As it was just over a year ago that we had collected specimens of an unknown Hesperantha at Cubica Heights, we decided to return to see how this population was doing. The first specimens were sent to the Compton herbarium in Cape Town where it was confirmed as a new species. Apparently the species has now been described and the description is awaiting publication.
When we arrived at Cubica Heights we found that there had been a management burn during the week and there was no chance of finding the Hesperantha here. Fortunately, while filing last-year's photographs on my computer, I realised that in fact we had seen this same Hesperantha previously across the valley at nearby Smedmore. We could see that only a narrow strip of a firebreak had been burned at Smedmore so we drove there, expecting better chances of finding the Hesperantha.
We strolled over the hill looking for habitat similar to the Cubic Heights site and it was not long before we were rewarded with the sight of a few of the large pink flowers of this newly-described Hesperantha protruding above the long grass. We soon realised that there were many of these flowers in this area and collected material for vouchers for Bews and the Natal Herbarium.
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| The new Hesperantha |
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| The habitat in which we found the new Hesperantha |
We walked further, exploring the grassland and found one or two Dierama igneum in flower as well as several Lasiosiphon anthylloides. Investigating the trees at the edge of the cliffs above the Umtamvuna River gorge, we found Polygala gazensis still in flower. There were several of the Pondoland endemics, including Faurea macnaughtonii with rufous new leaves. In the shade of a large rock outcrop we found a few more of the new Hesperantha.
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| Dierama igneum |
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| Lasiosiphon anthylloides |
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| Polygala gazensis |
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| A discussion at the kranz edge |
Further along where the cliff edge became more accessible, we found Maytenus peduncularis with two showy fruits. This reminded Maggie that the Maytenus abbottii (an Endangered Pondoland endemic) in her garden was flowering.
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| Maytenus peduncularis |
By then we had reached the edge of the main Smedmore forest and there discovered another subpopulation of the new Hesperantha. We observed several different insects visiting these flowers. At the forest margin we found Hypoestes aristata, Notobubon laevigatum and Euphorbia dumosa in flower.
We entered the forest and found a cool spot to enjoy our lunch. I managed to sit under a Memecylon bachmannii bearing several fruits and Maggie chose a Bachmannia woodii that was sporting many clusters of flowers and buds.
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| Hypoestes aristata |
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| Notobubon laevigatum |
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| Euphorbia dumosa |
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| Memecylon bachmannii |
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| Bachmannia woodii |
Clambering a bit further through the forest, we found a viewpoint to look down into the gorge.
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| View down into the Umtamvuna River gorge from Smedmore forest |
Leaving the forest we found more Hesperantha flowering in the afternoon shade of the forest. There was also Stachys sp and Senecio tamoides in flower and nearby we found a cluster of Riocreuxia torulosa seed capsules - clearly this last season had been a bumper one for this species.
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| Stachys natalensis |
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| Senecio tamoides |
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| A cluster of Riocreuxia torulosa seed capsules |
We set off homewards, stopping at Maggie's house to see the Maytenus abbottii. We also found Erythrina latissma carrying a fair load of red and black seeds as well as Cassipourea gummiflua var verticillata with many seed clusters.
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| Maytenus abbottii |
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| Erythrina latissima |
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| Cassipourea gummiflua |
Participants: Anne S, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Tracy T.
