Post-fire visit to Red Desert Nature Reserve (Thursday, 31 August 2017)

Although 1st September is regarded as the start of spring, those rules do not apply in our area as we have been enjoying spring flowers for some weeks. As it was seven weeks since we saw the arson fire at the Red Desert Nature Reserve, we decided enough time had elapsed for the new flush of growth to warrant a visit.

We started seeing flowers as soon as we walked through the gate with clusters of Lasiosiphon kraussianum and Helichrysum griseum catching the eye. Interspersed amongst these were many Hypoxis hemerocallidea and Hypoxis argentea.

Lasiosiphon kraussianum

Helichrysum griseum

 

Hypoxis hemerocallidea

Hypoxis argentea

It was clear that although a lot was flowering, much more would be coming out soon. We crossed a small, tree lined, watercourse - dry at present - and paused to uproot a number of small Grevillea banksii, an invasive alien species that is going to require a lot of work to eradicate from this reserve. Once back out into the grassland we came across the first of the expected orchids - a Disa similis.

Disa similis

A short distance further we found Raphionacme galpinii in flower and saw Ipomoea crassipes. Close by was an Oxygonum dregeanum subsp. streyi, this subspecies being categorised as Endangered and recognisable by the red coloured roots

Raphionacme galpinii

Ipomoea crassipes

Oxygonum dregeanum subsp. streyi

Getting a close look at the Oxygonum

Then we walked up to a saddle between two small hills where we saw the first Kniphofia for the day. We were to see several more of these on this walk; this species keyed out subsequently to be Kniphofia baurii.

Kniphofia baurii

We moved down the slope into a wetland where we found a few more Disa similis but far fewer than in previous years. Perhaps the timing of the burn was not optimal for this species. Also in the wetland we found a single Wurmbea kraussii, many Ledebouria cooperi and the first Satyrium longicauda for this spring season. There were also several flowers of Drosera madagascariensis protruding above the grass.

Wurmbea kraussii

Ledebouria cooperi

 

Drosera madagascariensis

We crossed the wetland and walked over a rise where we found several Dimorphotheca fruticosa and clumps of Merwilla plumbea. On some rock outcrops we found Ledebouria revoluta  and Haemanthus albiflos fruits.

Merwilla plumbea

Ledebouria revoluta

Haemanthus albiflos fruits

Dimorphotheca fruticosa

We started heading back towards the vehicle as a cold pre-frontal north-westerly wind had started buffeting us. On the way we saw a Cucumis hirsutus in flower. We paused to catch our breath in the lee of a ridge and used the time to uproot more Grevillea banksii and Hakea sericea.

Cucumis hirsutus

Participants: Anne S, Debbie K, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, and Uschi T.