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| Cryptocarya wyliei Red Quince LAURACEAE Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v) |
With the destination switched at the last moment because of a time commitment we headed off to Mr. Nic’s Gully at Beacon Hill and as we walked in procession down the brush cut path before diverting, we noticed how the season was changing and that the grass which was ankle high was now shoulder height. It’s wonderful in life to simply observe nature and notice the small things.
Kniphofia parviflora flowers popped up surprisingly in colonies of around ten. Quite unimpressive perhaps in their flower structure but I found them to be beautiful in their simplicity. In a seepage area Exochaenium sp nov. grew prolifically. I had never seen them flower on mass as seen them isolated, they seemed to look smaller and grew amongst the Utricularia livida. That is the tiniest of flowers and if one doesn’t have a proper lens, it’s impossible to capture, for how do you capture something that is the size of a bobble on a pin head? The white is iridescent on these little flowers.
Senecio discodregeanus looks like a
flower head without petals and that could be quite unimpressive but this little
head of under .5 cm ‘s stands head high in royalty purple and seems to always
stop Tracy and I with its flower spikes that looks us eye to eye when walking by.
On the gully Erianthemum dregei secretly
flowered, a crown of flowers flowering erect scattered by birds cleaning their
beaks off on branches. I wish a bird
flew past our trees so that I could
admire them at home. Their flowers were found through-out the gully
lying on the floor.
We had missed the Streptocarpus haygarthii flowering, their twisted seed heads had told us quietly that they had flowered some time before and we were a little too late. The maroon below their leaf reminded us of who they are. Long, beautiful strap leaves hung clinging to the rocks with seepage trickling down.
We ventured in knowing the route but with the
hectic winds and rains that had come our passage was a little more
challenging. Challenging it always is
but this was to be one of the most challenging days…
As I crept into the forest my camera died after years of use. That was a spear to the heart. A camera is an extension of myself and I found myself lost.
Our group
had divided since diverting into the gully. I followed Anne and then observed fresh blood on stems and wondered if an animal had been
injured for the blood was fresh. Anne
had been wounded by Smilex anceps!
How we hate this creeper which always trips us up, tears our clothes and
shows us of our war wounds. If you ever
need an indigenous boundary plant, this is it.
It comes with recommendation and years of knowing its brutality.
The gully is steep and when walking on the edges one wants to look at the flowers growing on the trees as there is great diversity but also one knows to be careful for one error of a placement of the foot could be life threatening. The group was scattered as there’s things that some members wish to study more in detail and respect is given. The devil’s in the detail. This is botany after all. It’s the small observations that count. Simon had “balegered” and we knew we’d re-unite at some stage be it at the end with “takkies” to ID. Anne, Debbie and I had ventured further up the gully, the rocks were colossal and slippery. One needed to be flexible and agile.
Liparis remota grew on rocks in the shade but again we had been too late in seeing them flower. Cliva’s grew shoulder height. We had waited in a cave thinking we’d congregate
and have lunch but that was didn’t happen which was unusual. Anne had forgotten her lunch in the car and
seeing an exit decided to proceed outwards with Debbie. Had they fallen off the edge it wasn’t going
to be pretty. I ventured up as the risk
was too great and then met up with Simon.
This is a passionate amateur botanist who is sharp! He challenges this group and he is warmly recuperated
by others. Pseudoscolpia polyatha,
Eugenia utamvuenesis, Manilikara nicholsonii, Eugenia erythophylla, Syzigium gerrardii,
Dovyalis lucida, Garcina gerradii, Chionanthus sp had all been found by on
his solo venture. Shortly after lunch under the shade of the trees I looked up
I saw Mark, Tracy, Maggie and Dorothy.
My mind raced. It’s trying times,
it’s dangerous times. What had happened?
It looked like a war zone. Mark
staggered forward. His karkie shorts
full of blood. It looked like he had got
shot in the leg. Maggie was visibly
shaken, there had been an experience that was earth shaking. Tracy gave me the eye where no words where
required, it had been hectic. Dorothy
walked up over the horizon as magnificent as angel that had all the composure
and stamina as that of a soldier as the rocks had been a challenge in getting out. Anyone would have battled. Her glasses that lay on the ground had been
nearly crumpled had Mark steeped one foot back.
Take into consideration that these incredible women who are two decades short of a century had climbed down and ascended these steep ravines. The majority of people sit behind TV screens experiences the world. In our world we have Maggie and Dorothy, who venture out each week with passion, teaching us, giving us their time, giving us all their knowledge so we can pass it on and down for those of us who are willing to learn. Our treasure lies within this group.
Here is to our elders. May we respect them. May we learn from them. May we all be more like them. May we live with purpose, focus and passion.
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| Gail illustrating the height of Senecio discodregeanus. |
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| Kniphofia parviflora ASPHODELACEAE |
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| Erianthemum dregei LORANTHACEAE |
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Hypoxis sp.
 Photo credit: Tracy
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| Pseudoscolopia polyantha Sandstone Red-stem SALICACEAE Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v) |
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| Alf finding the most tranquil pool in which to sit and take in it all. Totally zen. Peaceful. |
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| A gorgeous cave inside the gully. |
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| Exochaenium sp. nov GENTIANACEAE |
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| Lotononis viminea FABACEAE
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| Anne bravely climbing out a steep gully. Not for the faint hearted. |
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| Erianthemum dregei LORANTHACEAE |
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| Liparis remota ORCHIDACEAE
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| Our soldier, Dorothy |
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Simon escorting Maggie back singing joyfully and lifting our spirits.
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| Our hero of the day. |
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| Pondoland CREW Tracy Tailor, Simon Hicks, Dorothy McIntyre, Maggie Abbott, Mark Getliffe, Anne Skelton, Debbie King and Hillary Henderson, Alf Hayter Smile, breath and go slowly. - Thich Nhat Hanh |
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