Under lowering skies we set off for Cubica Heights and after a brief detour resulting from a miscommunication with the farm manager, drove through the reserve gates at Cubica Heights. Walking down to the view site for Outeniqua Falls, we found
Agothosma ovata and
Lopholaena dregei in flower. The falls, after the heavy rains of a few weeks ago, were thundering down and it was clear that the side stream had come down strongly, judging by the amount of scouring of the river bed in the gorge below.
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| Agathosma ovata |
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| Lopholaena dregei |
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| Outeniqua Falls |
We reached the end of the boundary fence and while most of us swung around the end pole to get back into private property, Anne decided to use a rather small bushpig hole under the fence instead and was caught in the act by Tracy. On the cliff edge we found a small cluster of
Erianthemum dregei flowers and some
Aloe arborescens. Down the side gully we found a few
Clivia robusta in flower.
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| Anne using a bushpig hole under the fence (Photo: Tracy T) |
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| Erianthemum dregei |
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| Aloe arborescens |
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| Clivia robusta |
We strolled across a saddle and onto a rock pinnacle where we found a few flowers on a Pseudoscolopia polyantha, and Tracy found what appeared to be a budding Mystacidium pusillum.
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| Pseudoscolopia polyantha |
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| Mystacidium pusillum |
We moved on to a forested edge and under the cover of this forest found
Rhipsalis baccifera in fruit. Nearby was
Ceropegia linearis with two flowers. The
Olea capensis subsp enervis were full of fruit, as was a nearby
Viscum obscurum. Brachylaena glabra trees were putting on a show with white terminal clusters of flowers and growing at the base of some shrubs was a
Cotyledon orbiculata.
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| Rhipsalis baccifera fruits |
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| Olea capensis subsp. enervis |
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| Brachylaena glabra |
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| Cotyledon orbiculata |
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| Viscum obscurum |
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| Ceropegia linearis |
Further along the cliffs we found a very conveniently located
Dipogon lignosus, a plant we had previously incorrectly identified as
Dolichos sericeus. Clambering up some shrubs was a sprawled
Pelargonium capitatum.
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| Dipogon lignosus |
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| Pelargonium capitatum |
We then came across two
Clutia species,
C. pulchella and
C. virgata, both flowering.
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| Clutia pulchella |
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| Clutia virgata |
Sheltering at the forest edge were several large
Psoralea arborea shrubs. A bit further along was a
Lotononis eriocarpa with a rather similar-looking flower. Poised holding its orange fruits over the steep drop was a
Scolopia mundii.
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| Psoralea arborea |
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| Lotononis eriocarpa |
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| Scolopia mundii |
We reached a good flat rock where we stopped for lunch while enjoying the view into this side gorge which joins the Umtamvuna River gorge not far downstream from where we were sitting. It seems to be in human nature to peer over the edge of this sort of drop.
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| The cliff edge always provides an irrestible urge to look down |
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| Heading out after lunch |
After lunch some of us headed on a circular route back while Maggie and Dorothy took a shorter route. In the grassland we found a few scattered Erica cerinthoides and a pair of Habenaria falcicornis. In a small wet patch were numerous Utricularia livida.
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| Habenaria falcicornis |
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| Utricularia livida |
On the way back we stopped briefly to look at a small
Ipomoea plebia climbing the fence at the entrance to Beacon Hill.
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| Ipomoea plebia |
Participants:Alf H, Anne S, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Lloyd M, Maggie A, Tracy T.
