An Asclepidaceous day at Jolivet (Thursday, 5 December 2019)

Our objective for the day was to join up with the Durban CREW team in looking for Pachycarpus acidostelma on a farm in the Highflats area. We met up at the farm and drove to the roadside coordinates we had been given. From here we walked across some well-grazed grassland and worked our way down a steep east-facing slope. It was not long before Kaveesha found the first of the Pachycarpus acidostelma plants in flower.

After taking photos, we explored further in the area and soon came across another Pachycarpus. This was a different species, P. dealbatus, and a little further on we found P. concolor. We also found several more P. acidostelma in flower. However, these were not the only members of the family Apocynaceae we were to see: there were several Asclepias albens with their cartwheel-shaped flowers, a few A. cultriformis and one A. brevicuspis. 

We were pleased to see that finally we had also managed to find Argyrolobium longifolium in flower. There were many Cycnium adonense as well as a few final remnants of flowers on Ursinia saxitilis.

Ajuga ophridis

Cycnium adonense

Argyrolobium longifolium

Agathisanthemum bojeri 

 Asclepias albens

Pachycarpus acidostelma (CR)

Pachycarpus dealbatus

Pachycarpus concolor

Asclepias cultriformis

Asclepias brevicuspis

Solanum campylacanthum subsp. panduriforme 

Ursinia saxitilis

From here we drove around to another farm closer to Jolivet. Just as we arrived at the gate to the conservation area, we saw Rhynchosia cooperi, Eulophia streptopetala, and Sandersonia aurantiaca. While eating our lunch we strolled along the track, very soon finding numbers of the CR Riocreuxia flanaganii var. alexandrina flowering prolifically.

Rhynchosia cooperi

Eulophia streptopetala

Sandersonia auriantiaca

Riocreuxia flanaganii var. alexandrina (CR)

Further exploration in this area produced Hypoxis membranaceus, Albuca virens subsp virens, Maesa lanceolata and M. alnifolia, Syncolostemon densiflorus and Zantedeschia albomaculata.

With a storm threatening it was deemed prudent to avoid the hilltops and so we called it a day. It was a privilege to see two Critically Endangered species flowering on the same day.

Albuca virens subsp virens

Maesa lanceolata

Hypoxis membranaceus

Maesa ulnifolia

Syncolostemon densiflora

Zantedeschia albomaculata

Participants: Alf H, Aaliyah M, Anne S, Debbie K, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Kaveesha N, Lerato M, Lloyd M, Rachel B-W, Suvarna P, Tracy T.