Flowering now (July 2016)

Alberta magna

Albuca setosa

Aloe ferox

Aloe maculata

Anthospermum galpinii

Argyrolobium tuberosum

Berkheya insignis

Berkheya umbellata

Blepharis integrifolius

Bonatea porrecta

Capparis fascicularis

Chamaechrista plumosa

Cotyledon velutina

Crassula nemorosa

Crasula orbicularis

Crassula perfoliata 

Crassula perforata var perforata

Crassula sarmentosa

Crassula streyi

Cycnium tubulosum

Cyrtanthus breviflorus

Delosperma lineare

Disa baurii

Disa similis

Eriosema dregei

Eriosema kraussianum

Eriosema umtamvunense

Erythrina caffra

Erythrina lysistemon

Eugenia albanensis

Gerbera ambigua

Gymnanthemum corymbosum

Haemanthus albiflos

Helichrysum allioides

Helichrysum griseum

Helichrysum nudifolium var oxyphyllum

Hilliardiella hirsuta

Hilliardiella oligocephala

Hypoxis colchicifolia

Indigofera herrstreyi

Indigofera rubroglandulosa

Ipomoea crassipes

Kniphofia coddiana

Kniphofia rooperii

Kohautia amatymbica

Lasiosiphon kraussianus

Leobordea pulchra

Lippia javanica

Maerua rosminaroides

Moraea stricta

Nuxia congesta

Ornithogalum paludosum

Orthochilus foliosus

Pelargonium luridum

Petopentia natalensis

Podalyria burchellii

Protea roupelliae

Psychotria capensis

Rotheca hirsuta

Salacia gerrardii

Schizoglossum atropurpureum subsp. virens

Senecio citriceps

Senecio coronatus

Senecio speciosus

Struthiola pondoensis

Wurmbea kraussii

Xysmalobium involucratum

Clusters of Crassulaceae, heaps of Helichrysums and a big python

On Thursday we once again visited the Oribi Flats area in search for Caputia oribiensis. This time we were joined by a CREW team from Durban, Suvarna, Hlengiwe, Sachin and Zama. With 12 pairs of eyes available we were hoping that this attempt at finding Caputia oribiensis would be successful, but unfortunately this was not the case - the only Caputia to be seen was Caputia medley-woodii. 

The first notable sighting was Gasteria croucheri growing in cracks in the vertical cliff faces.

Gasteria croucheri

Amongst the shrubs at the top edge of the cliffs we found Capparis fascicularis and Petopentia natalensis  in flower.

Capparis fascicularis

Petopentia natalensis

At one abrupt edge near the Oribi Gorge Hotel, drivers are warned of the dangerous edge. Anne demonstrated how to get across to the other side of the gorge.

Did anyone read the sign?

This is how you get across the gorge!

These south-facing cliffs are home to a surprisingly rich diversity of species in the family Crassulaceae. Apart from Cotyledon velutina which were flowering well, all of the following Crassula were also flowering: C.nemorosa, Crassula nudicaulis var. nudicaulis, C. orbicularis, C. perforata subsp. perforata, and C. sarmentosa.

Cotyledon velutina

Crassula nemorosa

Crassula nudicaulis

Crassula orbicularis

Crassula perforata subsp. perforata

Crassula sarmentosa

After stopping for lunch in the sun, we came across a large (about 4 metres long), somniferent python basking in the winter sun.

The lunch spot

The python hidden in the grass

The python's head

After a brief stop for a quick planning meeting al fresco, we headed to our trial plot to see what has sprouted since a management burn about 6 weeks ago.

The planing meeting

The trial plot was looking beautiful with many species of Berkheya and Helichrysum flowering profusely.

Helichrysum allioides

Helichrysum griseum

Helichrysum nudifolium var oxyphyllum

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy K, Debbie K, Graham G, Hlengi M, Kate G, Maggie A, Mervyn T, Sachin, Suvarna P, Uschi T, Zama.

Veld and Flora article June 2016

This article below is made available with kind permission of Veld & Flora, the Botanical Society journal.