This outing was arranged because we had been told that there were flowers on a small section of grassland in the Oribi Flats area that we have been monitoring. This grassland and an adjacent section have been the subject of a study between our CREW group and the farm owner, surveying the species richness over a two-year burn cycle, and we have records going back several years. These two grassland sections have not been tilled and last had significant grazing pressure at least two decades ago.
On this occasion we were joined by George Chelechele, the environmental manager of a development in Ifafa further north along the KZN south coast. Heidi also came along to see us enjoying her grassland.
Even before stopping the vehicles we could see the abundance of flowers. At the side of the road was a small cluster of Lactuca inermis with pale lilac flowers. All around were clumps of Euphorbia natalensis and sprawled on the ground were orange and yellow flowers of Argyrolobium rotundifolium. Everywhere one looked there were flower heads proudly held out in the sun.
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| Lactuca inermis |
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| Euphorbia natalensis |
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| Argyrolobium rotundifolium |
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| Flowers in the burned grassland, with a background of unburned grassland before reaching the farmlands |
We found a few Aristea abyssinica with their solitary blue flowers, bright yellow-flowered Berkheya setifera, Berkheya umbellata and Helichrysum acutatum as well as swathes of Helichrysum griseum. We also found an unobtrusive Aspidoglossum carinatum and, only because we knew where to look, Brachystelma pygmaeum in fruit with a few single flower buds. Dotted around the base of the Brachystelma were several small bulbs - presumably its offspring.
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| Aristea abyssinica |
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| Berkheya setifera |
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| Berkheya umbellata |
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| Helichrysum acutatum |
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| Helichrysum griseum |
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| Aspidoglossum carinatum |
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| Brachystelma pygmaeum fruits |
The silvery-leafed Hilliardiella aristata should be flowering in a few days but the Senecio erubescens plants still snuggled in their woolly apparel were yet to show signs of flowering.
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| Hilliardiella aristata |
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| Senecio erubescens |
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| Colourful grassland adjacent to canefields |
Having seen what there was to see on this grassland, we then drove to an adjacent farm to explore along the cliffs above the Umzimkulwana River gorge. Enjoying a sighting of the eponymous Oribi antelope on the way, we set off walking and before long were exposed to a different suite of plants. The first to catch attention were a few Podalyria burchellii shrubs and nearby was a group of Dietes grandiflora, with two plants flowering.
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| Podalyria burchellii |
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| Dietes grandiflora |
A bit further along we found a Seemannaralia gerrardii with some shiny bronze new leaves, but this tree had yet to produce its flowers for the season. Out in the open grassland we found Hybanthus enneaspermus - a recent publication has placed this species in a new genus - Afrohabanthus - we will have to see whether this change is adopted. Also out in the open grassland was a young Berkheya bipinnatifida with its new leaves well protected with long hairs. In a bush clump we saw Coddia rudis with its pendant flowers and the Tricalysia capensis were putting on a great floral show.
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| New leaves on a Seemannaralia gerrardii |
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| Hybanthus (Afrohybanthus) enneaspermus |
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| Coddia rudis |
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| Very hairy leaves of a Berkheya bipinnatifida |
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| Tricalysia capensis |
A few of the cliff-top Ekebergia pterophylla were flowering, and below one of these was a cluster of Crassula orbicularis sprouting old flower stalks. Unfortunately none of the nearby Streptocarpus were flowering.
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| Eckebergia pterophylla |
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| Crassula orbicularis |
We paused for lunch in the shade of some trees before walking back to the vehicles. Along the route we saw Striga bilabiata, Justicia protracta, Jasminum multipartitum and a rather splendid Agathosma ovata shrublet.
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| Striga bilabiata |
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| Justicia protracta |
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| Jasminum multipartitum |
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| Agathosma ovata |
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| Looking down the Umzimkulwana River gorge |
We then drove to the vulture restaurant and walked over to "Mike's Point" to see the vulture colony that nests on the cliffs. Walking along the cliff edges we saw Cadaba natalensis and Lycium acutifolium nearby. Sprouting a few leaves and small clusters of pale lilac flowers was an Ehretia rigida. Also sporting flowers and new leaves was Obetia tenax, and close to "Mike's Point" there was a Maerua caffra in flower.
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| Cadaba natalensis |
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| Lycium acutifolium |
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| Ehretia rigida |
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| Obetia tenax |
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| Maerua caffra |
For a while we enjoyed the amazing sight of Cape Vultures soaring past just below us and a Crag Lizard decided to use Kate's knee as a hunting perch.
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| A Cape Vulture soars past below us |
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| A different perch for a hunting Crag Lizard |
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| A good spot for meditation |
Heading back towards the vehicles we saw that the population of Aspalathus abbottii was doing well. We found a small cluster of Huernia hystrix under a shrub and then were surprised to find some Anacampseros rufescens plants in flower. Normally the flowers on this species are very ephemeral, opening early and closing at noon.
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| Maggie Abbott in front of a large Aspalathus abbottii |
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| Anacampseros rufescens |
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| Eriospermum flagelliforme |
Participants: Alex V, Anne S, Colin T, Dorothy M, Elaine L, Graham G, George C, Heidi N, Kate G, Maggie A, Michel B, Tracy T.
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