Beacon Hill firebreak flowers (Thursday 27 September, 2018)

Having seen that the firebreaks at Beacon Hill were well covered in flowers, we chose to walk there to see what other species were concealed amongst the more obvious Berkheya and Helichrysum. While some of the group were enjoying tea, the rangers showed us a pair of Vine Snakes mating close to the office. These snakes usually rely on their camouflage and will stay still even when approached and this pair was no exception.

With the snake excitement and tea over, we set off eastwards and were soon among the flowers. Watsonia mtamvunae and Aristea ecklonis were followed by a group of Leobordea pulchra. Up on the rocks was a Cyrtorchis arcuata coming into flower. We then found a few of a white form of Eulophia hians, which might require closer attention by a taxonomist.

A mating pair of Vine Snakes

Aristea ecklonis

Cyrtorchis arcuata 

Leobordea pulchra

Eulophia hians

A short distance further we found the first of the Disa stachyoides coming into flower - soon this area will be dotted all around with these delicate pink flowered herbs. From a distance Asteraceae dominate the grassland and it is only with a more than cursory look that other genera become evident.

Disa stachyoides

The floriferous grasslands

Down near the stream where the conditions are much wetter we found many Disa similis still in flower and scattered Merwilla plumbea. We also found what will possibly just turn out to be Cyanotis speciosa, although it is unusual to find these in such wet conditions and the flowers looked slightly different.  A specimen was collected for verification and we noted that the root structure is very different to that shown in the reference we consulted. Hiding among these purple flowers was a similarly coloured Raphionacme palustris.

On these slopes we also found a few of the Vulnerable species Drimia echinostachya. We found one or two Drosera natalensis in flower, while the first of the season's Satyrium longicauda flowers were standing proudly above the grass. Pale lemon-yellow flowers announced the presence of Senecio natalicola while Helichrysum ruderale towered over the other plants.

Cyanotis cf. speciosa

Drimia echinostachya

Drosera natalensis

Raphionacme palustris

Satyrium longicauda

Senecio natalicola

Helichrysum ruderale

Having seen what this section of grassland had to offer, we returned to the offices and set off in a northerly direction. We found a Podocarpus falcatus bearing cones at the side of the trail and soon afterwards came across a few small clusters of Scilla kraussii (now lumped with Merwilla plumbea). 

Podocarpus falcatus

Scilla (Merwilla?) kraussii

We then entered an area where the Endangered endemic Eriosema umtamvunense is the dominant species, with flowers varying from a rusty yellow to a dark orange. Walking up the slope we found several Convolvulus natalensis and a small group of the short-spurred form of Eulophia parviflora. Here we also found Chamaecrista comosa and Crassula vaginata.

Eriosema umtamvunense

Eulophia parviflora (Short spur form)

Convolvulus natalensis

Chamaecrista comosa

Crassula vaginata

Once at the top of the rise we found Asclepias praemorsa and a few Xysmalobium involucratum. Stachys nigricans lifted their white flowered inflorescences through the grass. We found a dense patch of Berkheya setifera growing near an old termite mound. At the side of a rock outcrop there was a colony of Kniphofia coddiana and growing in clefts in these rocks were a few Apodytes abbottii just starting to flower.

Asclepias praemorsa

Xysmalobium involucratum

Stachys nigricans

Kniphofia coddiana

Apodytes abbottii

Posing with the Berkheyas

We headed up to the rocky hilltop where we were lucky to find a single Disa sagittalis in flower - more buds were evident close by. Once on top of the rocks we found several small "gardens" where Scilla kraussii had taken root, sometimes accompanied by Polystachya pubescens. Another resident in one of these "gardens" was the odd-looking fern, Huperzia gnidioides.

It was a very rewarding short walk and although within easy reach of local residents, so few even seem to know of the existence of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. 

 

Disa sagittalis

Huperzia gnidioides

Polystachya pubescens

Participants: Anne S, Colin T, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Tracy T.