Although it was sunny, a cold wind was blowing ahead of an approaching cold front, so we wanted to find an area on the Western Heights sheltered from the worst of the wind. When we parked we found that this was likely to be on the grasslands heading inland just above the Bulolo river gorge and so we set off at a brisk pace to keep the blood flowing.
Once we walked over the brow of the first rise we immediately flet warmer and started searching for flowers amongst the knee high grass. It did not take long to find Eulophia parviflora - the first of this new season's orchids. We continued down the steep slope, stopping to look at a narrow wooded watercourse. Here we found Pelargonium capitatum, Rubia cordifolia and Smilax anceps flowering, while out in the grassland there were several Gnidia woodii.
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| Eulophia parviflora |
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| Gnidia woodii |
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| Smilax anceps |
The stream dropped over a low scarp and just below this was a Cunonia capensis full of fruits.This species is uncommon in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. A bit further along we arrived at another watercourse - this one a perennial stream. Where we crossed there was a series of crystal clear pools surrounded by an interesting selection of plants.
There were several
Struthiola pondoensis in flower and after some searching we found a
Brunia trigyna in bud - this is a critically endangered plant and apart from a planted cluster on the opposite bank of the Bulolo river, this is the only known locality for this plant in the reserve.
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| Cunonia capensis |
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| The clear pool where the Brunia trigyna can be found |
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| Struthiola pondoensis |
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| Brunia trigyna |
Clustered in horizontal cracks in the rocks of the stream bed were a few Utricularia sandersonii. We scrambled further along the slope eventually selecting the sheltered cluster of rocks to have lunch.
Turning back, we crossed the Brunia stream higher up. In the streambed we found Mystacidium pusillum growing on a moss-covered branch of a Syzygium cordatum. Anne and Tracy donned their honarary officer hats and ring-barked a tall Eucalyptus growing in the stream bed.
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| Utricularia sandersonii |
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| Anne and Tracy ring-barking an invasive Eucalyptus |
Once this task was completed we pressed on, passing a group of
Aspalathus gerrardii and then crossed the forested section of other branch of the Brunia stream. Growing in the shelter of the forest we found
Arista ecklonii and
Argyrolobium tomentosum.
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| Aspalathus gerrardii |
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| Aristea ecklonii |
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| Argyrolobium tomentosum |
Participants: Alf H, Anne S, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Tracy T.
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