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.