specimens at his home, Skyline, and after his death, Tony retrieved them and was instrumental in establishing the herbarium at Umtamvuna, initially with Mr Nic's specimens, the collection from the Oribi Gorge herbarium and a substantial number of Tony's own specimens. 

Gilly and her sister Anthea (Mensing) met us for tea at Beacon Hill and there were happy reminiscences of years gone by but particularly of their father and his very special relationship with Tony Abbott.

Gilly and Anthea sitting under the commemorative plaque to
their father in one of the shelters at Beacon Hill

Then we showed them the herbarium where we are in the process of updating and reorganising the collection -- the Nicholson/Abbott legacy lives on. Gilly kindly donated a copy of The Illustrated Dictionary of Southern African Plant Names edited by Eugene Moll, for the herbarium library. 

Talking about the herbarium collection

After Gilly and Anthea left and Maggie took her sister Joan home to pack for her return trip to Zimbabwe, it was a small party of three that headed off for a walk. We decided to see whether the Cineraria dryogeton (a Vulnerable endemic species) were still flowering and to check on a small population of Exochaenium sp. nov. nearby. We found a Pelargonium luridum, a cluster of Crassula obovata and a number of Helichrysum pannosum on the way to the Cineraria.

Pelargonium luridum

Helichrysum pannosum (Endangered endemic)

 

Crassula obovata subsp. obovata

In a little wetland a few Exochaenium sp. nov. still flowering but it seems the season for them is now almost over. In the damp grassland there were swathes of flowering Pycnostachys reticulata, including a rather pale one. When we got to the only known Cineraria site we found they were still flowering and there were also several with seed heads.

Pycnostachys reticulata

Cinerarai dryogeton seed heads 

Cineraria dryogeton - the leaves are diagnostic

Having used the opportunity to re-estimate the population size of this group of Cineraria dryogeton, we then walked down the slope and worked our way through the forest to the bottom of Ingrid's Falls, so named when Ingrid took a cooling shower under the falls after a walk on a very hot day. There was gentle spray of drops falling over the cliffs at the falls - a pleasant spot to enjoy lunch. Flowering around us were several Anastrabe integerrima  and in the shade at the edge of the forest, a few remnant flowers on some Plectranthus ciliatus. 

Ingrid's Falls

Plectranthus ciliatus

 

The diminished group at the base of Ingrid's Falls

As we clambered back through the forest we came across this rather photogenic bracket fungus bathed in afternoon sunlight.

Bracket fungi

We emerged onto the grassland and a short distance away had a better view of the falls than we could appreciate from directly below.

Ingrid's Falls behind Gail and Kate

We then realised we were being observed by a fairly relaxed baboon.

Keeping a watchful eye on us.

The upper part of this slope was scattered with Lopholaena dregeana, many of which were flowering or had flowered recently. 

Lopholaena dregeana

This area also gave us some great views down the Bulolo River gorge towards the confluence with the Umtamvuna River.

View down the Bulolo River gorge

Looking up the gorge there was a very gnarled Syzygium cordatum silhouetted against the skyline.

Crossing a ridge we worked our way down and across a stream. Here we found Manilkara nocholsonii, probably the one nearest to the herbarium and offices. In the forest we found a Peddiea africana in fruit and along the stream were some fairly large Pseudoscolopia polyantha, with scattered flowers. Under one of these was a Cassinopsis tinifolia in flower and fruit.

Peddiea africana

Pseudoscolopia polyantha

Cassinopsis tinifolia flower

Cassinopsis tinifolia fruit

There were many Hypoestes forskaolii on the forest margin.

Hypoestes forskaolii

While the weather had been hot when we first arrived in the morning, by the time we had finished our walk it had clouded over completely, with a promise of rain to come. 

Participants: Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G.