A Huddle of Haemanthus humilis at Mount Currie (Thursday 13 December 2018)

We made an early start to head inland for Kokstad where we intended to walk at the Mount Currie Nature Reserve. It was a slow trip, dawdling behind heavy vehicles on uphill sections of the N2 but we eventually turned off at the well-known landmark, "the Pink Church" and took the Karg's Post road to bypass the Kokstad main road traffic. Just after we turned off we stopped to look at a mass of fruiting Bulbine narcissifolia. Also at the roadside here were several Berkheya echinacea, a very hairy Hibiscus sp., and a magenta-flowered Ipomoea oblongata.

Berkheya echinacea

Bulbine narcissifolia

Hibiscus sp. 

Ipomoea oblongata

We arrived at the reserve and after checking in and allowing the caffeine addicts time to have a quick cuppa, we set off around the dam and across the wetland above the dam. Along the path we saw Schizocarphus nervosus, Senecio polyodon var polyodon, Wahlenbergia madagascariensis, Ranunculus multifidus, Cynoglossum austroafricanum, and Cyperus sphaerocephalus. In the long grass in the adjacent wetland we saw Rumex dregeanus and a small group of bright orange-flowered Papaver aculeata.

Schizocarphus nervosus

Senecio polyodon var. polyodon

Valeriana capensis

Wahlenbergia madagascariensis

Cynoglossum austroafricanum 

Cyperus sphaerocephalus

Ranunculus multifidus

Papaver aculeata

Rumex dregeanus

As we started scaling the slope on the east side of the dam, we encountered the first of many Orthochilus foliosus. Just behind us was a scattering of orange buds on Crocosmia pottsii growing alongside the stream. Another streamside plant was the very prickly Berkheya acanthopoda. Another orchid flowering on these lower slopes was a yellow-flowered one that looks a little like S. zeyheri but is more robust and grows on dry slopes - this later turned out to be Orthochilus leontoglossus. We also found several Eulophia zeyheriana here.

Orthochilus foliosus

Crocosmia pottsii buds

Orthochilus leontoglossus

Berkheya acanthopoda

 Eulophia zeyheriana

There were several of the dainty Hermannia woodii crouched down below the grass. We paused to examine an unfamiliar Hypoxis that appears to H. obtusa but we await confirmation. Exposed at the side of a small gully we found some fairly big Euphorbia bupleurifolia and then realised that there were many small specimens of this species in the adjacent grassland. Other flowers growing in or near this watercourse were Gernaium flanaganii, Gnidia gymnostachya and Galium capense subsp. gariepense.

Hermannia woodii

Euphorbia bupleurifolia

Geranium flanaganii

Gnidia gymnostachya

Galium capense subsp. gariepense

Hypoxis obtusa

Away from the stream we found Pachycarpus plicatus and a few Asclepias gibba.

Pachycarpus plicatus

Asclepias gibba

Alerted by a shout from Anne who had elected to explore the opposite slope of the valley, we congregated to enjoy the sight of many flowering Haemanthus humilis plants huddling in the shelter of some dolerite boulders. Another plant taking advantage of the shelter offered by the boulders was a Monsonia grandifolia.

Haemanthus humilis

Haemanthus humilis

Haemanthus humilis

Haemanthus humilis

Monsonia grandifolia

Nearby we found Eulophia ovalis and Diclis reptans. Continuing up the slope we encountered an Asclepias cultriformis with a very beautiful cluster of pubescent flowers.

Eulophia ovalis

Diclis reptans

Asclepias cultriformis

We reached the top of the ridge to be greeted by some very deep blue flowered Agapanthus campanulatus plants also taking advantage of the microclimate offered by another dolerite outcrop. This was a very species rich area and we found Argyrolobium sericosemium, Convolvulus farinosus, Geranium wakkerstroomianum and a superlative "Hairy Eastern Cape Brides Bush" Pavetta capensis subsp. komghensis.

Agapanthus campanulatus

Argyrolobium sericosemium

Convolvulus farinosus

Geranium wakkerstroomianum

Pavetta capensis subsp. komghensis

Perched between two boulders was a small Diospyros whyteana, looking very much like the Diospyros scabrida  we know from the coastal areas. After enjoying a lunch break at the top of this ridge - long enough to give Anne a chance to ring-bark an errant Black Wattle -- we started back down the slope. On the way Gail found an unknown orchid that turns out to be Disa patula var. transvaalensis and happens to be the first of this species to be recorded in this reserve. Well spotted Gail!

Diospyros whyteana fruits

Disa patula var. transvaalensis

As we traversed the slopes back towards the dam we encountered a number of really large Brunsvigia grandiflora bulbs.

Large Brunsvigia grandiflora bulb

We decided to detour via Weza on the way back to see what was flowering on a favourite small grassland patch near a dam. We found several of the robust Disa crassicornis and these were accompanied by lots of "Christmas Bells" Sandersonia aurantiaca. In the wetland we found several tall flowers stems on Eucomis comosa var. striata, all surrounded by the very tall inflorescenses of Ornithogalum princeps. A fitting end to a very rewarding day in the field.

Disa crassicornis

Sandersonia aurantiaca

Phytolacca heptandra

Ornithogalum princeps

Eucomis comosa subsp. striata

Participants: Anne S, Debbie K, Dorothy M, Elaine L, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Sarah B-W, Sarel C.

A hot first visit to The Aerodrome (Thursday 6 December 2018)

Although it was heavily clouded over when we met at Beacon Hill, we decided to head for the Aerodrome, the second of the Umtamvuna Nature reserve sites for which we had arranged access recently. After a few twists and turns we reached the remnants of the reserve fence and set off into the grassland in front of us. We were accompanied on this occasion by Serf and his wife Maryna, Sarel and Prince, a butterfly enthusiast who wanted to learn more about butterfly food plants.

Setting off on our walk

One of the first species we came across was Chamaecrista mimosoides and Sarel spent a little time looking at the gland at the base of a leaf, a character that helps identification to species level.

Chamaecrista mimosoides

Sarel checking the gland shape of the Chamaecrista.

Another species showing off its flowers was Lasiosiphon anthylloides surrounded by Ophrestia oblongifolia. Crotalaria globifera was another yellow-flowered species in this first section of the grassland. We also came across Satyrium sphaerocarpum with strongly marked flowers, a contrast to some almost white-flowered plants we have seen elsewhere during November.

Lasiosiphon anthylloides 

Crotalaria globifera

One of the many Satyrium sphaerocarpum we saw

On what appeared to be an old termitary, we found a cluster of Wahlenbergia krebsii and growing below these were several Pelargonium alchemilloides. Nearby, we found Searsia pondoensis in flower.

Pelargonium alchemilloides

Wahlenbergia krebsii

Searsia pondoensis

Although we had encountered several Aspalathus chortophila shrublets, most either flowering or carrying a substantial seed load, we were surprised to find a few that had unusual orange flowers rather than the normal yellow. Less common, but also present in numbers were low, sprawling shrubs of Aspalathus spinifera, only just starting to flower. Near another old termitary there was a robust Athrixia phylicoides. A just open bud of a Cyanotis speciosa caught our attention.

Aspalathus chortophylla in an unusual dark shade of yellow

Aspalathus spinifera

Athrixia phyllicoides

Cyanotis speciosa

We reached the rocky edge of a short drop and at the exposed top we found Erythroxylon pictum sporting a few flowers. Following this rocky ridge southwards we found a few Lichtensteinia interrupta flowering near a dry stream bed.

Erythroxylum pictum

Lichtensteinia interrupta

On an exposed rock plate we found a scattering of the endemic Delosperma subpetiolatum and a closer look revealed many of the tiny-flowered Drimia uniflora. On another cluster of rocks we found a tangle of Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris, another endemic species.

Delosperma subpetiolatum

Drimia uniflora

Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris

At the edge of a small forested patch we found a mass of yellow flowers on Acridocarpus natalitius. Normally this creeper places its flowers at the top of the forest canopy far out of reach, so we were lucky to see these at eye level. In this same forest patch we found another sprawling plant, Putterlickia retrospinosa, hiding its flower clusters in the shade of the trees. Anne found a small Painted Reed Frog sheltering at the base of a Boophone disticha.

Acridocarpus natalitius

Putterlickia retrospinosa

Frog

By then the skies had cleared and the sun was beating down so we searched for a scrap of shade to sit in while we had our lunch. We eventually found a medium sized Protorhus longifolia and cooled down in its shade. Sitting there gave us a chance to examine a flower from a Pachycarpus asperifolius to see how its reproductive system worked.

Having walked along much of the length of this grassy promontory, we scaled the slope behind us and turned back towards the vehicles. Some of us chose to walk about halfway down the east-facing slope  before turning towards the vehicles and we were in for a treat. First we were impressed by the swathes of pink-flowered Dianthus mooiensis until these we replaced by as many Lichtensteinia interrupta waving their tall white flower clusters in the wind. These were followed by a similar display of Alepidea peduncularis. Amongst these we found Vernonia galpinii and several Cycnium racemosum.

Vernonia galpinii

Cycnium racemosum

A field of Dianthus mooiensis

A swathe of Lichtensteinia interrupta

Under a small umdoni tree (Syzygium cordatum) we found several Polygala fruticosa and not far off was a large colony of Eriosema umtamvunense, carrying mostly empty seed heads. On the last slope we found a few Brachycorythis pubescens.

Polygala fruticosa

Brachycorythis pubescens

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie M, Maryna S, Prince T, Sarel C, Serf S, Tracy T.