Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Another visit to our Oribi Flats grassland study site (Thursday 24 October 2019)

Having checked on the flowering status of a grassland study site we have been monitoring for several years, we headed to the Oribi Flats area, passing through the Oribi Gorge Nature reserve on the way. After checking in with the farm owners, we drove to the grassland and started enjoying the spectacle in front of us. The grassland here has been divided into two blocks that are burned alternately in a two-year cycle.

Floral splendour on this year's burn - last year's burn in the background.

We set off on foot, with something different at almost every step. Acalypha depressinerva and Acalypha glandulifera abounded. We were pleased to see Callilepis leptophylla, a species far less common here than Callilepis laureola. We found Cucumis hirsutus, Eriosema cf preptum and Dolichos falciformis.

Acalypha depressinerva

Acalypha glandulifera

Callilepis leptophylla

Cucumis hirsutus

Dolichos falciformis

Eriosema cf preptum

Eugenia albens was well represented, with the first flowers showing and the Euphorbia natalensis were looking very robust. There were also numbers of the more delicate Euphorbia striata. Helichrysum were very showy - we saw H. innornatum, H. nudifolium var oxyphyllum and large swathes of H. pannosum.

Eugenia albens

Euphorbia natalensis

Euphorbia striata

Helichrysum cf inornatum

Helichrysum nudifolium var oxyphyllum

Helichrysum pannosum

Bright blue flowers of Rotheca hirsuta caught the eye. We also saw Hibiscus aethiopicus and H. pusillus flowering near each other.

Rotheca hirsuta

Hibiscus aethiopicus

Hibiscus pusillus

We found some very pubescent Hypoxis multiceps. Nearby were a few Ledebouria ovatfolia, some sprawled Indigofera grata and one or two Pachycarpus concolor.

Hypoxis multiceps

Indigofera grata

Ledebouria ovatifolia

Pachycarpus concolor

We found a very determined but small, Pelargonium alchemilloides, some stately buds on Pelargonium luridum and a few Rumex dregeana displaying their red fruits. In a dry watercourse we found patches of bright Monopsis decipiens and a single Ipomoea simplex growing in a track.

Pelargonium alchemilloides

Pelargonium luridum

Rumex dregeana

Monopsis decipiens

Ipomoea simplex

After recording what we could find on this patch, we set off towards the cliff edges above the Umzimkulu River where we sat and had lunch watching the Cape Vultures soaring past effortlessly. On the approach to the cliffs we saw Helichrysum acutatum, Heliophila rigidiuscula and Chrysocoma ciliata and overlooking the cliffs were Trema orientalis, Lycium acutifolia and numbers of Anacampseros rufescens, although none had open flowers at the time.

Heliophila rigidiuscula

Chrysocoma ciliata

Helichrysum acutatum

Trema orientalis

Lycium acutifolium

Gail living dangerously and tempting the vultures

On the way back to the vehicles we made a quick check of a population of Aspalathus abbottii - they seemed to be doing well - and passed a flowering Homalium rufescens.

Homalium rufescens

Heading homeward we paused at the picnic spot at the crossing of the Umzimkulwana River to do a survey of one of our CREW target species, Crinum moorei, along the trail here. We did not have to go far before we found several plants just off the track. Before getting there we were impressed with the numbers of Drimia uniflora growing on top of an exposed boulder. Following the track further we found a Phytolacca dodecandra in fruit, dangling from the forest trees while Samango monkeys barked their displeasure at our invading their territory.