A hot morning at Rossmin (Monday 30 October 2017)

With the past few weeks in October having been rather cool, Monday morning was clear and warm but once we reached Rossmin, summer was setting in with a vengeance, despite our early start. Close to the vehicles, a number of Vangueria infausta were in flower.

Vangueria infausta

Starting off in a slightly different direction to the one we normally follow, we passed Senecio albanensis var. doroniciflorus at the roadside and then turned to walk up a slope towards the Umzimkulu river. Here we saw Striga bilabiata, a tall Eulophia streptopetala, some Brachycorythis ovata and a few flowering Eucomis autumnalis. There were several Polygala hottentotta and a bushy Crotalaria virgulata subsp. grantiana.

Senecio albanensis var doroniciflorus

Striga bilabiata

Eulophia streptopetala

Brachycorythis ovata

Eucomis autumnalis

Polygala hottentotta

Crotalaria virgulata subsp. grantiana

Once over the top of this rise we could see the Umzimkulu River far below us and we moved slowly down the steep slope, finding Stachys nigricans, Argyrolobium tomentosum, Indigofera hilaris, and a Vitex obovata in full flower.

Argyrolobium tomentosum

Indigofera hilaris

Vitex obovata

Near a small clump of trees we found Wahlenbergia krebsii and Eulophia ovalis and in the tree clump we found a Hippobromus pauciflorus with many fruit clusters. At the base of the clump was a shrubby Searsia dentata, sporting bright red fruits. On the open slopes were several Notobubon laevigatum and we noticed a single flower on Vigna unguiculata.

Wahlenbergia krebsii

Eulophia ovalis

Hippobromus pauciflorus

Searsia dentata

Notobubon laevigatum

Vigna unguiculata 

Higher up the slope towards the very tempting shade we found some Pachycarpus species, only one of which - Pachycarpus concolor - was flowering. Back in the shade of a forest patch we found Trimeria grandifolia in flower.

Pachycarpus concolor

Trimeria grandifolia

Participants: Anne S, Gail B-W, Geoff N, Graham G, Kate G