First walk in the field under lockdown Level 3 (Thursday 4 June 2020)

At long last there was an opportunity to walk in an open grassland as Lockdown Level 3 kicked in. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife have not determined the protocols for opening their reserves yet and therefore the the gates of the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, our favourite hunting ground, remain closed.

Management of this reserve have clearly been working hard during the lockdown as several firebreaks have been burned in anticipation of block burns before arsonists have a chance to ply their customary trade. As these burns have been recent, there was very little showing in the burnt areas apart from a few early Gazania krebsiana. In the unburnt grass alongside the burns we saw Agathosma ovata, Athrixia phylicoides, Aspalathus chortophila, Gnidia coriacea and Helichrysum subglobmeratum. There was also a small patch of Rafnia elliptica, some with a few flowers, others bearing dried fruits.

Athrixia phylicoides

Aspalathus chortophila

Agathosma ovata

Gazania krebsiana

Gnidia coriacea

Helichrysum subglomeratum

Rafnia elliptica fruit

Rafnia elliptica

As we waded through tall, dry grass, we were surprised to see a few Exochaenium sp. nov. poking their heads out above the grass. This was the first time we have encountered this species in the Red Desert NR. There were little shrubs of Lotononis meyerii like silvery grey mounds, all bearing fruits from the last flowering season. We also found Buchnera dura, Euryops leiocarpus, Gerrardina foliosa, a large fruit on a Strychnos spinosa, Searsia dentata, Syncolostemon rotundifolius, Hypoestes forskaolii, Indigofera herrstreyi (ined.), and isolated Helichrysum aureum var monocephalum.

From here we had a splendid view of the bridge over the estuary, with a nice rainbow-like reflection.

Exochaenium sp. nov.

Buchnera dura

Euryops leiocarpus

Gerrardina foliosa

Strychnos spinosa fruit

Searsia dentata

Syncolostemon rotundifolius

Hypoestes forskaolii

Indigofera herrstreyi ined.

Helichrysum aureum var monocephalum

The Umtamvuna River estuary and bridge

We headed towards the forested cliff edges encountering Lobelia tomentosa  and Lobelia pteropoda on the way. On the forest fringe we saw Polygala myrtifolia and  Schefflera umbellifera in flower. Isolated in the grassland was a large Protea roupelliae sporting flowers in different stages.

Lobelia tomentosa

Lobelia pteropoda

Polygala myrtifolia

Protea roupelliae

Schefflera umbellifera

We crossed a small watercourse and headed back towards the cliffs overlooking the Umtamvuna River estuary to a spot where we had previously seen a large python. There was no sign of the python on this occasion, but we did find some splendid Aloe arborescens, a bright yellow Caputia medley-woodii, Apodytes abbottii in fruit, a solitary Barleria obtusa, Erythroxylum pictum in fruit,  Heliophila rigidiuscula and several Lopholaena dregeana.

Aloe arborescens

Apodytes abbottii

Barleria obtusa

Caputia medley-woodii

Callilepis laureola

Erythroxylon pictum

Heliophila rigidiuscula

Lopholaena dregeana

We crossed a dip and scaled a steep hillside before winding around the hill following a well-worn path. We could see a strip of firebreak ahead of us but again this burn was too recent to show any new growth. Walking through what would normally be a wetland we saw a few Utricularia livida in flower. At the top of a rise there was another firebreak - at the side of this was evidently an earlier trace burn and here we found numbers of Cyrtanthus breviflorus taking advantage of the burn to show their flowers before the grass could hide them.

Heading back we found some Dissotis canescens, together with Eriosema parviflorum. There was a single, multi-stemmed Leonotis intermedia, and a lonely Berkheya speciosa just before we reached the parking area.

Cyrtanthus breviflorus

Dissotis canescens

Eriosema parviflorum

Berkheya speciosa

Leonotis intermedia