We met at Beacon Hill and had coffee under the rather weathered roof. We had planned to walk down the firebreak towards the stream, but the wind had other ideas, so we made our way down to the forested area along the stream instead.
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| Heading down to the stream |
As we are well into autumn, there were very few flowers. It’s that quiet in-between period when the summer flowers have all but faded and the winter flowers have yet to emerge. Among the grass, the last few Exochaenium natalense (Liphalana) still displayed their bright white, star-shaped flowers. These little plants are endemic to a very specific, narrow strip of the east coast of South Africa. Not far away, a bedraggled Exochaenium grande — the more widespread and robust relative — was also in flower. While they share a star-like appearance, this species is easily distinguished by its significantly larger, pale yellow flowers.
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Exochaenium natalense
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| Exochaenium grande |
As we merrily walked along the path, Hilary was excited to find Moraea spathulata (Grootgeeltulp), a member of the Iridaceae family. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, with bright yellow iris-like flowers and a single, long, narrow leaf that can reach up to two metres in length.
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Moraea spathulata
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| Hilary holding up the Moraea spathulata leaf |
True to its common name, Pelargonium luridum (Waving Pelargonium) waved at us above the grass. Known for its highly variable leaves — which range from almost round and slightly lobed to deeply dissected and feather-like — its colour is equally varied, from plain green to vibrant green or red with contrasting margins. Either way, it makes a striking plant. Clusters of lemon-yellow Helichrysum pannosum flowers appeared like golden islands between the grasses, their felt-like, greyish-white sessile leaves enveloping the thin stalks. The species is endangered due to the loss of over 55% of its natural habitat from urban development, farming, and invasive alien plants.
As we walked, eyes darting from side to side, Dorothy spotted the first Helichrysum ecklonis (Ecklon’s Everlasting). With its bright yellow disc florets surrounded by crystal-pink papery bracts and suede-like grey-green leaves, it was playing host to a busy furrow bee. Easy to identify, Ipomoea cairica (Messina Creeper) trailed through the long grass, its palmate leaves deeply divided into five to seven finger-like lobes.
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| Helichrysum ecklonis |
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| Ipomoea cairica |
The wind had picked up, making it hard to hold onto our hats, so we sought refuge among the boulders in the streambed. While we were deciding where to go next, I noticed a Gerrardina foliosa (Krantz-berry) with axillary clusters of white to yellowish flowers. While not a spectacular-looking shrub, it is scientifically significant as the only member of its own unique family, Gerrardinaceae. Nearby grew the woody climber Putterlickia retrospinosa (Pondo False Spike-thorn), endemic to the Pondoland sandstone region. Its stems, covered in warty lenticels and hooked, backward-pointing thorns, allow it to scramble toward the light. This climber always intrigues me — the plant that dared to be different.
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| Gerrardina foliosa |
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| Backward-pointing thorns of Putterlickia retrospinosa |
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Warty lenticels of Putterlickia retrospinosa
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Maggie and Dorothy decided to explore the grassland while Anne, Alf, Hilary and I balanced our way across the moss-covered boulders. It was slow going, but that’s botany. The filigree foliage of Asparagus setaceus (Common Asparagus Fern) added softness to the forest. Despite its common name, it is not a true fern. It looked delicate beside a fallen Podocarpus latifolius (True Yellowwood), South Africa’s prestigious national tree. These slow-growing evergreens are deeply woven into the country’s history; ruthlessly felled in the 1800s, they are now protected.
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| Into the forest we went |
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Asparagus setaceus
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| Podocarpus latifolius |
The generous, leathery, elliptic to ovate, opposite leaves of Memecylon bachmannianum (Pondo Rose-apple) always warrant a closer look. A defining feature of the genus is the obscure leaf venation — the side veins are often nearly invisible to the naked eye. Hyperacanthus amoenus (Doringkatjiepiering) impressed us with its sculptural beauty. Hidden among clusters of glossy emerald leaves are fierce spines. Its small, pomegranate-like fruits ripen to black, providing a sweet harvest for birds.
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| Memecylon bachmannianum |
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| The underside of Memecylon bachmannianum leaf |
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| Hyperacanthus amoenus with fruit |
“Opposites, subopposite? Alternate? Toothed with a clear drip tip. Definitely a creeper. Are there threads?” Yes, no, maybe. So we decided to take a takkie for Dorothy and, in moments, she had identified it as Salacia gerrardii (Forest Lemon-rope). Uschi told us that the Ochna natalitia (Showy Redwood) growing in the forest had two types of galls. Imagine our excitement when we found one. Tarenna pavettoides subsp. pavettoides, Englerophytum natalense, Erythroxylum pictum and Indigofera natalensis were all in abundance along the stream.
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| Photo of Salacia gerrardii leaf showing serrations and drip tip |
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| Ochna natalitia with spikey galls |
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| Ochna natalitia with both spikey and rosette-shaped galls |
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| Where did you put it Anne? |
As we neared the end of our ramble in the streambed, I spotted the indigestible remains of an owl’s meal. Looking up, I was thrilled to see a Spotted Eagle-Owl staring down at me. I quietly called the rest of the group over. The owl continued to gaze at us calmly — until one person too many approached. Then it silently took flight.
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| Indigestible remains of an owl’s meal |
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| Spotted Eagle-Owl |
In the sun on the rocks we spotted Alberta magna (Magnificent-flame); the bright red flowers lay scattered on the ground beneath the large, scarlet winged fruits. Below us lay a lovely rock pool overhung by a large Syzygium cordatum (Umdoni). As we picked our way through the grass around the pool, we saw Aspalathus chortophila (Tea Bush) and Athrixia phylicoides (Bush Tea) — not a typo. The former is a wild cousin of commercial rooibos, while the latter is a popular medicinal tea. Helichrysum herbaceum (Monkey-tail Everlasting) still glowed in patches through the grass.
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| Scarlet winged fruits of Alberta magna |
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| Aspalathus chortophila |
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| Open seed pods of Aspalathus chortophila |
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| Athrixia phylicoides |
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| Helichrysum herbaceum |
Back in the streambed we traversed the large steps cut into the Msikaba sandstone by years of flowing water. We ate lunch under two magnificent Syzygium cordatum trees, then walked up the hill on old stone steps laid by people long gone. Monopsis unidentata, a dainty perennial groundcover with small, asymmetric flowers — typically deep purple or mauve, with three petals pointing up and two pointing down — was growing in the damp soil along the trail. Photographing it in the strong wind was a challenge.
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| Lunch under two magnificent Syzygium cordatum trees |
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| A content Alf |
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| Monopsis unidentata |
To the left near the top stood a large boulder we often visit. A gorgeous Ficus grew in a crack, sparking a lively debate between Uschi and Anne about its identity. Ficus ingens (Red-leaved Fig) is famous for its dramatic red leaves and rock-splitting growth habit. Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. mauritiana (Mistletoe Cactus) cascaded from the top of the rock — the only cactus species naturally found outside the Americas. Its long, slender, pendulous stems grew in every direction, displaying beautiful autumn colours. This variation is caused by exposure to high-intensity sunlight, which triggers the production of pigments (primarily anthocyanins and betalains) that act as the plant’s own sunscreen.
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| A lively debate between Uschi and Anne |
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| Ficus ingens in fruit |
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Rhipsalis baccifera subsp. mauritiana
with colour variation caused by exposure to
high-intensity sunlight |
A quick scramble up the rocks before reaching the cars revealed Ekebergia pterophylla (Rock Ash), an attractive, slow-growing evergreen tree in the mahogany family (Meliaceae). Smilax anceps (Leg-ripper) danced across the rock face, and Helichrysum populifolium filled the air with its lovely honey scent.
Back at the office, the Phoenix reclinata (Wild Date Palm) was full of large, hanging clusters of small, oval orange dates. Though edible, they have thin flesh and are mostly seed. These palms are ecologically important and therefore protected.
This week we end by paying tribute to those who came before us — the ones who laid the foundation for our Thursday excursions. To our mentors, who so generously and patiently share their passion and knowledge with us: thank you.
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| Moss in its reproductive phase |
