With the publication of the name of the new species of Hesperantha which we found last year expected soon, we decided to head the Cubica Heights to see if any had emerged yet. Before we went to the Hesperantha site however we first went to look at the Outeniqua Falls. Luckily, it was overcast and this made it easier to take photos of what is normally a very contrasty scene. On the way to the waterfall we found Gladiolus ecklonii, Monsonia praemorsa and a big patch of Monocymbium ceresiforme.
Needing a careful look to distinguish the similar looking flowers from the Aeollanthus we found some Brownleea coerulea growing in the leaf litter.
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| A swathe of Watsonia densiflora |
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| Loxostylis alata |
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| Phylica paniculata |
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| Aeollanthus parvifolius |
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| Pseudoscolopia polyantha |
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| Brownleea coerulea |
We walked across another rocky promontory, passing spikes of purple-flowered Plectranthus hadiensis, until we reached a forested edge to the cliffs. We found our way into this narrow patch of forest to be greeted by a showcase of Brownleea coerulea, Streptocarpus formosus and Stenoglottis fimbriata. There was a cluster of Rhipsalis baccifera bearing deep pink fruits. We also found the as yet undescribed species of Clutia in flower.
We enjoyed this spectacle for a while, venturing down the steep slope as far as we could before climbing out of the forest again.
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| Plectranthus hadiensis |
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| Stenoglottis fimbriata |
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| Rhipsalis baccifera in fruit. |
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| Clutia sp. nov. |
Once back in the grassland we skirted the top of the forest for a while, finding Brachylaena glabra, Olea capensis subsp. enervis, Tarchonanthus trilobus and Cassipourea gummiflua flowering and Viscum obscurum in fruit. A little further on there was a great mass of Pelargonium capitatum climbing over other shrubs, as was a Dolichos sericeus.
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| Brachylaena glabra |
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| Olea capensis subsp. enervis |
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| Cassipourea gummiflua |
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| Tarchonanthus trilobus |
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| Viscum obscurum |
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| Pelargonium capitatum |
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| Dolichos sericeus |
We then found an unusually floriferous Indigofera herrstreyi (ined.), while below us and impossibly out of reach was a Rhynchocalyx lawsonoides covered in white flowers.
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| Indigofera herrstreyi (ined.) |
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| Rhynchocalyx lawsonoides |
We then found another access into the forest and a couple of us pushed our way down the slope. It seemed to be more of the same - apart from two young Celtis gomphophylla - until Gail spotted a Begonia flowering below us. This turned out to be an Endangered Begonia homonyma, a plant not often seen in the Umtamvuna NR.
Growing on a steep rock face was Oplismenus hirtellus, a forest floor grass species, sporting two flower stalks and lower down on the same rock was Oldenlandia tenella.
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| Begonia homonyma |
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| Oplismenus hirtellus |
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| Oldenlandia tenella |
By now the troops were clamouring for lunch so we moved more quickly around the forest to a great view spot.
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| Osteospermum moniliferum |
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| Anastrabe integerrima |
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| Alberta magna at cliff edge with the diners in the background |
We checked for the Hesperantha but there was no sign of them yet. Heading back to the vehicle, we came across more pink-flowered Craterostigma sp. nov., scattered among white flowered plants. A little further on we saw a small frog poorly camouflaged against the bright pink of a Watsonia densiflora.
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| Craterostigma sp. nov. |
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| Frog on Watsonia densiflora |
As we reached the entrance to Beacon Hill we noticed a Brunsvigia grandiflora and this was accompanied by numbers of Syncolostemon ramulosus. We had timed things just right -- we had enjoyed the cool, overcast conditions all day and as everyone departed it started to rain.
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| Brusnvigia grandiflora |
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| Syncolostemon ramulosus |
Participants: Dorothy M, Elaine L, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A.
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