A plant survey for Fairview (Thursday 25 October 2018)

In the recent past Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife had acquired the Fairview property with the intention of trying to conserve the biodiversity and rehabilitate the small property. The Pondoland CREW team were asked to revisit this property we last saw in 2014 to assess the plant biodiversity and assess the potential for rehabilitation. 6 of us traveled to the site near the Umzumbe River mouth, parked near the entrance to the Umzumbe Chalets and, having walked along the road identifying the trees, entered Fairview from the south-western corner, making our way through a narrow part of the forest there.

We found several Tabernaemontanum ventricosa in flower in this forest section, but noticed that there were several large trees (including Celtis africana and Trichilia dregeana) which had been completely ring-barked, presumably in the process of collecting bark for traditional medicines. We encountered the road-reserve fence here - a considerable distance away from the side of the N2 highway on our left. Not much of the fence remains - this has been done presumably to facilitate access by the local community's cattle.

 

Tabernaemontanum ventricosum

Out into the grassland one of the more evident species was Selago peduncularis as it appears not be be palatable to cattle. We entered a small seep area - dry at the time - but there were scattered Cycnium tubulosum, Lobelia anceps and Monopsis scabra, all hygrophilous species and indicators of wetland conditions.

Selago peduncularis

Back at the forest edge we found a flowering Canthium inerme draped with flowering tendrils of a Rhoicissus tomentosa. In a big tangle above us were a few flowers of Canavalia bonariensis, and below the shrubs on the forest fringe was a Senecio 

Canthium inerme

Rhoicissus tomentosa

Canavalia bonariensis

Senecio polyanthemoides

In the leaf litter on the forest floor was a gathering of the spider-like Harvestmen, and one was obliging enough to pose in a patch of sunlight.

Harvestman

We headed back up the hill towards the highway and stopped at a small bush clump. Here we found a Grewia occidentalis and a cluster of Maesa alnifolia.

Grewia occidentalis

Maesa alnifolia 

Out in the open we found many Ophioglossum polyphyllum with upthrust sporangia. Another bush clump contained a number of Leonotis leonurus in flower. We also found a group of Bulbine 

Ophioglossum polyphyllum

Leonotis leonurus

Bulbine frutescens

At the top of the hill was a flowering Strychnos gerrardii which also had some young fruits. Near a group of Crinum macowanii which had evedently flowered well to judge from the numbers of fruits, we found a Ceratotheca triloba. Back into the sandy soil at the hilltop and here we found large numbers of the geoxylic suffrutex, Salacia kraussii. A Strelitzia nicolai displayed its flowers proudly where we stopped to have lunch under a large Syzygium cordatum. in the shade of this tree we found a pale pink Watsonia densiflora, and nearby was the remnants of a Disa woodii.

Strychnos gerrardii

Ceratotheca triloba

Salacia kraussii

Strelitzia nicolai

As we made our way back down the hill we found two buds of Harveya pauciflora and down near a stream was a Rauvolfia caffra with flowers and fruits. Under this tree was an accessible cluster of flowers on a Syzygium cordatum.

Harveya pauciflora

Rauvolfia caffra

Syzygium cordatum

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