This Thursday we
gathered together at the usual meeting point and from Beacon Hill we ventured
on. With the road that we were to travel on we were uncertain of what lay ahead
but there were no obstacles and through the old gate we went and followed the meandering
track until we reached the end.
We were fortunate to have family members join us as Rachel was visiting her mum from the Cape and Dorothy's family was with her from Gauteng.
When one has interest, one doesn't have to go very far for there is many things to observe flowering in the trees and grasslands. There was great confusion about a photograph that Gail had taken of a Podocarpus latifolius that looked as if it had flowers. Of course, this could not be possible for it was a Gymnosperm but nevertheless the flowers looked real and Gail remembered looking up to see whether any flowers could have fallen down onto the tree but since we were on the edge and there was only sky and a flower that didn't resemble anything else the photo required more investigation and thanks to Graham Grieve, he quickly saw that this Podocarpus latifolius had in-fact a fungal infection at the end of its tips. The mystery had been solved. It sure was convincing.
Growing vulnerably on the rocks was Delosperma subpetiolatum and the rare Crassula sarmentosa var. integrifolia flowered in dry shade. The Haemanthus albiflos where in full flower and the delicate Angraecum pusillum and Mystacidium venosum (orchids grew delicately on the tree, so tiny and easy not to see. When crushing the leaves of Heteromorpha arborescens var. collina the aroma of carrot filled the air.
After having our lunch gazing over the grassland and onto the Transkei we found a way through Smilax anceps which ripped our legs and arms and then onto the steep slopes of the forest edge we tentatively walked holding onto tree trunks so that we didn't fall. The plant that grew on the rocks ached for a sip of water to fall from the sky and they hung dry and limp. The rocks here are so colossal and one feels so small. They like finding monuments in a forest and the sound of birds calling is very comforting.
One can always tell what time of day it is when one see's Moraea stricta as like clockwork when it's two o'clock they open up their beautiful faces. With fire breaks being burnt our botanizing becomes quite exciting in seeing what flowers after the burn and with a down pour of rain.
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Delosperma subpetiolatum AIZOACEAEVulnerable B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)  |
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| Crassula sarmentosa var. integrifolia CRASSULACEAE Rare A habitat specialist known from a few subpopulations. Its habitat of rocky cliffs is not threatened. |
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| Angraecum pusillum ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Angraecum pusillum ORCHIDACEAE
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| Podocarpus latifolius Gymnosperms True Yellowwood |
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| Mtumvuna River - KZN and Transkei in the Umtumvuna Nature Reserve |
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| Haemanthus albiflos AMARYLLIDACEAE |
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| Erianthemum dregei Loranthaceae |
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| Erianthemum dregei Loranthaceae |
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| Viscum obscurum SANTALACEAE |
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| Host tree Erythroxylum pictum ERYTHROXYLACEAE Blue-leaved Coca-tree |
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| Colpoon compressum or Osyris Santalaceae |
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| Caputia medley-woodii ASTERACEAE |
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| Caputia medley-woodii (Senecio medley-woodii) ASTERACEAE |
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| Diospyros villosa var. villosa EBENACEAE Hairy Star-apple |
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| Diospyros villosa var. villosa EBENACEAE Hairy Star-apple |
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| Pentanisia prunelloides RUBIACEAE |
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| Pentanisia prunelloides RUBIACEAE |
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| Hypoestes forskaolii (Justicia forskaolii) ACANTHACEAE |
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| Hypoestes forskaolii ACANTHACEAE |
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| Cyanotis robusta COMMELINACEAE |
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| Cyanotis robusta COMMELINACEAE |
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| Ushi |
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| Debbie |
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| Dorothy with her grandchildren |
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| Dorothy's son and Rachel |
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| A self-made succulent garden growing in a very old cow bone. |
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| Dierama igneum IRIDACEAE Fairy Bell |
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| Carissa bispinosa APOCYNACEAE |
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| Polystachya pubescens ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Indigofera rubroglandulosa FABACEAE |
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| Osteospermum imbricatum ASTERACEAE |
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| Osteospermum imbricatum ASTERACEAE |
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| Osteospermum imbricatum ASTERACEAE |
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| Mimusops obovata SAPOTACEAE Bush Red-milkwood |
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| Mimusops obovata SAPOTACEAE Bush Red-milkwood |
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| Plectranthus hadiensis LAMIACEAE |
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| Selago tarachodes SCROPHULARIACEAE |
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| Peperomia tetraphylla PIPERACEAE |
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| Peperomia tetraphylla (was Peperomia reflexa) PIPERACEAE |
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| Cassipourea malosana RHIZOPHORACEAE Onionwood |
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| Cassipourea malosana RHIZOPHORACEAE Onionwood |
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| Vepris bachmannii (Oricia bachmannii) RUTACEAE Twin-berry Tree |
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| Heteromorpha arborescens var. collina APIACEAE Small Parsley-tree |
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| Heteromorpha arborescens var. collina APIACEAE Small Parsley-tree |
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| Heteromorpha arborescens var. collina APIACEAE Small Parsley-tree |
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| Heteromorpha arborescens var. collina APIACEAE Small Parsley-tree |
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| Western Heights and beyond... |
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| Indigofera herrstreyi FABACEAE |
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| Indigofera herrstreyi FABACEAE |
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| Leucadendron spissifolium subsp. oribinum PROTEACEAE Oribi Spear-leaf Conebush |
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| Kalanchoe rotundifolia CRASSULACEAE |
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| Gnidia nodiflora THYMELAEACEAE |
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| Gnidia nodiflora THYMELAEACEAE |
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| Watsonia densiflora IRIDACEAE |
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| Senecio erubescens var. incisus ASTERACEAE |
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| Senecio erubescens var. incisus ASTERACEAE |
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| Senecio erubescens var. incisus ASTERACEAE |
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| Crassula perfoliata var. heterotricha Red Treasure CRASSULACEAE |
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| Crassula perfoliata var. heterotricha Red Treasure CRASSULACEAE |
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| Disa baurii ORCHIDACEAE |
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| Euryops leiocarpus ASTERACEAE |
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| Euryops leiocarpus ASTERACEAE |
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| Moraea stricta IRIDACEAE |
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| Moraea stricta IRIDACEAE |
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| Pondoland C.R.E.W. with family Gail Bowers-Winters, Anne Skelton, Debbie King, Tracey Taylor, Alf Hayter and Dorothy McIntyre Wildflowers can't be controlled, and neither can that girl with a soul boundless as the sky and a spirit as free and wild as the ocean. |
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