Hopeful that we would get a walk in before the forecasted rain started, we set off for Maggie's Gully in the hope of seeing some of the
Streptocarpus porphyrostachys that grow on the rocks in the stream bed. At the start of the trail there was a clump of the weedy but rather attractive
Desmodium setigerum. We had not gone very far along the trail before we saw a few
Brunsvigia grandiflora extending their flower heads out above the grass as well as
Alectra sessiliflora.
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| Desmodium setigerum |
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| Brunsvigia grandiflora |
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| Alectra sessiliflora |
We walked further toward a top of a forested stream. In the long grass near the shade of the trees we found some tall
Senecio panduriformis and a couple of
Helichrysum natalitium. On an exposed rock sheet was a cluster of
Helichrysum pannosum in flower. Under the trees we found a 2 meter tall flower spike on an
Eulophia horsfallii; most of the flowers were over and some fruits had already formed below the last few. Hanging in a clump from a tree was a
Dioscorea dregeana sporting several clusters of fruits.
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| Senecio panduriformis |
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| Helichrysum natalitium |
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| Helichrysum pannosum |
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| Eulophia horsfallii |
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| Dioscorea dregeana |
We walked a little further and started seeing
Lotononis viminea in flower. As far as we know, this is the only spot in the reserve where this species grows. Near this display of silvery leaves and pinky-mauve flowers we found a number of
Cycnium racemosum. The grassland here was dotted with the tall spikes of the unobtrusive
Kniphofia parviflora and once we reached some rock plates we found both
Utricularia subulata and U. livida.
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| Lotononis viminea |
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| Cycnium racemosum |
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| Scanning the grassland |
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| Kniphofia parviflora |
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| Utricularia livida |
We crossed Maggie's Gully at an easy crossing point and then followed the forested fringe down towards the Bulolo River. The specimen of the unknown subspecies of
Olea capensis which we had found here a few years ago was flowering profusely. Just below a rocky ridge was a showy cluster of
Kniphofia laxiflora.
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| Olea capensis subsp. nov. |
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| Kniphofia laxiflora |
We pushed our way into the forest and down into the boulder-strewn stream bed on the lookout for the
Streptocarpus porphyrostachys which we have seen along the banks here before but all we saw was a few old flower spikes - we had obviously missed these flowers for this season. All reward we had for clambering carefully over the mossy rocks was one flowering
Indigofera natalensis.
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| Indigofera natalensis |
By this stage the rain had caught us and after a short breather in the shelter of the forest we decided to head back to the office. Like last week, this week we were again dripping wet when we got back but on this occasion it was from the rain rather than the hot, muggy weather. Most rain jackets are rather useless in the summer months - they might keep the rain out but body humidity condensing on the inside of the jacket makes one equally wet!
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| Sloshing our way home |
After an early lunch in the Beacon Hill meeting room and some discussion about the identification of different genera of the family Fabaceae, we called it a day and headed home.
Participants: Alf H, Anne S, Buyi Z, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate g, Tracy T.
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