Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Bioblitz in the Lebombo Nature Reserve (Thursday, Friday, 9 and 10 October 2019)

Wewere invited to participate in another bioblitz organised by the UKZN, this time in northern KZN. Having arrived in Jozini early, we set off with Mkhipheni and Bathabile to explore the area near the Pongola dam wall. We found a road heading up through rural dwellings and followed this through very dry conditions until at last we noticed some greenery and the occasional flower. Walking around this area we found Sclerocarya birrea, Vangueria infausta, Lasiosiphon capitata and Ximenia caffra in flower. We also found a showy seed cluster of a Abrus precatorius.

We then headed back to the lodge to attend the bioblitz briefing and to meet the many other participants. Several of us arranged to go out as a botanical group to the lower part of the Lebombo Nature Reserve the next morning. Adam Shuttleworth set us a challenge - to find the rare Pachycarpus lebomboensis.

Sclerocarya birrea

Vangueria infausta

Ximenia caffra

Abrus precatorius

Lasiosiphon capitata

To get to the reserve we headed back down the Jozini pass to the N2 highway and then took the road to Mkuze, passing Ghost Mountain Inn and heading towards the Bethesda Hospital, turning off to the entrance gate of the reserve just before the road started climbing to the top of the Lebombo range. Most of us parked at the water pump station and then proceeded to botanise along the track up to an intermediate reservoir. One of the first and most obvious flowers we found here was Capparis tomentosa as it sprawled over small trees and shrubs. Maerua juncaea and Maerua rosmarinoides were also in evidence but these had flowered earlier and were in fruit. Maerua juncaea was easily recognised by its warty fruits and the slender leaflets of Maerua rosmarinoides helped identify the latter. On this lower section of the road we also found Cassine peragua and Cadaba natalensis in flower. Our efforts were rewarded further by the splendid sight of sweet -scented Strophanthus gerrardii, that caused much excitement amongst the plant pollination experts.

Strophanthus gerrardii

Capparis tomentosa

Cassine peragua

Maerua junceae

Maerua rosmarinoides

Cadaba natalensis

Further up the road we came across Acalypha glabrata in flower and examining some white star-like flowers, determined these to be Jasminum breviflorum. There was a Phyllanthus reticulatus in fruit and Sarcostemma viminale draped their leafless stems over undergrowth shrubs, bearing the odd flower. There were several Euclea divinorum with their axiliary flowers and in many places the ground under the trees was covered with masses of Stapelia gigantea. We also found a Vepris reflexa in fruit.

Acalypha glabrata

Jasminum breviflorum

Phyllanthus reticulatus

Sarcostemma viminale

Euclea divinorum

Stapelia gigantea

Vepris reflexa

A climbing Thunbergia proved to be Thunbergia neglecta and there was a rather spectacular Asparagus divaricatus in flower. More obvious were the Hibiscus calyphyllus and Tecomaria capensis.

Thunbergia neglecta

Asparagus divaricatus

Hibiscus calyphyllus

Tecomaria capensis

After a heavy storm the previous night, the forecast was for light rain during the late morning and we were lucky to be back at the vehicles when the drizzle started. We drove slowly back along the road stopping where we saw interesting plants. One of these stops revealed several species: Barleria elegans, Atalaya alata in fruit, Senegalia caffra and S. schweinfurthii, and a very spiny and floriferous Canthium armatum. Below the Canthium was Justicia flava and nearby we found Capparis sepiaria.

Barleria elegans

Atalaya alata

Senegalia caffra

Senegalia schweinfurthii

Canthium armatum

Justicia flava

Capparis sepiaria

We kept a lookout for flowering plants once we left the reserve and stopped to look at some bright red clusters of flowers on Schotia capitata. A little further on Maerua angolensis put on a good floral display.

Schotia capitata

Maerua angolensis

Then back to the lodge for an evening of identifying and pressing the specimens collected during the day. The objective for the next day was to cover as much of the grassland plateau near the top of the reserve. To get there we took a back road through the rural community, eventually turning off just before the Bethesda Hospital and heading down a rough track until we reached the (redundant) reserve gate - all the fencing here has been stolen and cattle graze freely in the reserve.

At the entrance we found a few Crinum mackowanii in flower, although their leaves had been browsed short. We followed the steep dirt track down and soon came across some Erythrina latissima just awakening after their winter hibernation. Nearby were also a few Erythrina lysistemon also in flower. There were bonsai-like forms of Coddia rudis, stunted and hugging rocks - this seems to be their defence against heavy browsing. Although most the the Dombeya rotundifolia had finished flowering, we did find one with some remnant flowers.

Also along this track there were Trichilia emetica and several Diospyros lycioides in flower.

Please close the gate after entering.

Crinum macowanii

Erythrina latissima

Erythrina lysistemon

Dombeya rotundifolia

The stunted form of Coddia rudis when subject to browsing

Trichilia emetica

Diospyros lycioides

Once we reached the (relatively) flat grassland the party spread out but we soon gathered again to look at the first - and unfortunately the only - flowering orchid for the day, Eulophia speciosa. We were later to find a small cluster of Eulophia petersii but this had no sign of any flowers.

And then we found some as-yet-unopened Pachycarpus inflorescenses. We tried rather inconclusively to tease a bud open but could not confirm the plant as P. lebomboensis. With a bit more searching we found one open flower and this turned out to be P. appendiculatus - close, but no cigar!

Eulophia speciosa

Pachycarpus appendiculatus

We kept trying to find a cliff edge to explore but the edge kept receding. Eventually we found a steeper slope with a rocky ledge and here we found Heteromorpha involucrata with old seed heads, several large, leafless but fleshy bulbs which might be some species of Drimia, a sterile Ormocarpum trichocarpon and the first of many Pachypodium saundersii - the imposing, obese, shiny caudex of these plants is attractive in its own right, but it would be impressive indeed to see this slope when all of these plants are in flower.

Down here we saw a Flat Lizard basking in the sun, a Jasminum multipartitum, several Rhynchosia sordida, and numbers of Ficus abutifolia.

Heteromorpha involucrata

Flat lizard

Jasminum multipartitum

Rhynchosia sordida

Pachypodium saundersii accompanied by Cussonia natalensis and Xerophyta retinervis

Ficus abutilifolia

We crossed over the brow of a rise to find other members of our party having their lunch. They had also found some Pachycarpus appendiculatus as well as a Raphionacme procumbens and a sprig of Vitex obovata. Near here was a single Xerophyta retinervis in flower.

Raphionacme procumbens

Xerophyta retinervis

Vitex obovata

We made our sweaty way back up the hill to the vehicles and on the return journey, found a spot close to the top of the Lebombo range and got out to look at the vegetation there. The late afternoon sun provided good conditions for photos. Here we saw Euphorbia tirucalli in flower being visited by many wasps and a rough leaved shrub with round fruits that turned out to be Acokanthera rotundata.