Oribi Gorge 15 June 2023

There are some things that one can't miss in life and one of those is missing out on the Caputia oribiensis which is declared "critically rare" and when it is flowering carpe diem and so we did.  We drove up to Oribi and went in search of this plant that likes to live dangerously on the edge.  One puts one’s life at risk in search of this plant as one slip can mean one's life is over too.  

It was interesting to see the Caputia oribiensis flowering next to Caputia medley-woodii.  Yellow is always such a happy colour to observe in nature. The Ochna arborea was spectacular.  There wasn't a part of these trees that wasn't in flower.  We came across a Crassula ovata that we nearly overlooked as it was tree height.  It would be so interesting to know how old this plant was.  

Python eggs were found in an ant hill, one would normally run a mile but not with this group who peered bravely inside with no snake coming at us to defend its eggs.  

We left the site and moved onto the Oribi camp and meandered around the grass land.  The Aloe candelabrum were in flower and gave a magnificent display.  Peddiea africana (inland form) kept us on our toes for a while as we scratched our brains thinking what was about to flower Infront of us.  We came across a huge Hyperacanthus amoenus which wasn't in flower but worth a trip to visit when it is as the both the scent and display will be incredible.

It was a day we were very grateful for each of our CREW members in our lives and for the love we have for people in the group.

Caputia oribiensis
ASTERACEAE
Critically Rare

Crassula sarmentosa var. integrifolia'
CRASSULACEAE
Rare

Aloe candelabrum
ASPHODELACEAE
Near Threatened B1ab(iii)

Senecio skirrhodon
Synonym:  Senecio madagascariensis var. crassifolius
ASTERACEAE.

Petopentia natalensis
APOCYNACEAE

Protorhus longifolia
ANACARDIACEAE

Tarchonanthus trilobus var. trilobus
ASTERACEAE

Ochna arborea 
OCHNACEAE

Combretum kraussii
COMBRETACEAE

Oribi Gorge

Peddiea africana
THYMELAEACEAE

Laggera crispata
ASTERACEAE 

Athrixia phylicoides
ASTERACEAE

Wahlenbergia capillata
CAMPANULACEAE

Zanthoxylum capense
RUTACEAE

Senecio oxyodontus
ASTERACEAE

Tracy taking a peek over the edge in Oribi's Wild 5 area.

Crassula ovata
CRASSULACEAE

Plectranthus hadiensis
LAMIACEAE

Cineraria albicans

ASTERACEAE

Tracy and Debbie sitting on the edge taking the magestic view in.

Inspecting python eggs in an ant hill!  Bravery at its best.

Euryops brevipapposus
ASTERACEAE

Oribi.

Cynanchum viminale subsp. viminale
APOCYNACEAE

    

Caputia medley-woodii
ASTERACEAE

Maerua angolensis subsp. angolensis
BRASSICACEAE

Hyperacanthus amoenus
RUBIACEAE

Tricalysia capensis var. capensis
RUBIACEAE

Oldenlandia herbacea
RUBIACEAE

T.L.C.  Tracy bravely tending to Dorothy's wound.

Pondoland CREW
Debbie King, Tracy Taylor, Gail Bowers-Winters, Anne Skelton and Dorothy McIntrye