A grand old Lydenburgia and awesome views at Nicholson Point (Thursday 22 June 2017)

There was a suggestion to try walking from Vulture Nek, so we headed off to the Western Heights and parked at the Nek. After a short walk down a fairly steep slope we reached the edge of a riverine forest strip. Here we found a cluster of Aspalathus dahlgrenii and a single Putterlickya retrospinosa clambering over a small tree.

Putterlickya retrospinosa

After examining a short section of the forest edge we noticed a cluster of orange flowers on the grassy slope nearby and set off to see what it was. It turned out to be Erica cerinthoides, happily flowering amongst Protea simplex and Leucadendrum spissifolium.

Erica cerinthoides

Erica cerinthoides

Back at the stream there were a few Alberta magna flowering brightly, while in the shade at the forest edge we found Euryops leiocarpus, Podalyria burchellii and Psoralea latifolia also in flower.

Alberta magna

Lotononis eriocarpa

Psoralea latifolia (thanks to C Stirton for correction)

Podalyria burchellii

Euryops leiocarpus

Forcing an entrance into the forest we were lucky to find a huge old Lydenburgia abbottii a short distance down a slope towards a small stream.

 

Standing in front of the Lydenburgia

After scrambling down the stream bed for a short distance we realised that if we went much further we might have difficulty in getting out as the banks were getting ever steeper, so we left the forest and proceeded further along the forest edge. As we emerged we came across a cluster of Clutia sp. nov., with both flowers and fruits.

Clutia sp. nov

Clutia sp. nov

Further along we saw Dioscorea cotinifolia in flower and nearby was an Apodytes dimidiata in fruit.

Dioscorea cotinifolia

Apodytes dimidiata

After having lunch near another small stream, we headed up towards a nearby knoll. The views from this rocky outcrop were amazing. Anne (not fond of heights) suddenly realised she was near a fairly precipitous drop.

Overlooking the edge of the cliff

Anne suddenly realising the cliff was closer than she thought

We walked back along the track enjoying an abundance of Erica cerinthoides and saw some early Eulophia parviflora. Several Moraea elliottii had emerged to enjoy the afternoon sunshine.

Moraea elliottii

Near the cliff edge above the Umtamvuna River

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Uschi T.