Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: A hot first visit to The Aerodrome (Thursday 6 December 2018)

Although it was heavily clouded over when we met at Beacon Hill, we decided to head for the Aerodrome, the second of the Umtamvuna Nature reserve sites for which we had arranged access recently. After a few twists and turns we reached the remnants of the reserve fence and set off into the grassland in front of us. We were accompanied on this occasion by Serf and his wife Maryna, Sarel and Prince, a butterfly enthusiast who wanted to learn more about butterfly food plants.

Setting off on our walk

One of the first species we came across was Chamaecrista mimosoides and Sarel spent a little time looking at the gland at the base of a leaf, a character that helps identification to species level.

Chamaecrista mimosoides

Sarel checking the gland shape of the Chamaecrista.

Another species showing off its flowers was Lasiosiphon anthylloides surrounded by Ophrestia oblongifolia. Crotalaria globifera was another yellow-flowered species in this first section of the grassland. We also came across Satyrium sphaerocarpum with strongly marked flowers, a contrast to some almost white-flowered plants we have seen elsewhere during November.

Lasiosiphon anthylloides

Crotalaria globifera

One of the many Satyrium sphaerocarpum we saw

On what appeared to be an old termitary, we found a cluster of Wahlenbergia krebsii and growing below these were several Pelargonium alchemilloides. Nearby, we found Searsia pondoensis in flower.

Pelargonium alchemilloides

Wahlenbergia krebsii

Searsia pondoensis

Although we had encountered several Aspalathus chortophila shrublets, most either flowering or carrying a substantial seed load, we were surprised to find a few that had unusual orange flowers rather than the normal yellow. Less common, but also present in numbers were low, sprawling shrubs of Aspalathus spinifera, only just starting to flower. Near another old termitary there was a robust Athrixia phylicoides. A just open bud of a Cyanotis speciosa caught our attention.

Aspalathus chortophylla in an unusual dark shade of yellow

Aspalathus spinifera

Athrixia phyllicoides

Cyanotis speciosa

We reached the rocky edge of a short drop and at the exposed top we found Erythroxylon pictum sporting a few flowers. Following this rocky ridge southwards we found a few Lichtensteinia interrupta flowering near a dry stream bed.

Erythroxylum pictum

Lichtensteinia interrupta

On an exposed rock plate we found a scattering of the endemic Delosperma subpetiolatum and a closer look revealed many of the tiny-flowered Drimia uniflora. On another cluster of rocks we found a tangle of Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris, another endemic species.

Delosperma subpetiolatum

Drimia uniflora

Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris

At the edge of a small forested patch we found a mass of yellow flowers on Acridocarpus natalitius. Normally this creeper places its flowers at the top of the forest canopy far out of reach, so we were lucky to see these at eye level. In this same forest patch we found another sprawling plant, Putterlickia retrospinosa, hiding its flower clusters in the shade of the trees. Anne found a small Painted Reed Frog sheltering at the base of a Boophone disticha.

Acridocarpus natalitius

Putterlickia retrospinosa

Frog

By then the skies had cleared and the sun was beating down so we searched for a scrap of shade to sit in while we had our lunch. We eventually found a medium sized Protorhus longifolia and cooled down in its shade. Sitting there gave us a chance to examine a flower from a Pachycarpus asperifolius to see how its reproductive system worked.

Having walked along much of the length of this grassy promontory, we scaled the slope behind us and turned back towards the vehicles. Some of us chose to walk about halfway down the east-facing slope before turning towards the vehicles and we were in for a treat. First we were impressed by the swathes of pink-flowered Dianthus mooiensis until these we replaced by as many Lichtensteinia interrupta waving their tall white flower clusters in the wind. These were followed by a similar display of Alepidea peduncularis. Amongst these we found Vernonia galpinii and several Cycnium racemosum.

Vernonia galpinii

Cycnium racemosum

A field of Dianthus mooiensis

A swathe of Lichtensteinia interrupta

Under a small umdoni tree (Syzygium cordatum) we found several Polygala fruticosa and not far off was a large colony of Eriosema umtamvunense, carrying mostly empty seed heads. On the last slope we found a few Brachycorythis pubescens.