Looking for Aloes at Sikhulu Villiage near Bizana (Thursday 5 July 2017)

In 2017, Kate and I had managed to find the Eastern Cape population of Aloe candelabrum we had seen from Aloe Ridge and we decided to take our group to the site to see how well these aloes were flowering this year. We ensured that we had the necessary permission from the local headman via our colleague, Wendy Bongwana. Joined by Debbie and Sarel on this occasion, after meeting at the KFC in Port Edward we set off in three vehicles to Bizana and after a few misleading GPS turns eventually found our way to the site. From an Aloe candelabrum  point of view, the display was disappointing. There were plants exhibiting the range of colours we expected, but these were few and far between.

Nevertheless we spent a good length of time wandering around amongst the mostly dormant aloes, but still finding good examples of what sort of colour variation there was at this site.

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

Aloe candelabrum dotting the north-facing slope down to the
Umtamvuna River, few of these flowering

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

A selection of colours of Aloe candelabrum inflorescences

It was interesting to see the impact that livestock has had on the vegetation here. There were many stunted, small-leafed, Olea europa subsp. africana, almost bonsai-like in stature. We also found some that had managed to get above browse-level and in a few cases these had ripe fruits. Other trees and shrubs found included Dovyalis caffra, Cussonia spicata, Diospyros austro-africana, Schotia latifolia, Euclea crispa and E. undulata, Pappea capensis, Vangueria infausta and several, mostly leafless, Canthium mundianum.

 

Dovyalis caffra

Diospyros austro-africana

Euclea crispa with fruit

We were joined for a while by a local man with the name of Torch and he explained that they had experienced their last good rains in November last year - possibly explaining the poor showing of Aloe flowers. Despite these very dry conditions, we did find other flowering plants. There were many Dicliptera cernua, mostly prostrate, and occasional Kalanchoe rotundifolia, as well as some very spiny Macledium zeyheri subsp argyrophyllum but their flowers were mostly over.

We did find one orchid in bud - I think this was probably Habenaria epipactidea but with the buds still tightly closed it was impossible to be sure.

Dicliptera cernua

Kalanchoe rotundifolia

Macledium zeyheri ssp argyrophyllum

Possible Habenaria epipactidea

We found a patch of Blepharis integrifolia with their blue and white flowers in stark contrast to the dry and bare soil around them. We found a single Cucumis zeyheri fruit and an interesting cluster of bright yellow lichen on a shrub. We also found one of the larger trees hosting two species of Viscum, V. obscurum and V. rotundifolium, both of which were in fruit.

Blepharis integrifolia

Interesting lichen

Cucumis zeyheri fruit

Viscum obscurum

Viscum rotundifolium

Although this was one of our less strenuous walks, the warm sun and lack of wind made it very enjoyable. It was also good to see the vegetation of a much drier area for a change.

Participants: Anne S, Colin T, Debbie K, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Mark G, Sarel C, Tracy T.