Pondoland C.R.E.W. Blog: A Rainy Ramble Through Foster's Folly

We had decided to head to Foster’s Folly. On the way to the reserve, we encountered a new fence and gate—who had put it there and why, we could only speculate. When we reached the boundary of the reserve, Alf and Hilary jumped out and cleared the old, rusty barbed wire off the tracks. It had once formed part of the reserve fence but had been broken for many years and would no doubt remain that way due to a lack of funds. There had been an arson burn which, luckily, had not spread too far—most likely set intentionally by cattle herders wanting new grazing for their livestock.

Clouds over Foster's Folly

While drinking our warm beverages, we noticed Cape Vultures circling on the far ridge—a welcome sight that set the mood for the day. It had started to rain ever so lightly, so we slipped our raincoats on and strolled towards the sandstone cliff. Between the wind-sculpted sandstone formations, Helichrysum populifolium caught our eye with its heart-shaped, silver-grey leaves covered in fine cobweb hairs. The massive, widely branching, flat-topped floral arrays created large, soft, creamy-yellow clouds that gave off a wonderful honey scent against the backdrop of stunning gorge views.

Helichrysum populifolium

Stunning gorge views

New bright green shoots were pushing up between the burnt stubs, a vivid reminder of the veld’s incredible resilience. With its roots deeply anchored in the sandstone, the evergreen Gerrardina foliosa (Krantzberry) showed off tiny, inconspicuous, five-petaled white flowers. These were arranged in slender, erect stalks pushing out from between the glossy, finely toothed leaves.

Gerrardina foliosa

Sprawling untidily over the rocks, Crassula perforata added splashes of colour to the sandstone. Its perfectly strung-together, fleshy triangular leaves—tipped with a reddish-pink pinstripe tinge—were a beautiful sight. If you looked closely, you could see the tiny dimple-like spots along the red margin (hydathodes), which allow the plant to absorb moisture when groundwater runs dry.

Crassula perforata

While admiring the breathtaking expanse of the Umtamvuna River gorge, we spotted a fascinating ecological battle playing out right on the cliff edge. Standing tall against the deep valley backdrop was a Garcinia gerrardii (Forest Mangosteen), but it was not alone. The tree was heavily hosting massive, rounded crowns of the indigenous mistletoe, Viscum obscurum. The visual contrast was stunning: the tree’s dark, leathery green foliage was completely engulfed by exploding clusters of vibrant golden-yellow and deep russet-orange mistletoe stems. To the right, a ghost-like skeleton of old, dead mistletoe branches rattled in the gorge wind—a vivid reminder that while these parasites draw life from their hosts, it is a delicate, precarious balance of nature.

Viscum obscurum

Further along the edge in a thicket we found Erianthemum dregei (Silky Matchflower). It belongs to the Loranthaceae family—the true showy mistletoes—and represents a completely different parasite family from the previous Viscum obscurum. Growing alongside it was the spectacular Rangaeris muscicola. The name muscicola is a combination of two Latin words: muscus meaning “moss” and the suffix -cola meaning “dweller.” Because its microscopic seeds lack food reserves, they are completely dependent on thick, damp cushions of moss to trap moisture and harbour the essential fungi needed for germination. It is almost always found anchored inside mossy blankets on trees and boulders. Many would simply walk past the jolly yellow Osteospermum imbricatum.

Erianthemum dregei

Rangaeris muscicola
Photo credit Gail

Osteospermum imbricatum

Looking out over the gorge, it was difficult to ignore the tangles of golden-yellow spaghetti belonging to a Cassytha species. We find two species here. Cassytha filiformis has long, loose flower spikes and produces white or translucent green berries; it typically grows in open sand dunes and warm savannas further north. In contrast, Cassytha pondoensis features short, tightly clustered flowers with tiny rusty hairs, bears bright red fruit, and is strictly localised to the sandstone cliffs and gorge forests of the Pondoland region. Right next to the unfortunate Loxostylis alata covered in the Cassytha species was Euclea natalensis, (Natal Guarri), with its dark, glossy leaves and strikingly wavy, ruffled leaf margins. The velvety, rust-tinted new growth added a richness. Its roots are historically prized for yielding the rich black dyes found in traditional Zulu basketry, while its antimicrobial twigs serve as highly effective natural toothbrushes—leaving us with plenty of reasons to smile.

Cassytha species

Euclea natalensis

We're not lost we're botanising

Growing in the shade was Mikania natalensis. There is a quiet elegance to the way its soft, cream-coloured flower clusters draped over the other plants. We had finally reached the entrance to Foster’s Folly, our botanical Narnia. We muddled around waiting for everyone to catch up, but for some the anticipation was too much, so we started to explore. Almost immediately, the glowing orange-red leaves of Clutia pulchella (Lightning Bush) stole our attention with a flash of colour, taking us immediately to a happy place.

Mikania natalensis

Clutia pulchella

Entering Foster’s Folly is not to be rushed. We took carefully placed steps to avoid standing on botanical treasures. Crassula sarmentosa var. sarmentosa (Trailing Jade) cascaded over rocks and grew from the moss. Clusters of star-shaped flowers intricately painted with pink stripes drew us in. The brilliant scarlet-red apothecia—the spore-producing reproductive structures of Cladonia didyma (Southern Soldiers)—stood out like tiny beacons against the earth. It is a vital pioneer species that grips directly onto the sand and weathered rock, slowly building up a thin organic layer of soil over centuries so that other plants—like Crassula—can eventually take root. Caputia medley-woodii, cloaked in a thick, dense coat of white felt, revealed fleshy, egg-shaped leaves that were actually a very dark blackish-green beneath.

Crassula sarmentosa var. sarmentosa

Cladonia didyma

Caputia medley-woodii

Clinging tightly to the bark was Mystacidium venosum, (Winter Tree Orchid), which hosted a spectacular spray of pristine white flowers. Their long-spurred, icy stars waited silently for dusk to release their sweet, heady perfume to lure pollinating hawk moths through the dark forest understory. Anne, determined to have Dorothy with us, guided her over and through every obstacle.

Mystacidium venosum

Fingers of moss reaching out

Dorothy chose a lunch spot, watching over us as we made our way across the rocks. As we went, the bruised leaves of Pelargonium capitatum (Kusmalva) released an intensely sweet rose fragrance while we walked through a grove of Psoralea glabra (Narrow-leaf Fountain-bush), which was full of beautiful pea blossoms that flashed brilliant violet against the deep green, needle-like foliage.

Dorothy watching over us

Pelargonium capitatum

Psoralea glabra

A sea of Smilax anceps (Leg-ripper) lay ahead of us, so Anne, Hilary, and Uschi decided to go no further. Looking at Anne’s scratched legs, we could understand why — she had clearly been at war with the vines. Alf, Gail, and Tracy pushed on, determined to reach the edge—a decision that was rewarded with an incredible view. As the rain fell and a Jackal Buzzard soared overhead, we ate lunch. Before making our way back, we admired a near-threatened Eugenia verdoorniae (Small-leaved Myrtle), a dense, much-branched shrub, and Tarchonanthus trilobus (Broad-leaved Camphor-bush) with its beautiful bi-coloured foliage. The clusters of flowers were beginning to mature and take on the characteristic woolly texture that develops during fruiting. Walking through a grove of Strelitzia nicolai (Natal Mock Banana), Gail spotted a vulnerable Encephalartos natalensis (Giant Cycad). Growing from the forest litter Carissa bispinosa (Forest num-num), the tiny, bright scarlet berries are very small compared to its large cousin, Carissa macrocarpa.

Ta da!

Eugenia verdoorniae

Tarchonanthus trilobus

Gail in a grove of Strelitzia nicolai next to
a Encephalartos natalensis

Carissa bispinosa
Photo credit Gail

Out of Foster’s Folly and back in the grassland, we came across the remains of a fire and a porcupine—a grim reminder of the poaching that occurs in the reserve. Tragically, scenes like this are becoming far too common. Aspalathus chortophila (Tea Bush) and Erica cerinthoides (Fire Heath) added brilliant flashes of yellow and red to the winter grass. In the freshly burnt section, Gerbera ambigua (Botterblom) was a wonderful sight. Their stark white petals—vibrant pink underneath—and densely hairy stems are often the very first signs of life to push through the ash after a fire. We spotted a Nuxia floribunda (Forest Elder) tightly packed with thousands of tiny, sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers like mist against the sky. A lone flower bud of Anemone afra (Windflower—daughter of the wind) caught our eye.

Aspalathus chortophila

Erica cerinthoides

Gerbera ambigua

Alf, Gail, Uschi and a Nuxia floribunda

Nuxia floribunda

Our first Anemone afra
Photo credit Gail

Anemone afra

Walking back to the cars, Dorothy noticed the delicate Tulbaghia acutiloba (Wild Garlic). Triggered into life by the heat of the fire, its trumpet-shaped khaki flowers were already open, each displaying a bright, fleshy orange-red ring at its centre. Lopholaena dregeana (Blue Fluff-bush), a highly specialised grassland plant, was named in honour of the famous 19th-century German botanical collector Johann Franz Drège. Dorothy’s keen eyes also picked up Gnidia coriacea and Gnidia nodiflora. As it turns out, these Gnidia species are highly toxic and taste terrible to animals, ensuring they grow completely unbothered.

Tulbaghia acutiloba
Photo credit Dorathy

Lopholaena dregeana

Gnidia coriacea

Gnidia nodiflora

The last flower before the cars was Moraea spathulata, which has been abundant this year. Back at the cars, Gail treated us to much-appreciated chocolate before we said our goodbyes and headed home.