Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Jolivet for autumn flowers (Thursday 28 March 2019)

Having had to cancel last week's walk because of threatening rain, we were really looking forward to a trip to Jolivet as the farmer had sent photos of great flower displays. When we arrived, unfortunately neither the farmer nor his son was available to tell us where to go to see the mentioned flowers so we went to the protected grassland we normally visit.

En route we saw a good display of Pavonia columella and one of the first flowers we saw on arriving at the grassland was a very robust Berkheya rhapontica (with many more to follow). Soon Kate called us to show us two very tall Satyrium macrophyllum inflorescences, extending above some tall grass, in a large population of Syncolostemon densiflorus. Dotted around were a few Syncolostmon parviflorus and there were some that appeared to be a hybrid between S. parviflorus and S. densiflorus. There were also a few Rhabdosiella calycina.

Pavonia columella

Berkheya rhapontica

Satyrium macrophyllum

Rhabdosiella calycina

Syncolostemon densiflorus

Syncolostemon parviflorus

While some elected to walk up the hill, the rest of us drove around to meet them. On the more level, grassy heights we saw many of the first Helichrysum adenocarpum of the season, Conostomium natalense, Agathisanthemum bojeri, Crassula obovata var obovata, Crabbea acaulis and Delosperma carterae. The watercourses were dominated by tall Combretum kraussii displaying their russet fruits.

Helichrysum adenocarpum

Conostomium natalense

Agathisanthemum bojeri

Crssula obovata var. obovata

Crabbea acaulis

Delospermum carterae

Combretum kraussii fruits

On a steep south-facing slope there were several Erica woodii, a few Galopina crocyllioides with their wonderfully spiky fruits, some Leobordea pulchra nestling low down and several tall Phymaspermum acerosum.

Erica woodii

Galopina crocyllioides

Leobordea pulchra

Phymaspermum acerosum

At the edge of the forested watercourse, Tracy found some Pupalia lappacea and looking over the top of the forest we could see a Seemannaralia gerrardii in fruit. Other grassland species were Striga bilabiata and Wahlenbergia krebsii.

Pupalia lappacea

Seemannaralia gerrardii

Striga bilabiata

Wahlenbergia krebsii

We headed down to find shade near a stream where we stopped for lunch. Here we found Monopsis stellaroides in a wet patch and in the shade, a cluster of Hypoestes forskaolii. On the way out from this grassland we found Momordica foetida.

Monopsis stellaroides

Hypoestes forskaolii

Momordica foetida

Following some second hand directions to the sought after flowers - filtered through two interpretations - we managed to get lost but eventually ended up on a pinnacle overlooking some cliffs above the Mtwalume River with an odd inselberg on the opposite bank. Following the forested cliff edge we found Mimusops obovata and Cussonia sphaerocephala in fruit, Diospyros villosus with fruit and flower, some photogenic Grewia lasiocarpa fruits, as well as Hyperacanthus amoenus and Helixanthera woodii.

Mimusops obovata

Cussonia sphaerocephala fruits

Diospyros villosus

Grewia lasiocarpa

In the adjacent grassland we found Habenaria filicornis and a tall Ceratotheca triloba. Following another forest edge we saw a brightly coloured Millar's Tiger feeding on some Cussonia fruits and to our surprise, a late flowering Asclepias albens.