Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Parasites abound at Oribi Flats {Thursday 6 February 2020}

On an earlier visit from Ralph Peckover, we discovered a previously unknown population of the Vulnerable Brachystelma tenellum. Since Ralph was back in our area, we arranged to meet with him and revisit the site to see how these plants were faring. On the way through the Umzimkulwana River gorge we stopped to look at some flowers on the roadside. These turned out to be Ruttya ovata and Pollichia campestris. A little further up the road we found Cyrtanthus sanguineus growing out of the rock face in the road cutting above us.

Ruttya ovata

Pollichia campestris

Cyrtanthus sanguineus

After consolidating our group into two vehicles, we headed in the direction of Izingolweni, turning off into the canelands a short distance after the paved road ended. Walking amongst the rock sheets in the grassland, soon we came across plants we are less accustomed to seeing in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. There were the remnants of two other Cyrtanthus sanguineus, as well as Aeschynomene micrantha, Ipomoea magnusiana, Indigofera williamsonii, Microglossa mespilifolia and Volkameria glabra, playing host to clouds of butterflies. There was also a very narrow-leafed form of Tephrosia bachmannii (VU) in flower.

Aeschenomene micrantha

Indigofera williamsonii

Ipomoea magnusiana

Microglossa mespilifolia

Volkameria glabra

Tephrosia bachmannii

We walked on, scrutinising each exposed rock plate as these are the preferred habitat for the Brachystelma tenellum but had little success. We did however find a pale yellow-green Gladiolus which might be G. inandensis, but this needs verification. The Olea capensis subsp. enervis were flowering with a vengance. Tucked in below the trees was Pavetta gracilis. Along a section of krans edge we found Psydrax obovata and Sarcostemma viminalis in flower.

Gladiolus cf. inandensis

Olea capensis subsp. enervis

Pavetta gracilis

Psydrax obovata

Sarcostemma viminalis

Draped over the rocks was Searsia acocksii (NT) and nearby we found a few Selago elongata in flower. Ripe fruits on Canthium vanwykii (NT) kept several of our group munching happily while walking.

Searsia acocksii

Selago elongata

Canthium vanwykii

We then came across the first of the parasitic plants for the day: Striga bilabiata in the grassland. Within a short distance we found the second: Erianthemum dregei, some flowering profusely. It was not long before we found the third parasite: Agelanthus gracilis.

Striga bilabiata

Erianthemum dregei

Agelanthus gracilis

In a small bush clump there was a tall Cussonia nicholsonii bearing several fruit clusters and Ipomoea obscura in flower. We took a lunch break at a view spot looking down into the Umzimkulu river gorge. Here Tracy found Delosperma tradescantioides in flower. Ralph rejoined us having wandered far and wide looking for the Brachystelma tenellum with limited success. He had managed to find a single plant with a fruit.

Cussonia nicholsonii

Ipomoea obscura

Gail enjoying the view into the Umzimkulu River gorge.

Delosperma tradescantioides

Brachystelma tenellum with fruit follicle (Photo R Peckover)

Heading back, we saw several Psammatropha mucronata in flower on the rock sheets. We reached a bush clump and found the odd-looking Senecio viminalis; unfortunately this was not flowering but it is nevertheless an attractive succulent plant. In this bush clump we found Vangueria infausta, Zanthoxylum capense and Commiphora harveyi in fruit. One of these trees hosted Viscum rotundifolium bearing orange fruits, our fourth parasitic plant of the day.

Psammatropha mucronata

Senecio viminalis

Vangueria infausta fruit

Xanthoxylum capense fruits

Commiphora harveyi

Viscum rotundifolium

As we got closer to the vehicles we explored a final bush clump that included Dichrostachys cinerea, Pappea capensis and Ficus glumosa. There was no lack of willing volunteers to taste the fruits of the last two species; we all felt a little more able to survive in the veld if such fare was available.

Dichrostachys cinerea

Pappea capensis

Ficus glumosa

After saying our goodbyes, some of us stopped briefly at a nearby grassland test-patch where we found Turraea pulchella (VU) with fruit, a pink Tephrosia polystachya, Crotalaria macrocarpa and Bowiea volubilis (VU). Two Helichrysum species were flowering: H. comosum and H. nudifolium. The last interesting flowering plant we encountered was a very big Hyperacanthus amoenus covered in flowers.