It was cool cloudy day. Ideal weather conditions to go and explore what was flowering at Lower Smedmore. There was a Pachycarpus Gail had discovered that could have been a new species but research later found that it had cross-pollinated. It was impressive in structure and size and we went to see if we could find it. This terrain is defiantly not for trail running and its precarious to say the least, climbing steeply up is better than descending and both Maggie and Gail thought that they'd like a zip-line to get to where they were going and Simon could perhaps winch them up from the top as he was the youngest male. Gail thought that this could easily be called "Pachycarpus Slopes" as it would be very fitting.
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Pachycarpus asperifolius
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Pachycarpus asperifolius
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Pachycarpus asperifolius in bud.
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Pachycarpus asperifolius buds about to open.
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| Lower Smedmore |
Tracy managed to skip down the steep hill with agile ease. Treading carefully as the slopes were incredibly rocky. We saw the Senecios had set seed, Dorothy had taught us how to identify the Afroasters and the Afroaster serrulatus must have been a female species as it was cleanly waxed and shaved. Pentanisia angustifolia, Searsia pondoensis and Vangueria infausta were in flower.
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| Senecio... |
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| Afroaster serrulatus |
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| Afroaster serrulatus leaves |
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| Vangueria infausta |
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| Vangueria infausta |
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| Alf with an eye. |
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| Searsia pondoensis |
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Pentanisia angustifolia
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As climbed further down we came to another level where trees grew and Simon challenged us with tree identifications. Not having Dorothy with us it left one sharpening one's pencil. Pachycarpus asperifolius flourishingly grew and in the grass Gladiolus dalenii stood almost hidden. The view was spectacular and such a treat to botanize in cool weather. Syzigium cordatum flowered magnificently. What a majestical tree.
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| Protorhus longifolia |
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| Senecio sp. |
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| Senecio sp. |
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| Gladiolus dalenii |
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| Striga bilabiata |
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| Syzigium cordatum |
As we reached a level plateau the heads of
Scabriosa columbaria caught Alf's eye as some of the heads had lost their petals and looked so different. This hardy plant that grows on rocky slopes is known for treating scabies and skin sores. The grounded roots were used in making baby powder.
Callilepis laureola were plagued by beetles devouring their composite flowerheads. Callilepis means "beautiful scale" which refers to the paleae on the receptacle or to the beaks produced from the ovary. The tubers are poisonous and fatalities have occurred from overdose. The ground roots are used as protective charms when placed under ones pillow to stop bad dreams.
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| Callilepis laureola |
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| Thunbergia atriplicifolia |
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| Kohautia amatymbica |
As we reached nearer to the top the we saw Erythrina latissima, its corky twisted trunk leaning over the edge and the leaves so large. This tree can live to over one hundred years, it has a tendency to fall over and in this case, I am sure one day will. How wonderful would it be to see this tree in flower and the birds that it would attract.
Under the rock crevices Merwilla plumbea soaked in all the seepage and on a hot day the water drops falling off the edge and onto one's head would be most welcoming.
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| Erythrina latissima |
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| Erythrina latissima |
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Merwilla plumbea
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Apodytes abbottii
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| Apodytes abbottii (The flower that Alf gazed upon and loved). |
Yet another wonderful day in nature with our Honorary Rangers doing their best to conserve the reserve. Simon had ventured off and had seen Dais cotinifolia in flower and Tracy has the eye especially for insects. It was lovely to have Maggie join us again.
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| Dear Maggie and our Alf. |
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Gail, Alf, Simon, Maggie, Anne and Tracy
Pondoland C.R.E.W. |
"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere." - Vincent van Gogh.
