With the sun promising to scorch the earth, we chose shade over exposure. The African sun can be unforgiving and relentless, and no matter one’s age, a full day beneath it is taxing. With our three octogenarians among us, we set off gently along the stream where the Brunia trigyna grow and the beautifully contorted Syzygium cordatum lean and twist with age. What characters these trees become over time. Then again, perhaps we all do.
The group soon divided: some eager to negotiate the slippery slopes near the cascading falls, others content to remain above. I am not entirely sure which route was more precarious. The upper path is narrow and steep — one misplaced step and you could find yourself unexpectedly joining those navigating the rocks below. It was never going to be a long day.
The terrain is demanding, and venturing deeper into the forest to seek out Lydenburgia abbottii requires a steep climb back up — a challenge in the heat and one to approach with consideration. On this day, we chose not to venture down.
Out in the grassland, Crassula vaginata flowered profusely, tiny yellow umbrellas lifted towards the light. We had never seen such a generous flush. Then came the showstopper: Brunsvigia grandiflora our South African endemic and proudly so. This giant candelabra turns heads without effort — simply magnificent!
Along the path we noted Indigofera hilaris subsp. hilaris, as well as Alectra sessiliflora . A species we always view slightly side-eyed is Exochaenium natalense. Here, the recently described taxon — formerly treated as Exochaenium sp. nov. — grew both tall and short, with flowers large and small. For now, they are lumped as one, but to the citizen scientist the variation could easily suggest otherwise. Nearby we also found Melasma scabrum quietly holding its place in the grass.
Of the red-hot pokers, one near the office was Kniphofia parviflora, and further along we encountered the endemic Kniphofia laxiflora flowering below the path leading to the stream. Schefflera umbellifera put on a magnificent show, its rounded white flower heads standing out beautifully against the deep forest green. Along the path, Tinnea galpinii appeared in its unusual green-yellow form, flowering freely, while a maroon-flowered form grew a little further on. This remains the only locality where the green-yellow form has been recorded.
And so, in slow and measured steps, we made our way back up to the Beacon Hill office, saying our goodbyes until we meet again — heads full of plants and hearts grateful for shade, gently reminded that botanising is never entirely effortless.
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| Kniphofia parviflora ASPHODELACEAE South African endemic |
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| Crassula vaginata subsp. vaginata CRASSULACEAE |
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| Alectra sessiliflora OROBANCHACEAE |
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| Indigofera hilaris var. hilaris FABACEAE |
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| Brunsvigia grandiflora AMARYLLIDACEAE South African endemic |
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| Exochaenium natalense GENTIANACEAE |
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| Pondoland CREW |
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| Syzygium cordatum subsp. cordatum MYRTACEAE |
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| Kniphofia laxiflora ASPHODELACEAE South African endemic 
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| Tinnea galpinii LAMIACEAE |
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| Alf climbing up a steep embankment from the cascades below. |
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| Our dear Maggie and Dorothy walking along a precarious path into the forest. |
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| Pondoland CREW Gail Bowers-Winters, Anne Skelton, Alf Hayter, Maggie Abbott, Tracy Taylor, Dorothy McInytre, Uschi Teicher and Hiliary Henderson |
“Walk slowly enough, through grassland and forest alike, and the earth will reveal not only its flowers, but its quiet wisdom — reminding us that endurance, like beauty, belongs to every age.”
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