Braving the heat at Smedmore

With high maximum temperatures forecast, we elected to go to Smedmore where we always have the option of sheltering in the forest, rather than spending the day in the sun on the Western Heights. Geoff Nichols had asked to accompany us as he wanted to capture information on selected trees on an mobile tree app and fortunately we quickly managed to find two of his wish-list species while other members of the group were having their tea.

While this was happening, Lindo was busy capturing data on the last few specimens into BRAHMS RDE files - the end of this phase of a major undertaking in a small herbarium supported by volunteers and virtually no funding. The next phase will be to check and then import the data into Brahms and then it can be made accessible via a server.

Some of the Pondoland CREW team with Lindo while he captures data on the last specimen

We set off in two vehicles and when we arrived at Smedmore the heat was pretty energy-sapping but we nevertheless decided to walk the upper edge of the cliffs first. It was not long before we found a large-flowered Pachycarpus coronarius - a short distance away from a Pachycarpus asperifolius.

Pachycarpus coronarius

Pachycarpus asperifolius

A little further along we found Cryptolepis capensis in flower - without flowers this creeping plant tends to be very unobtrusive. There was also Clerodendrum glabrum (now renamed Volkameria glabra) with clusters of flowers.

Cryptolepis capensis

Volkameria glabra

 In the forest below us we saw a tall Chrysophyllum viridifolium in fruit and close to the cliff edge was a Faurea macnaughtonii covered in flower buds, with one flower just starting to open. A stocky Bersama swinyi was found to have some open flowers, and there were several Pavetta lanceolata trees in full flower, scattered along the cliff edges.

Faurea macnaughtonii

Bersama swinnyi

Bersama swinnyi

Pavetta lanceolata

Another fruit-bearing tree below us proved to be Ptaeroxylon obliquum, while there were several Rhynchocalyx lawsonoides nearby.

Rhynchocalyx lawsonoides

Ptaeroxylon obliquum

By this stage the heat was becoming uncomfortable so several of us sat in the shade of a Syzygium cordatum watching as Geoff showed how to capture the best photos of a Pachycarpus.

Geoff demonstrating photographic technique

We turned back here and quickly made our way back to the vehicles and then into the forest where we sat and enjoyed lunch in the cool shade. Here we noticed Disperis lindleyana in the leaf litter of the forest and on the cliff faces we found clums of Streptocarpus primulifolius.

Enjoying the coolness of the forest

Disperis lindleyana

Streptocarpus primulifolius

After a bit more exploring in the forest we made our way back to Beacon Hill. Here we did some filing of new specimens before bidding Lindo farewell - with his data capture task completed he will be heading back to his family near Durban.

Participants: Anne S, Debbie K, Dorothy M, Geoff N, Graham G, Kate G, Lindo T,  Maggie A, Uschi T.

A day in the Ngele mountain Reserve

After seeing good flowers during the Weza Conservation Area meeting (see post: Weza Conservation area visit) we decided that we should visit the higher-altitude grasslands at Belfast Lookout. As we had a bigger group with us we travelled in two vehicles and met at the Ingeli Forest Resort. After picking up Robertson Madwe and Wiseman Bhayisa at the DAFF offices, we headed upwards along the circuitous commercial forestry roads towards Belfast. Before long we came across a broken-down timber truck blocking the road - fortunately there was a tracked loader nearby and the operator obligingly made a route so we could bypass the truck.

Climbing for a while through pine plantations, we eventually emerged in open grassland near the Belfast Lookout pass. Here we saw some bright pink Watsonia confusa flowers and stopped to check if any were actually Disa pulchra, a species which mimics these Watsonia flowers. Unfortunately there were no Disa but there was an interesting Xysmalobium, which we will need to work on to get an identity. 

The approach to the highest point involves driving along a rough, narrow track with a precipitous drop to the left. Having navigated this safely we stopped just after the highest point. Here we hoped to see Xysmalobium rhodanthum (ined.), as we had previously discovered a big population of this undescribed species here and we wanted to reassess the current health of the population. There were many of the similar looking Ledebouria lachanalioides (formerly Resnova lachanalioides) emerging from the grass but it took a while before we discovered the first of the Xysmalobium rhodanthum flowers. Another pink flower in this area was Helichrysum vernum.

Ledebouria lachanalioides

Xysmalobium rhodanthum ined.

Helichrysum vernum

It was soon evident that once again there were far fewer Xysmalobium rhodanthum than on the previous occasion when we originally discovered the population.  If we had not known that the population existed, we would probably have overlooked them this time. There were many of the bright yellow-flowered Xysmalobium tysonianum amongst the rocks and prominent in the open grassland were Albuca setosa and Cycnium racemosum.

Xysmalobium tysonianum

Albuca setosa

Cycnium racemosum

Another relatively common but very obvious grassland flower was Dierama ambiguum; these very slender grass-like plants tower above most of the grassland plants. Their flowers are a real challenge to capture in a photo if there is any sort of wind blowing, as the slightest breeze has them dancing.

Dierama ambiguum

It took a while before we spotted the first of the orchids for the day. The first to be seen was a Disa stricta, followed a little later by  Disa stachyoides. We also found an unusual white-flowered form of Ledebouria lachanalioides.

Disa stricta

Disa stachyoides

White form of Ledebouria lachanalioides

While Hypoxis species are common in these grasslands, most of the species have yellow flowers. In a small hollow we came across one of the few white species, Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora.  Nearby were some robust-flowered Helichrysum cooperii and Senecio napifolius.

Hypoxis parvula var. albiflora

Helichrysum cooperii

Senecio napifolius

Hidden in the grass on a steep slope were some Jamesbrittenia breviflora. Another ubiquitous flower in this area was Senecio barbatus.
 

Jamesbrittenia breviflora

Senecio barbatus

We then headed back to the vehicles and drove a little further to the Belfast plains and set off walking again. Amongst others we found Cerastium arabidis, Aspidonepsis flava, Corycium dracomontanum and the unusual, hairy-flowered Fanninia caloglossa.

Cerastium arabidis

Aspidonepsis flava

Fanninia caloglossa

Corycium dracomontanum

Further up a hill we found some Lessertia perrenans in flower and clinging to a small cliff were a few Disa oreophila subsp. oreophila. We also found Streptocarpus pusilus in a small vertical rock cleft.
 

Lessertia perrenans

Disa oreophila subsp. oreophila together with pink Rhodohypoxis baurii

Streptocarpus pusilus

 Crossing a small stream we found some Wahlenbergia rivularis and then, on the way back to the vehicle we came across a small, white Kniphofia species (found here on a previous visit but at that time we were confused about the identity), which we have now confirmed as Kniphofia brachystachya.

Wahlenbergia rivularis

Kniphofia brachystachya

 We then bumped back down the track and delivered Robertson and Wiseman to their office base. On the way home we stopped briefly at the small triangle of grassland/wetland near the Weza sawmill. Here we found Eucomis comosa subsp. striata flowering near the stream, as well as some tall Albuca rupestris. There were a few Crotalaria globifera but the area was dominated by waist-high Senecio isatideus.

Eucomis comosa subsp. striata

Albuca rupestris

Crotalaria globifera 

Lindo working his way through the Senecio isatideus

This was a high note to end the day.

Participants: Anne S, Debbie K, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Lindo T, Robertson M, Uschi T, Wiseman D.

Surveying for plant rescue in Pondoland

We were asked by the company, Simply Eviro JV, to undertake a survey for threatened plant taxa in the proximity of the proposed Msikaba bridge site on the greenfields re-alignment of the N2 highway so that these plants can be rescued as the contractor commences work on the project. It is intended to keep the plants in a nursery for later restablishment. We set off early on Thursday morning and arrived at the location of the proposed site camp at midday.

The grassland was green - evidence of a fairly recent burn. The Engineer's representative and Contractor's Site Agent arrived and showed us the position of the proposed site camp. We walked the area of approximately 8000 square metres and other than the abundant Ngongoni grass (Aristida junciformis subsp. junciformis) there were few other flowering plants of note. It is clear that these grasslands are very degraded, probably due to grazing by cattle, goats and sheep and too-frequent fires.

We took note of the lists of species identified for protection in the Plant Search and Rescue Plan. However, in addition to these species, we identified Red Listed and endemic species encountered along the routes walked.

In the site camp area we found one or two Eriosemopsis subanisophylla, a Vulnerable Pondoland endemic species. There was a good variety of plants in a small wetland, including Utricularia livida and Utricularia prehensilis as well as Genlisea hispidula; however, it is understood that the position of the site camp may be moved to avoid the wetland.

Eriosemopsis subanisophylla

Once we had completed the survey of the site camp area we started on the haul road. Initially this strip - approximately 8m wide - is a greenfield alignment but later it intersects with the main road reserve and follows it from there on to the bridge site at the Msikaba River gorge. The haul road follows a plateau for some distance before dropping down into a valley. 

It was on this plateau where we found the yet-to-be-described Craterostigma species growing on a typical horizontal Msikaba Sandstone rock plate. These plants are definitely candidates for rescue. A little further along we found a similar group outside the planned alignment.

Craterostigma sp. nov growing amongst Eriospermum mackenii

 As we dropped down towards the valley we saw some other plants of interest: the endemic species, Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris, and Stangeria eriopus.

Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris

Stangeria eriopus

We proceeded along this alignment for about a further 500m before turning back to ensure we reached our accommodation at Msikaba Drifters before dark. This turned out to be a prudent move as the track down to the tented accommodation was rudimentary at best. The gate into the Drifters property was a fair challenge as there was a significant but uneven step down just inside the gate. After a little shuffling around between tents we found ourselves to be reasonably comfortable and took a quick walk down to the beach. The most spectacular view turned out to be a little later from the deck of the lounge/kitchen area.

Evening sky from the Drifters' lapa

The next morning was overcast and the sunrise sky was rather drab. The light revealed that there were two trees flowering next to the lapa - a Turraea obtusifolia and the endangered endemic Tricalysia africana.

Turraea obtusifolia

Turraea obtusifolia fruit

Tricalysia africana

After breakfast we headed back to the haul road and recommenced with the survey from where we left off the previous day. It was not long before we reached a small stream - the bed of this stream had a good population of the Declining species Prionium serratum (common name "palmiet"), a species recognised by the Pondo people as helping to keep the water in the streams clean.

Prionium serratum

In attempting to cross this stream we headed downstream where we saw some of the local people crossing.  We suddenly realised that we were close to a waterfall so we deviated to have a look, a deviation well worth the effort - a series of cascades with a drop of about 60 metres!

The waterfall just below the stream crossing

We proceeded walking the haul road alignment and stopped where it appeared to cross another stream at a beautiful small waterfall. The rocks near this waterfall are festooned with orchids: Bulbophyllum scaberulum, Rangaeris muscicola and Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris. We were joined here by representatives of the Engineer, Contractor and Environmental Consultants who were also walking the alignment.

A host of Bulbophyllum scaberulum in flower

After climbing a small rise we could see another and very much larger waterfall in the distance.

A bit further along we encountered some of the Near Threatened endemic Canthium vanwykii growing amongst the rocks. A common species along the alignment closer to the southern approach to the Msikaba Bridge was Pachycarpus asperifolius and scattered through the grassland were several delicate pink Brachystelma rubellum. We also found two Brachycorythis pubescens in flower and noted what appeared to be Brachystelma pygmaeum growing on rock plates.

Pachycarpus asperifolius

Brachystelma rubellum

Brachystelma cf pygmaeum in fruit

Brachycorythis pubescens

This brought us to the edge of the Msikaba gorge at the bridge site and marked the end of the survey for the second day. We were fortunate to be able to drive to the top of the large waterfall shown above and it proved to be every bit as impressive as it appeared from a distance.

Back at Drifters camp we were privileged to get some beautiful evening light on the cliffs in the estuary.

Evening light on the cliffs in the Msikaba estuary

On day three we packed up and headed to the north bank of the Msikaba and drove to the start of the haul road. As this section is close to rural dwellings, the grassland has been transformed to a greater extent than seen on the approach to the southern bridge site, much of this transformation through subsistence agricultural activities.

We walked the staked alignment of the haul road for two kilometers and found no species of conservation concern apart from isolated Eriosemopsis subanisophylla. At the two kilometer mark we reached the edge of a forested patch, parts of which are infested with the invasive alien Solanum chrysostrichum. However, since we did not have extensible equipment for collecting leaf specimens to identify some of the taller trees, this last section to the northern bank of the Msikaba River will have to be done on a follow-up visit.

Participants: Anne S, Bjorn W(SE JV), Gail B-W (SE JV), Graham G, Kate G.