Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: A Huddle of Haemanthus humilis at Mount Currie (Thursday 13 December 2018)

We made an early start to head inland for Kokstad where we intended to walk at the Mount Currie Nature Reserve. It was a slow trip, dawdling behind heavy vehicles on uphill sections of the N2 but we eventually turned off at the well-known landmark, "the Pink Church" and took the Karg's Post road to bypass the Kokstad main road traffic. Just after we turned off we stopped to look at a mass of fruiting Bulbine narcissifolia. Also at the roadside here were several Berkheya echinacea, a very hairy Hibiscus sp., and a magenta-flowered Ipomoea oblongata.

Berkheya echinacea

Bulbine narcissifolia

Hibiscus sp.

Ipomoea oblongata

We arrived at the reserve and after checking in and allowing the caffeine addicts time to have a quick cuppa, we set off around the dam and across the wetland above the dam. Along the path we saw Schizocarphus nervosus, Senecio polyodon var polyodon, Wahlenbergia madagascariensis, Ranunculus multifidus, Cynoglossum austroafricanum, and Cyperus sphaerocephalus. In the long grass in the adjacent wetland we saw Rumex dregeanus and a small group of bright orange-flowered Papaver aculeata.

Schizocarphus nervosus

Senecio polyodon var. polyodon

Valeriana capensis

Wahlenbergia madagascariensis

Cynoglossum austroafricanum

Cyperus sphaerocephalus

Ranunculus multifidus

Papaver aculeata

Rumex dregeanus

As we started scaling the slope on the east side of the dam, we encountered the first of many Orthochilus foliosus. Just behind us was a scattering of orange buds on Crocosmia pottsii growing alongside the stream. Another streamside plant was the very prickly Berkheya acanthopoda. Another orchid flowering on these lower slopes was a yellow-flowered one that looks a little like S. zeyheri but is more robust and grows on dry slopes - this later turned out to be Orthochilus leontoglossus. We also found several Eulophia zeyheriana here.

Orthochilus foliosus

Crocosmia pottsii buds

Orthochilus leontoglossus

Berkheya acanthopoda

Eulophia zeyheriana

There were several of the dainty Hermannia woodii crouched down below the grass. We paused to examine an unfamiliar Hypoxis that appears to H. obtusa but we await confirmation. Exposed at the side of a small gully we found some fairly big Euphorbia bupleurifolia and then realised that there were many small specimens of this species in the adjacent grassland. Other flowers growing in or near this watercourse were Gernaium flanaganii, Gnidia gymnostachya and Galium capense subsp. gariepense.

Hermannia woodii

Euphorbia bupleurifolia

Geranium flanaganii

Gnidia gymnostachya

Galium capense subsp. gariepense

Hypoxis obtusa

Away from the stream we found Pachycarpus plicatus and a few Asclepias gibba.

Pachycarpus plicatus

Asclepias gibba

Alerted by a shout from Anne who had elected to explore the opposite slope of the valley, we congregated to enjoy the sight of many flowering Haemanthus humilis plants huddling in the shelter of some dolerite boulders. Another plant taking advantage of the shelter offered by the boulders was a Monsonia grandifolia.

Haemanthus humilis

Monsonia grandifolia

Nearby we found Eulophia ovalis and Diclis reptans. Continuing up the slope we encountered an Asclepias cultriformis with a very beautiful cluster of pubescent flowers.

Eulophia ovalis

Diclis reptans

Asclepias cultriformis

We reached the top of the ridge to be greeted by some very deep blue flowered Agapanthus campanulatus plants also taking advantage of the microclimate offered by another dolerite outcrop. This was a very species rich area and we found Argyrolobium sericosemium, Convolvulus farinosus, Geranium wakkerstroomianum and a superlative "Hairy Eastern Cape Brides Bush" Pavetta capensis subsp. komghensis.

Agapanthus campanulatus

Argyrolobium sericosemium

Convolvulus farinosus

Geranium wakkerstroomianum

Pavetta capensis subsp. komghensis

Perched between two boulders was a small Diospyros whyteana, looking very much like the Diospyros scabrida we know from the coastal areas. After enjoying a lunch break at the top of this ridge - long enough to give Anne a chance to ring-bark an errant Black Wattle -- we started back down the slope. On the way Gail found an unknown orchid that turns out to be Disa patula var. transvaalensis and happens to be the first of this species to be recorded in this reserve. Well spotted Gail!

Diospyros whyteana fruits

Disa patula var. transvaalensis

As we traversed the slopes back towards the dam we encountered a number of really large Brunsvigia grandiflora bulbs.

Large Brunsvigia grandiflora bulb

We decided to detour via Weza on the way back to see what was flowering on a favourite small grassland patch near a dam. We found several of the robust Disa crassicornis and these were accompanied by lots of "Christmas Bells" Sandersonia aurantiaca. In the wetland we found several tall flowers stems on Eucomis comosa var. striata, all surrounded by the very tall inflorescenses of Ornithogalum princeps. A fitting end to a very rewarding day in the field.