Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Cascades 27 June 2024

The weather was perfect for botanising. The sun was gentle and there was no breeze to blur photos.

We made our way to Cascades in Western Heights in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. The fence had collapsed through vandalism and neglect and free-range resident cattle now lived and roamed with a platter of flowers to eat. Plants that are vulnerable are even more so now that these beasts are not been moved off the reserve.

We found Lotononis bachmanniana, Eulophia parviflora flowering and on the slopes the fiery Erica cerinthiodes caught our eye and took our breath away in its coral magnificence.

Lotononis bachmanniana
FABACEAE
Near Threatened A4c; B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
South African endemic

Eulophia parviflora
ORCHIDACEAE

Tracy and Dorothy enjoying the spectacular Fire Heath.

Erica cerinthoides
ERICACEAE

Searching for specials.

To our delight we found Disparago tortilis. We don’t come across this often. What a beautiful flower! Disparago tortilis is threatened by habitat degradation, habitat loss, harvesting and invasive alien species. This a resilient shrub with fine winding branches and needle-like leaves. It can grow in arid and harsh environments.

Disparago tortilis
ASTERACEAE
South African endemic

Botanising in Western Heights near Cascades.

One Watsonia pillansii was in flower.

Photo credit: Tracy

Watsonia pillansii
IRIDACEAE
South African endemic

Two varieties of Psolarea were found where a beautiful Reedbuck was seen bounding off to seek safety from human-kind.

Psoralea arborea
FABACEAE

Psoralea glabra
FABACEAE

Nuxia floribunda was on show, it crown a show of ivory flowers, it truly is quite a sight and can be seen throughout the forest in its contract to the trees that are all green. What is not to be loved about this tree! It’s a gardener’s delight. It’s fast growing, wind tolerant, showy, scented, ornamental, it can be grown in a pot, used as screen, looses minimal leaves, grows in heavy clay soils, you can grow it in small gardens and birds love it. Its children friendly and gives you lovely shade.

Nuxia floribunda
STILBACEAE

In the grassland Exocaenium natalense was prolific and Morea elliotii opened up to show its face around two o'clock. Pseudopegolettia tenella grew close a steep embankment alongside Asclepia praemorsa. It truly does take a trained eye to see some plants.

Exochaenium natalense
GENTIANACEAE

Moraea elliotii
IRIDACEAE

Pseudopegolettia tenella
ASTERACEAE

On the rocks one could find Crassula sarmentossa var integrifolia, Delosperma subpetiolatum, Crassula perforata subsp. perforata, Cotyledon orbiculata var. orbiculata and Caputia medley-woodii. Rocks always have interesting things growing on them. They are islands of flowering gems.

Delosperma subpetiolatum
AIZOACEAE
Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii)+2ab(ii,iii)
South African endemic

Cotyledon orbiculata var. orbiculata
CRASSULACEAE

Caputia medley-woodii
ASTERACEAE

Crassula sarmentosa var. integrifolia
CRASSULACEAE
South African endemic
Rare

Crassula perforata subsp. perforata
CRASSULACEAE
South African endemic

Photo credit: Tracy
Gail watching the vultures and looking at the beautiful Mtamvuna River below.

Helichrysum herbaceum
ASTERACEAE

Asclepias praemorsa
APOCYNACEAE

Osteospermum imbricatum
ASTERACEAE

The sticky fruits of Agelanthus natalitius were found on a tree waiting for birds to go place them onto another host. This is a parasitic plant which is a tree parasite, it's also known as a mistletoe. Birds are attracted to the fruit, they split the skin to get at the very sticky seed covering called 'viscin' (from which 'bird lime' can be made). The sticky seed is rubbed off on nearby branches and thus dispersed. Tree parasites can cause some of the outer branches of trees to 'starve' and die off but it is not a good idea to try and remove the parasites. It will just cause more damage to the host tree. The parasites are interesting plants in their own right and will produce colour and attract birds in the dry season.

Agelanthus natalitius
LORANTHACEAE

We found Garcinia gerrardii growing in the baking sun on a cliff's edge. This is a tree that one finds in a forest. and is known commonly as a Forest Mangosteen.

Garcinia gerrardii
CLUSIACEAE

Tephrosia grandiflora
FABACEAE
South African endemic

Tracy looking at the vegetation across the riverine.

Cascades flowing beautiful despite being winter.

Syzygium cordatum subsp. cordatum
MYRTACEAE

Ushi and Maggie appreciating the ancient Syzigium cordatum.

Dorothy and Buyi botanising.

Steep slopes and the Mtamvuna river in the Umtumvuna Nature Reserve.

A highlight of the day was observing a committee of Cape vultures perched high up on rocks, then just when we thought there was a dozen, we looked up to find a kettle of Cape vultures of at least fifty soaring above us.