Saturday 11 December 2021

Towards "Lower Smedmore". 11/11/2021

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.

Pachycarpus asperifolius

Pachycarpus asperifolius

Pachycarpus asperifolius in bud.

Pachycarpus asperifolius buds about to open.


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.

Senecio...



Afroaster serrulatus

Afroaster serrulatus leaves

Vangueria infausta

Vangueria infausta


Alf with an eye.

Searsia pondoensis

Pentanisia angustifolia

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. 


Protorhus longifolia


Senecio sp.

Senecio sp.

Gladiolus dalenii


Striga bilabiata

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. 

Scabiosa columbaria

In scale and steepness on rocky slopes.


Brachystelma rubellum 
  
(Latin rubellus = "reddish/slightly red"

Brachystelma rubellum leaves

With grumbly tummies we sat on the cliff's edge, Anne and Tracy had earned their lunch as they had tackled Lantana that thought they had found their home.  The chocolate rivers water ran high, full and fast.  We had missed the mass of the Jasminum multipatitum in flower this time round.  On the rocks the delicate Delosperma lineare flowered.  With eagle eyes  Drimia uniflora was spotted. Tinier than a pin's head with a stalk so narrow it could make a pin look fat.   With Anne not in sight Gail inched her way to the edge as to not give Anne a heart attack and capture the pod that was about to open on the Huernia hystrix.  How incredibly hardy are these plants.

Delosperma sp.

Gladiolus inandensis 

Antidesma venosum

Antidesma venosum

Drimia uniflora

Huernia hystrix

Olenlandia rosulata

Dalbergia obovata

Dalbergia obovata

Apodytes abbottii

Olea capensis subsp. enervis

Bulbine frutescens


Raphionacme galpinii.  


One notices thing going up that one didn't notice coming down, one's eyes are focused on one's feet and rocks coming down and going up it's on the breath and to pause.

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.
 



Callilepis laureola

Thunbergia atriplicifolia

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. 


Erythrina latissima

Erythrina latissima


Merwilla plumbea


Apodytes abbottii

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.


Dear Maggie and our Alf.

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.