Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: Hazel Ridge 13 February 2025

Cheerfully Pondoland C.R.E.W. met and headed for Hazel Ridge in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. Gail wanted to see if the Rhoicissus sp. nov that Richard Boon was researching was perhaps flowering. This species is still undescribed and its flower has never been photoraphed. When visiting this area in December 2024 we thought perhaps that this plant had buds but what we discovered was that this healthy and happy creeper was just sending off new shoots and aiming for the sky.

Rhoicissus sp. nov

One thing to never do is trust a weather app and always to be prepared. We all looked at each other with the spittle coming down from the heavens and thought we are going to get wet! The wind blew. It looked gloomy.

Graham Grieve had kindly given Gail his old camera as her's had run its course and all the functions where all collapsing faster than Hailey's commet. It was time for it to be put to rest. With Graham's camera the blog could go on!

From the hill on which we parked we looked down at a field of pink Watsonia densiflorus. How beautiful it was growing on mass. This is an extremely hardy plant. In a mound of grass that had the shades of autumn Kniphofia laxiflora grew in vibrant colours. It was certainly the time for Habenaria dives which could be seen growing all over the grasslands along with Pachycarpus grandiflorus subsp. grandiflorus That flower certainly demands one to pay it attention. Eucomis autumnalis was in flower and had set seed. Flowering in the grassland was was our endemic Searsia pondoesnis.

Alf, Uschi and Sarel.

A tiny reed frog in a sitting comfortably in a dry Watsonia bract.

Watsonia densiflorus

Kniphofia laxiflora

Pachycarpus grandiflorus subsp. grandiflorus

Eucomis autumnalis

Searsia pondoesnis

Habenaria dives is also known at the "Death Orchid". It flowers between December and March. When the tubers are dried, they are used as an evil charm. Above our heads vultures flew...

Habenaria dives

Indigofera abbottii and Tephrosia bachmanii were found both are endemic to our area. Tephrosia polystachya var. latifolia was also seen flowering. The flowers so delicate and pretty.

Indigofera abbottii

Tephrosia bachmanii

Tephrosia polystachya var. latifolia

As we descended down to Hazel Ridge Aeollanthus parvifolius grew prolifically. This plant can easily be mistaken for a Plectranthus. This is a drought-tolerant succulent that is essentially a montane and cliff-dwelling species hence why people battle to grown it in gardens. It is an autumn flowering plant.

Aeollanthus parvifolius

We found our endemic Plectanthus saccatus subsp. pondoenis growing on the forest margin. If there were fairies in the forest then all the females would have the most beautiful slippers to wear.

Plectanthus saccatus subsp. pondoenis

The insect life around Plectranthus madagascariensis var. madagascariensis was truly unbelievable. From blue bee's to butterflies, dragon flies and numerous other species one just stood and observed how important this plant is to these insects.

Plectranthus madagascariensis var. madagascariensis

Ochna arborea was in flower, the stem cool to the touch and seed pods simply magnificent. Growing alongside the Ochna we found Helixanthera woodii covered in flowers. Its common name is the "Dainty Mistle-toe". The mistletoes are associated with fertility, vitality and romance and was used in ancient Greece during Saturnalia and later in marriage ceremonies. In the Roman era, enemies at war would reconcile their differences under the mistletoe which represented peace. Celtic Druids valued mistletoes for its healing properties.

Ochna arborea

Helixanthera woodii

Along the forest margin we foundfound Eugenia erythrophylla in fruit. This Large-leaved Myrtle is Near Threatened Blab (iii,v) and is one of endemics.

Sarel, Anne and Uschi looking at Eugenia erythrophylla.

Eugenia erythrophylla

We found Apodytes abbottii in seed, this too is one of our endemics and is Near Threatened B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v). One can't help but go past one and snap it's leaf to hear it crack.

Maytenus acuminata var. acuminata was flowering as was Indigofera sylvicola which Kate Grieve has recently described.

Apodytes abbottii

Maytenus acuminata var. acuminata

Indigofera sylvicola

Dalbergia obovata was covered in seed. This is also known as your "Climbing Flat-bean".

Dalbergia obovata

The forest could be seen full of Acidocarpus natalitius that was in flower. It can be easily understood why this is also known at the "Moth Fruit".

Acidocarpus natalitius

As usual our dedicated CREW members tried to tackle the invasives that had grown prolifically over several years after an uncontrollable run-away fire which was devastating to this area. Our sexagenarian's (age between 60-69), septuagenarian's (age between 70-79) and our octogenarian's (age between 80-89) all climbed in to pull out Chromolaena odorata and Solanum mauritianum. Huge respect to those dedicated CREW members who took out their saws and tried their best to eradicate the invasives. As the old proverb asks how one eats an elephant, its one bite at a time. We need dedicated people here to help restore this little koppie that was a gem.

Solanum giganteum's is our indigenous Bug weed and it's common name is the Healing-leaf-tree. It's leaves have been used in trational medicine to treat wounds and ulcers. The difference between our invasive one and our indigenous is the prickles on the stem.