We decided to go to Gogosa to explore the grasslands, with the option of finding our way into the forest should the heat become too much. Despite the tall grass at the end of summer, the inflorescences of the many
Cyanotis speciosa were conspicuous above the grass. We also found
Sisyranthus virgatus with equally hairy flowers. Lower down, a
Cyphia elata just managed to get its flower out above the grass and we noticed several
Exochaenium grande, with a few of these having unusually pale flowers in comparison with the usual colour we find in the Umtamvuna NR.
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| Cyanotis speciosa |
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| Sisyranthus virgatus |
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| Cyphia elata |
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| Exochaenium grande |
We worked our way along a slope above a stream-side forest and came across a damp patch containing a number of
Disa nervosa. Not far from these were
a few
Kniphofia laxiflora and then we found an area where the
Cyanotis speciosa were dominant. Also along this slope were a few
Indigofera tristis.
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| A host of Disa nervosa |
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| Disa nervosa |
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| The dominant flower: Cyanotis speciosa |
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| Kniphofia laxiflora |
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| Indigofera tristis |
We reached the forest margin where
Clutia pulchella were in flower and followed a vague path into the forest, heading down to the stream below. Near the stream there were many flower spikes on
Plectranthus ciliatus. Unfortunately, although we were out of the sun in the forest, the humidity was much higher so we retraced our steps back into the grasslands above and instead headed towards the breezy hilltops.
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| Clutia pulchella |
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| Heading to the stream |
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| Plectranthus ciliatus |
On the way up the grassy slopes we started encountering the rather unobtrusive flowers of
Aloe myriacantha as well as the occasional
Habenaria falcicornis. Once above the forested boundary of the next stream we could see the fruits on a
Combretum kraussii and a little further along was a large
Apodytes dimidiata, which had obviously flowered very well and should be very showy once the fruits ripen.
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| Aloe myriacantha |
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| Combretum kraussii fruits |
As we walked along the flat hilltop we found a few
Sisyranthus imberbis. Despite the lack of substantial shade, we stopped for an early lunch with a good view of the Umtamvuna and Hasselaar Rivers below us. Giving in to the heat, we returned to the car, along the way finding
Aspidoglossum gracile with both flowers and fruit.
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| Sisyranthus imberbis |
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| Aspidoglossum gracile |
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| Some more exhausted than others |
Participants: Buyi Z, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Tracy T.
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