We were soon into the flowers. The first to catch our attention was Satyrium longicauda. Looking at this closely the spurs seemed unusually short for this species but we later found other similar-looking plants with spurs in the "normal" range. It seemed as though the cool, overcast conditions were ideal for the flowers of Hypericum lalandii as there were several around and the flowers were looking perfect.
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| Satyrium longicauda |
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| Hypericum lalandii |
Starting up the hill we came across the second orchid species of the morning, one we have not seen for some years -- Brachycorythis pubescens, with its downy silvery leaves and delicate flowers. Not far from these we found a cluster of Corycium nigrescens. To our eyes these flowers look an uninteresting black colour but clearly the pollinators see a different image (or pick up the plant pheromones) as these plants are successful in getting pollinated.
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| Brachycorythis pubescens |
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| Corycium nigrescens |
Near the top of the hill we found a few scattered flowers on what we think is our target species, Indigofera gogosa (ined.) It will require a little homework and a re-visit when the flowers are open to confirm this ID. Although we had already seen several Helichrysum spiralepis, there was a beautiful pink-tinged specimen in this area.
Also sheltering in the tall grass were trailing stems of Rhynchosia villosa sending their flowers out above the grass on long stalks. In this area we found an attractive, two-toned Dianthus mooiensis, Thesium pallidum, Cycnium racemosum and a very late-flowering Eriosema umtamvunense.
We reached the edge of small drop with forest growing below. Here we found a long stalk of Diospyros villosus bearing fruits. At the forest edge we found two Cussonia species in fruit, Cussonia spicata and Cussonia nicholsonii. Just out into the open grassland there was a colony of Dodonaea viscosa, some flowering, as well as Hilliardiella hirsuta sheltered behind a rock. We also found Ficus burtt-davy, Harpehyllum caffrum and Searsia dentata, all in fruit.
By then the skies had cleared a little, we were sheltered from the wind and the humidity was becoming oppressive so we stopped for lunch in the shade of the forest.
Fortunately it started clouding over again so when we tackled the slope back towards the vehicles we were not faced with overheating. Skirting the forest we found Croton sylvaticus in flower. In the grassland Pachgycarpus asperifolius made a bold show and at its feet was Ipomoea crassipes.
On the flat as we approached the Gogosa Outpost again, we found a pagoda-shaped bagworm chewing on a leaf of Watsonia densiflora.
In the same area we also found an iKowe - this large mushroom makes excellent eating and is highly sought after. They are associated with termitaria, although local belief ascribes their presence to a lightning strike. Unless the largess is shared, the eater is thought to be at risk of a lightning strike too!
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| Indigofera cf gogosa (ined.) |
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| A colourful Helichrysum spiralepis |
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| iKowe - a delicious wild mushroom |
Apart from the more obvious Chamaecrista comosa, we found a rather procumbent Chamaecrista plumosa and then a small group of Habenaria lithophylla. We also found Silene burchellii, very few with open flowers, probably due to the overcast conditions.
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| Chamaecrista plumosa |
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| Habenaria lithophylla |
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| Silene burchellii |
We started down the slope towards the Umtamvuna River coming across Muraltia lancifolia and an unusual white-flowered form of Buchnera dura.
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| Muraltia lancifolia |
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| An unusual white Buchnera dura |
In a wetter patch of grassland we found several Disa brevicornis, each flower looking like a small, bowed, hooded nun. On this slope we started encountering Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum with both male and female cones. Growing in tall grass sheltered by some rocks we found a single Moraea spathulata and this was surrounded by many shrubby Protea caffra.
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| Disa brevicornis |
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| Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum (m) |
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| Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum (f) |
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| Moraea spathulata |
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| Protea caffra |
Also sheltering in the tall grass were trailing stems of Rhynchosia villosa sending their flowers out above the grass on long stalks. In this area we found an attractive, two-toned Dianthus mooiensis, Thesium pallidum, Cycnium racemosum and a very late-flowering Eriosema umtamvunense.
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| Rhynchosia villosa |
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| A two-tone Dianthus mooiensis |
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| Thesium pallidum |
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| Cycnium racemosum |
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| A very late-flowering Eriosema umtamvunense |
We reached the edge of small drop with forest growing below. Here we found a long stalk of Diospyros villosus bearing fruits. At the forest edge we found two Cussonia species in fruit, Cussonia spicata and Cussonia nicholsonii. Just out into the open grassland there was a colony of Dodonaea viscosa, some flowering, as well as Hilliardiella hirsuta sheltered behind a rock. We also found Ficus burtt-davy, Harpehyllum caffrum and Searsia dentata, all in fruit.
By then the skies had cleared a little, we were sheltered from the wind and the humidity was becoming oppressive so we stopped for lunch in the shade of the forest.
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| Diospyros villosus fruit |
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| Cussonia nicholsonii fruits |
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| Cussonia spicata fruits |
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| Dodonaea viscosa |
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| Ficus burtt-davy fruits |
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| Harpephyllum caffrum fruits |
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| Searsia dentata fruits |
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| Hilliardiella hirsuta |
Fortunately it started clouding over again so when we tackled the slope back towards the vehicles we were not faced with overheating. Skirting the forest we found Croton sylvaticus in flower. In the grassland Pachgycarpus asperifolius made a bold show and at its feet was Ipomoea crassipes.
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| Pachycarpus asperifolius |
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| Ipomoea crassipes |
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| Croton sylvaticus |
On the flat as we approached the Gogosa Outpost again, we found a pagoda-shaped bagworm chewing on a leaf of Watsonia densiflora.
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| Pagoda-style bagworm |
Participants: Anne S, Elaine L, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Serf S, Tracy T.
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