Oribi Gorge

In hope of finding the critically rare South African endemic Caputia oribiensis, we headed up to Oribi Gorge in hope of finding it in flower.  We were sadly too early but will return in hope of seeing it flower in July.  Caputia oribiensis is a drought resistant succulent shrublet that belongs to the daisy family.  This plant is protected by growing in inaccessible habitat.

How wonderful it was to botanise at this lovely time of year when all the aloes are opening and one isn't being melted by the midday sun.  Ochna arborea was all showy and the cool trunks made one stop and feel it and one looked at its beautiful markings.

We saw both Erianthemum dregei and Helixanthera woodii paratising trees.  The fruits luring birds in and sticking to their beaks as they flew off to other branches and dispersing the plants along the way. The flowers and fruit attract birds, the leaves are eaten by the larvae of Mylothris agathina, the Common dotted border butterfly.

 A cluster of Cynanchum viminale flowered on a long stem. A tiny posy reaching up into the sky.  This leafless succulent plant has a milky latex and can burn one's skin.  It is toxic and can cause death.

 

Caputia oribiensis 
Critically Rare
South African endemic

Ochna arborea

Helixanthera woodii

Erianthemum dregei

Cynanchum viminale

Along the edge we found Anisochaeta mikanioides flowering next to Coleus hadiensis, Streptocarpus polyanthus polyanthus, Crassula orbicularis and Caputia medley-woodii.  Some of these plants lured us dangerously over the edge.  The view below is always breath-taking.  One for a brief moment feels like a bird.  It's always amusing how differently people react when at great heights and some steer well away from the edge with no intention of venturing near to where some special plants grow. 

Crassula is derived from the Latin word crassus meaning ‘thick’, which refers to the fleshy leaves found in members of the genus and orbicularis derived from the Latin word orbiculus meaning ‘round’ or ‘disc-shaped’.   Ref:  https://pza.sanbi.org/crassula-orbicularis 

Anisochaeta mikanioides

Coleus hadiensis

Caputia medley-woodii

Crassula orbicularis

Polygala macowaniana and Polygala gracilenta were flowering in the grassland.  Cryptocarya wyliei fruits are always eye catching and the leaves are blue below and hairy.  What an ornamental shrub this is.  The species name "Wyliei" was named in honour of James Wylie (1861-1947) who was first appointed in Durban Botanical Garden as a gardener and later on became the second curator of the garden, after Medley Wood. Ref:  https://pza.sanbi.org/cryptocarya-wyliei

  

Polygala macowaniana

  

Polygala gracilenta

Cryptocarya wyliei

As we meandered back, we ended it off by enjoying an ice-cream and finding a scented Mystacidium venosum growing on the rock.  What a spectacular display of flowers.  These flowers a sweetly scented and pollinated by Hawk moths.

Huge Gasteria's could also be seen growing on the edge of the cliff in the shade.  Crassula sarmentosa integrifolia and Streptocarpus polyanthus polyanthus could also be seen flowering. A row of gland dots is present on the inside of the leaf margin on Crassula sarmentosa integrifolia.  This is always interesting to observe when using the loupe.   

Mystacidium venosum

Our dedicated Pondoland CREW members, Ushi and Dorothy looking up a puzzling plant that was growing along the grassland edge.

Streptocarpus polyanthus polyanthus

Gland dots on the leaf margin.

Crassula sarmentosa integrifolia

Carissa wyliei

Oribi always delivers despite the distance it takes in getting there.  I am always in awe of the passion and dedication to our CREW members.

Pondoland CREW
Uschi Teicher, Gail Bowers-Winters, Anne Skelton,
Maggie Abbott, Dorothy McIntyre & Hilary Henderson

“Like wildflowers; you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would.” – E.V