Hunting for Memecylon at Gogosa (Thursday 23 November 2017)

 Doug Stone from UKZN and Sri Lankan postgrad student Brabha Amarasinghe asked if they could join us on a visit to the Gogosa Outpost area of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve so we could show them possible locations for the two Memecylon species, M. bachmannii and M. natalense. After meeting at Beacon hill, we drove up and parked at Gogosa Outpost, admiring the new tarred road past the water works on the way. While it was heavily overcast and cool, rain was only predicted for the afternoon so we set off towards the first of the forested gullies. Shortly after entering the grassland we came across a few Satyrium cristatum  and several Indigofera gogosae (ined) just starting to flower. Another prominent grassland flowering species was Pachycarpus asperifolius.

Satyrium cristatum

Indigofera gogosae (ined.)

Pachycarpus asperifolius

Skirting the forest we noticed a cluster of flowers on a branch and closer inspection revealed them to be a small colony of Polystachya ottoniana with their delicate pink flowers.

Polystachya ottoniana

After we found a possible entry point we made our way into the forest and down the steep slope towards the stream.

It was not long before we were all pretty wet and muddy as the leaves on the trees above us were wet from the previous night's rain and any movement of a branch or trunk brought a shower of drops down on us. On our way down we found the first small Memecylon natalense. We struggled along the streambed, climbing over or under fallen trees and avoiding the deepest pools and slippery rocks. Here we found an interesting fungus growing on the dead wood of a fallen trunk.

 

Semi-transparent fungus

 

Walking down the river (Photo Gail B-W)

Protorhus leaves and interesting reflection (Photo Gail B-W)

 

Anne admiring one of the large forest trees

A little bit further on we came across Memecylon bachmannii, fortunately, one with buds.

Memecylon bachmannii buds

We searched up and down this part of the stream but failed to find more Memecylon. We did however see a patch of Plectranthus zuluensis and as we clambered back up the slope, we found several flowering Liparis remota in the leaf litter. At the forest edge there were Cyphostemma rubroglandulosa (Rare), some in flower.

Plectranthus zuluensis

Liparis remota

Cyphostemma rubroglandulosa

Once back in the grassland we crossed another small stream and then descended along the reserve fence line back into the bigger stream. At the edge of this forest we found another M. bachmannii, and next to it was Maytenus cordata in flower. Protruding from the foliage below them was an inflorescense of a small, leafless Cussonia sphaerocephala, an unusual sight as generally the flowers are at the top of very tall, upright trees.

Cussonia sphaerocephala

Maytenus cordata

Along the forested stream banks we found another M. bachmannii and when Doug indicated that they had enough material, we climbed out of the forest and ascended to a rocky outcrop in the grassland where we had lunch.  Motivated by a chilly wind, we walked further to another wooded gulley. This proved to have an easier descent and we soon found several more Memecylon bachmannii, some with fruit.

Memecylon bachmannii fruit

Satisfied with the day's haul we headed back to the vehicles, seeing a few Eucomis autumnalis on the way. Doug took the time to point out field characteristics for identifying Memecylong species, particularly useful for distinguishing M. natalense from similar looking Eugenia species. Light rain started falling just as we drove off, some of us to do more labeling in the herbarium before going home.

Eucomis autumnalis

Doug doing some on-the-job training

Participants: Anne S, Brabha A, Doug S, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A.

Correcting an earlier misidentification

On our previous trips to Anemone falls we have seen and subsequently collected what we thought was the Vulnerable species Anemone bracteata (synonym Knowltonia bracteata), identified as such on the basis of specimens in our herbarium. However, Kate had second thoughts about this because of the lack of hair tipped teeth on the leaf margins and the hairless stems.  After consulting several references and eventually getting confirmation from John Manning, it turns out that the herbarium specimens were incorrectly identified and our plant is Anemone brevistylis, a more common species. The major field identification differences are that A. bracteata has hairy stalks, small flowers and leaves with sharply toothed margins, each tooth hair tipped, whereas A. brevistylis has larger flowers, hairless stalks and leaves with gibbous lateral leaflets and serrated margins.  Crushed leaves of A. bracteata can cause blistering, hence the common name 'brandblaar'.

Anemone brevistylis

The captions and text in the earlier Posts have been corrected. Fortunately this error has no impact on our name for this very special spot in the Unmtamvuna Nature Reserve.


Anemone bracteata is back on our to-do list!

A world of different plants in the Mkuze area (13 to 16 November 2017)

We couldn't resist the opportunity of a trip to Maputaland with CREW and so undertook the long trek, picking up Hlengiwe, Renira and Tanya at the CREW offices in Durban - our objective was to look for a number of rare or data deficient species in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. It was extremely dry in the area and we wondered if there would be anything to see. On arrival at Mkuze Game Reserve, the reserve manager was not available to consult on arrangements for the following days, so we spent what was left of the afternoon botanising around the camp area. Largely ignored by numbers of grazing Nyala, we were happy to see that many of the less familiar species had been labelled. Grewia bicolor was particularly eye-catching, and under some trees we found a flowering Stylochaeton natalensis. Near the cottages there was a splendid Gardenia volkensii.

Male Nyala

Female Nyala and calf

Grewia bicolor

Stylochaeton natalensis

Gardenia volkensii

Near the offices there was a large tree covered in flowers - this proved to be Albizia forbesii.

Albizia forbesii

As Mkuze is a big five reserve, we needed to be accompanied in the field by one or more reserve staff. The following morning we were able to go out with Mr Gumbe and look at plants along the roadside in the reserve. Tanya's research focus is Croton and it was not long before we stopped to look at Croton menyharthii. In close proximity were Schotia capitata, Capparis sepiaria, Ximenia americana and Balanites pedicillaris, the last two species in fruit. While looking at the Capparis, Tanya very calmly pointed out a very well-camouflaged Vine snake, which happily posed for photographs. I was impressed that none of the ladies in our group even turned a hair at being close to a dangerously venomous, albeit non-aggressive, snake.

Croton menyharthii

Ecbolium glabratum

Schotia capitata

Caparis sepiaria

Ximenia americana

Balanites pedicillaris

 

Vine snake (body circa. 15mm in diameter)

In the afternoon, being unable to undertake any extra-vehicular botanising in the reserve, we decided to explore the slopes of the Lebombo mountain range just outside the park. At a random stop we explored the road verges and found a Sansevieria which will need further examination to see if it is the rare species we were looking for. Nearby was a new shoot on a Cissus quadrangularis and a Euphorbia tirucalli full of fruits. On the other side of the road we found Vitex ferruginea and numbers of shrubby Acalypha glabrata. working up the slope here we found Dichrostachys cinerea and  Crossandra fruticulosa. 

Cissus quadrangularis

Acalypha glabrata

Vitex ferruginea

Dichrostachys cinerea 

Crossandra fruticulosa

Higher up the slope at the base of a large rhyolite boulder we found a small colony of Gonatopus angustus and luckily there were some with flowers. Hot and bothered by this climb, we decided the swimming pool back at the camp was calling. On the way back we found a wild cotton, Gossypium herbaceum with open pods.

Gonatopus angustus

Wild cotton, Gossypium herbaceum

The next morning we met Michael, our guide and guardian for the day, while Mr Gumbe again came along to provide us with his local knowledge of plants. Our destination was the Fig Forest and this involved walking through thicket and traversing two suspension bridges over the Mkuze river.  There was a wonderful selection of trees in the Fig Forest, including many massive Ficus sycomorus, with a relatively uncluttered understorey.

Here we found one of our target species, Mondia whytei, although unfortunately we were too early for flowers. Above us hung clusters of the tiny-flowered epiphytic orchid (flowerless at this stage), Microcoelia exilis, and some way off we could see pink fruits at the top of a medium sized tree. These turned out to be the triangular fruits of Blighia unijugata. We had a brief sighting of an African Broadbill before it flew off, and overhead Trumpeter Hornbills kept up a cacophony. We then came across a scrambler that looked like a Bougainvillea - a first suggestion was that it was Scutia myrtina but Kevin eventually tracked it down to Pisonia aculeata, which has the common name 'mock Bougainvillea'. We also saw a creeping Pergularia daemia. There was a fruit-laden Gymnosporia senagalensis near one of the suspension bridges.

Blighia unijugata fruits

Ficus sycamorus fruits

Pisonia aculeata

Pergularia daemia

Gymnosporia senagalensis

On the river banks we could see where work teams had made substantial progress with eradicating the very invasive Parthenium hysterophorous. Back at the parking area we saw Cadaba natalensis and Maerua juncea fruits.

Cadaba natalensis fruit

Maerua juncea fruit

From here we set off to walk in a part of the sand forest. We had our first sighting of Croton pseudopulchellus and a number of very large Newtonia hildebrandtii. It was interesting to note that these Newtonia were populated by large clusters of the epiphytic orchid Ansellia africana, while those previously seen in the False Bay area near St. Lucia had had skeins of Rhipsalis baccifera.

Croton pseudopulchellus

That afternoon the heavens opened and the temperature dropped dramatically, keeping us to the shelter of our tent. The wind was also howling and the tent flapping, so it was no surprise when the power went off. Fortunately this happened after we had prepared and eaten our dinner. The power was still off the next morning as we packed for our return trip home.  The rest of our group had another stop to make in the Hlatikulu forest - although the day was apparently successful, the power was still off when they got back that evening - cold supper and early bed!

On our way out we saw an accessible flowering Capparis tomentosa which I managed to reach without getting too deeply embedded in the roadside mud. A very interesting trip!

Participants: Delia O, Graham G, Hlengiwe M, Kate G, Kevin B, Lindsey B, Michael X, Mr. Gumbe, Renira B., Shana X, Suvarna P, Tanya M.

Exploring around Mngazi River mouth (6 to 9th November 2017)

When some old friends from the Netherlands visited, we decided to spend a little time with them on the Wild Coast and arranged to stay at Mngazi River Bungalows for a few days. After turning towards Umtata when we crossed the Mzimvubu River at Port St. Johns, it was not long before we found the turnoff to the resort and followed the road along the Mngazi River floodplain to the coast. The area is densely infested with Lantana camara and Cestrum laevigatum but there are signs of efforts to clear them. We were cheered up by the sight of Podranea ricasoliana (VU), the Port St John's creeper, and flowering Millettia grandis. 

Once we had settled in at the resort, we decided there was time for a late afternoon walk on the beach and took the ferry across the estuary. The wind was blowing strongly from the south making it difficult for us to get photos of a flock of Swift Terns on the beach. We walked a distance southwards and then decided to look at the edge of the dune forest. Here we found Cynanchum natalitium and Passerina filiformis growing at the forest margin. A little further in we could see a Gymnosporia in flower but it was not possible to reach the tree to determine which species.

Having endured enough battering by the wind, we returned to the ferry and crossed the river back to the resort.

Swift Terns on the beach

Cynanchum natalitium

Passerina filiformis

The next morning after breakfast we decided to walk up the coast towards Port St Johns. The steepness of the coastline here does not permit one to walk at sea-level so we set off up a grassy slope following a well-worn path. This took us through a shallow valley where we saw the first of many Millettia grandis trees in flower, Gymnosporia nemorosa and and Dovyalis in fruit.

We soon emerged from the trees and back into open grassland with a steep drop off to the right where we could see the flow from the Mngazi River following the coast eastwards, despite the "mouth" being some few hundred metres behind us. The grassland is badly degraded but there were scattered flowers and we enjoyed seeing Asclepias navicularis, Lantana rugosa, and Cyphostemma natalitium. With a strong wind behind us it was fairly easy to walk up the hills and as we got higher the views around us became even more impressive. There were frequent signs of dolphins working to bring bait balls together and then they would rush through them, leaping out of the water at times.

 

View north-eastwards up the Wild Coast

Asclepias navicularis

Cyphostemma natalitium

Lantana rugosa

Millettia grandis

We reached the "Sugarloaf", a rocky structure at the toe of the steep slopes reaching into the sea and sat enjoying the views and watching the dolphins. Here we found a Pachycarpus macrochilus - the first of many similar looking plants that had a flower to allow the species to be identified. Along the route back we found Tecomaria capensis, Vigna vexillata and a patch of as-yet unidentified Eriosema. 

Mngazi estuary looking southwards

Pachycarpus macrochilus

Tecomaria capensis

Vigna vexillata

Bracing against the wind, with wind waves in the grass behind us

That afternoon the wind built up to gale force and the weather turned cold, keeping us indoors. However, the conditions the following morning were much more pleasant and we set off across the river and followed a path behind the dune line which took us to what they call "Flat Rock".

Along this route we found Vachellia robusta, Asclepias crispa and a robust clump of Eulophia speciosa. Growing in the path we found Pharnaceum thunbergii and Helichrysum asperum. It was interesting to see Mitriostigma axillare growing in open, sunny grassland along the path, whereas we know it as a forest understorey species. Reaching "Flat Rock" we could get good views towards the Mngazana River mouth and the mangrove swamps behind a dune line. These are apparently the southernmost mangroves in the country. In the marshy area there was a small colony of Falkia repens and climbing up some of the ubiquitous invasive Lantana camara we found Dipogon lignosis.

Vachellia robusta

Asclepias crispa

Eulophia speciosa

Pharnaceum thunbergii

Helichrysum asperum

Falkia repens

Dipogon lignosus

Looking southwards towards Mngazana River mouth with the mangrove swamps to the right

Returning via the beach we found some traces of fossils in the sandstone rocks. Just before we reached the ferry we found a few Gladiolus guenzii growing in the most inhospitable conditions imaginable, right in the middle of the loose beach sand. The cluster of detachable bulbs can be seen at the base of this specimen - this is a strategy the species uses to disperse by allowing these bulbs to float along the coast to new habitats.

Gladiolus guenzii

In the afternoon we took another walk into some of the nearby forest and here we found Agelanthus krassianus and Diospyros simii with a small fruit.

Agelanthus kraussianus

Diospyros simii

It was interesting to visit this area - slightly south of the southern border of the Pondoland Centre of Endemism -- and it provided us with some challenges to get species-level identities of some of the plants we saw.

Sunrise at Mngazi River mouth

Participants: Graham G, Kate G.