Cascades and Emplectanthus (Thursday 11 January 2018)

As the day looked like it would be hot, we headed off to the Western Heights to check on  the Emplectanthus dalzellii (Rare) plants, although the shady pool in a narrow gorge where we had previously found several plants was no less of an attraction. The road to the Western Heights through cane and timber plantations is in pretty poor condition and there was one big pool where other vehicles had evidently become stuck - fortunately we could skirt around it without difficulty. 

Close to where we parked the vehicles we found a small cluster of Orthochilus ensatus and  nearby, several Habenaria dives.

Orthochilus ensatus

We headed off towards the Swamp Forest to check whether the Emplectanthus dalzellii there had any flowers. While we found several plants they were not yet flowering. We continued down following the stream. The normally abundant Disa tripetaloides were largely dormant and only one flower could be found. We did, however, find Argyrolobium tuberosum, Buchnera dura and Kniphofia parviflora in the grassland and a few scattered Oldenlandia rosulata and Drosera madascariensis at the edge of the stream.

Argyrolobium tuberosum

Kniphofia parviflora

Oldenlandia rosulata

Drosera madascariensis

Buchnera dura

Further down the valley the slopes of the sides steepened, but the stream widened and flowed through several deep pools - very tempting on a hot day.

A tranquil part of the stream

Once we got below a small cascade, we had to enter a forest patch and make our way through the trees alongside the stream. The banks were now much steeper and the north bank became a cliff, bestrewn with flowering Streptocarpus primulifolius and further down, Streptocarpus porphyrostachys, also flowering profusely. After a thorough search of previous spots where we had found the Emplectanthus dalzellii, Kate eventually found one flower. There were some buds as well so presumably the flowering of this species is a little later this year.

Emplectanthus dalzellii

Streptocarpus primulifolius on the cliffs

Streptocarpus primulifolius 

Streptocarpus porphyrostachys

Phakamani navigating along the stream 

The big pool prevented our going any further downstream but the water looked very tempting and eventually three of us ended up enjoying a swim. Impressed by this example, others followed later.

Enjoying the cool water at the lunch spot

Walking back we found two Aloe linearifolia in bud and a cluster of Aspalathus spinifera. At the side of the path we found a Eulophia and after closer inspection it turned out to be Eulophia tenella.

Aspalathus spinifera

Examining the orchid

Eulophia tenella

Participants: Anne S, Debbie K, Dorothy M, Elaine L, Gail B-W, Graham G, Jean P, Kate G, Maggie A, Phakamani M, Sarah B-W.