Revisiting the burn on the Western Heights (Thursday 26 July 2018)

As it was some weeks since we last visited the burned area on the Western Heights, we decided it was time to see what had come up since then. A small group of us travelled the bumpy track to the Western Heights and as we drove past the beginning of the burned area, we could immediately see the significant change in the number of flowering species obvious against the dark background. For some members of the group this was the first sighting of the early spring flower show and judging from the gasps and oohs and aahs, they were impressed. 

One of the first species to catch our attention was Acalypha peduncularis: we found both male and female flowers - the common name "brooms and brushes" being apt.  When faced with this sort of floral richness it is difficult to make any progress when every step brings another species. The next we were to find was Afroaster hirsutus; although there were many of these around only a few had reached the stage of open flowers. Clutia diceptata clusters with their axiliary flowers were also common. 

Acalypha peduncularis (male)

Acalypha peduncularis (female)

Afroaster hirsutus

Clutia diceptata

Helichrysum and Hypoxis species were well represented. We found Helichrysum allioides, H. acutatum, H. ecklonis, H. nudifolium var oxyphyllum, H. pallidum and H. pilosellum. As far as Hypoxis species were concerned we found Hypoxis acuminata, H. angustifolia, H. argentea, H. filiformis and H. multiceps, all within an area of a few hundred square meters.  There were a few scattered Berkheya speciosa and B. rhapontica in flower - we expect to see many more of these in the weeks to come.

Other species prominent in this area were Indigofera rubroglandulosa, Othonna natalensis, Gerbera piloselloides, Ocimum obovatum and Pentanisia prunelloides.

Helichrysum pilosellum

Hypoxis acuminata

Hypoxis angustifolia

Hypoxis multiceps

Indigofera rubroglandulosa

Ocimum obovatum

Othonna natalensis

Gerbera piloselloides

Pentanisia prunelloides

On a small rock outcrop, newly sprouted flowers of Erythrina lysistemon made a dramatic statement against the background of the blue sky and nearby an early Polystachya pubescens showed its face to the winter sunshine.

Polystachya pubescens

Erythrina lysistemon

Helichrysum nudifolium var. oxyphyllum

Helichrysum allioides

Helichrysum pallidum

Hypoxis filiformis

We found very few Cyanotis speciosus as it is probably still too early for this species, which often is the dominant species in these grasslands. Among rocks we found several Dimorphotheca fruticosa and then we found a Vulnerable endemic, Lotononis bachmanniana - this species was also just starting to flower and we found many in bud.

Cyanotis speciosa 

Dimorphotheca fruticosa

Lotononis bachmanniana

Helichrysum ecklonis

Ledebouria revoluta

We encountered a small cluster of Ursinia tenuiloba and several of these had already produced their flower-like seed heads. We also found an unusual white morph of this species.

Ursinia tenuiloba

A white morph of Ursinia tenuiloba

The unusual flower-like seeds of Ursinia tenuiloba

There were a few Tritonia gladiolaris with their red-streaked yellow flowers, some early Thesium natalensis, the first of the Senecio coronatus  flowers and several Hebenstretia dura. Sopubia simplex were producing buds. 

Tritonia gladiolaris

Thesium natalensis

Senecio coronatus

Hebenstretia dura

We stopped for lunch at a rocky outcrop, watched over by an elegantly gnarled old trunk of a small tree. After lunch we descended to a small watercourse where we found Asparagus plumosus and many Nemesia caerulea.

Gnarled wood

Asparagus cf plumosus

On the forested margin further down we came across two large Syzygium gerrardii carrying substantial loads of fruit, some beginning to ripen. We also found what we think is Tephrosia shiluwanensis in flower and fruit. On the way back up the steep slope to the vehicle we saw several stunted Merwilla plumbea flowers.

Tephrosia cf shiluwanensis

Syzygium gerrardii

Participants: Colin T, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Tracy T.