A small group of us set off on an oppressively hot and humid morning for the area above the Crocodile at the top end of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. We wandered for a while in the grassland, seeing different Chamaecrista species and a single Aspidoglossum gracile. Along the track we found Exochaenium grande and some early Habenaria falcicornis. Two Helichrysum species were prominent in this part of the grassland: the old flower heads on H. appendiculatum and the new ones on H. auriceps. Rafnia elliptica caught the eye with bright yellow flowers, as did Pachycarpus grandiflorus. Here we also found two as yet undescribed Indigofera species: I. abbottii and I. pondoensis.
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| Chamaecrista capensis |
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| Aspidoglossum gracile |
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| Exochaenium grande |
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| Habenaria falcicornis |
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| Helichrysum auriceps |
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| Helichrysum appendiculatum |
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| Rafnia elliptica |
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| Pachycarpus grandiflorus |
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| Indigofera abbottii |
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| Indigofera pondoensis |
As we dropped down the slope we found several patches of
Watsonia densiflora and in the shelter of an umdoni tree (
Syzygium cordatum) there was a single
Kniphofia laxiflora as well as
Protea caffra. From here we had a good view into the Umtamvuna river gorge.
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| Kniphofia laxiflora |
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| Watsonia densiflora |
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| Protea caffra |
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| Looking down into the Umtamvuna River gorge |
On the forest margin we found an Alberta magna flowering and further down the slope an Apodytes dimidiata was covered in clusters of white flowers. The Protea roupelliae were also flowering well here.
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| Alberta magna |
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| Apodytes dimidiata |
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| Protea roupelliae |
In the shelter of the forest margin we found
Rhoicissus tridentata in flower, as well as two species of
Syncolostemon; S. parviflorus and
S. ramulosus.
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| Rhoicissus tridentata |
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| Syncolostemon parviflorus |
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| Syncolostemon ramulosus |
By this stage we were staggering from the heat and humidity and took refuge in the shade along a small stream emerging from Gogosa Kloof. After paddling in the stream and gathering our strengths, we tried walking upstream but soon reached an impassible section and headed out of the valley up to the grassland saddle above. Here we searched for a path into the denser forest on the other side of the saddle and found an animal track that took us down to another stream.
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| A brief respite from the searing heat |
Walking (and scrambling) through this forest we found
Dietes butcheriana in flower and some fruit on a
Memecylon bachmannii. There were also a few
Crocosmia aurea and
Isoglossa cooperi and some attractive fungi
. We were rather disappointed when we reached the stream as the water was muddy, probably as a result of runoff from farmlands above. On the way back up the track we found an attractive caterpillar on a
Thunbergia purpurata; this was subsequently identified for us as an
owlet moth larvae (Rhanidophora aurantiaca). The rocks and dead trees on the forest floor were festooned with ferns. There were at least two species of Asplenium: A. rutifolium and A. prionitis.
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| Dietes butcheriana |
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| Crocosmia aurea |
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| Memecylon bachmannii |
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| Isoglossa cooperii |
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One of the owlet moth larvae (Rhanidophora aurantiaca)
eating Thunbergia purpurata |
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| Fungus |
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| Fungus |
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| Asplenium prionitis |
When we finally staggered out of the forest and made our way back up the hill to the vehicle we were very glad to have the benefit of a gentle breeze at the top of the hill.
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| The brave few who tackled the walk under these hot conditions |
Participants:Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Tracy T.
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