Msikaba south - plant survey of the road reserve (13 & 14 February 2017)

We returned to Pondoland through Lusikisiki to complete the plant survey of the full road reserve of the southern approach to the Msikaba bridge site. When we arrived at the contractor's site encampment, we spent some time going through the nursery where those plants already removed from the works area have been established - most appear to be doing well but we were able to make suggestions for further improvements.

Leaving the vehicles at the contractor's camp, we proceeded to walk along the first half of the road reserve. In the initial section of about 500 metres there were many outcrops of Msikaba sandstone and these provided niches for several interesting plants.

Clearing for construction of the haul road - note Msikaba sandstone scarp on left

One of the first plants we found was a small Erica - very reminiscent of the Vulnerable endemic Erica abbottii, although the morphology of these plants was a little more robust than is the case for the E. abbottii we know from the Umtamvuna and Mkhambathi Nature Reserves. (We subsequently consulted with an Erica specialist who confirmed the identity of these plants). 
 

Erica abbottii

Other plants of note along this section were several orchid species, both epiphytic (Tridactyle bicaudata and Polystachya pubescens) and terrestrial (Satyrium trinerve and old stems of Habenaria and Disa species) together with a number of Crassula species, most of which are fairly common. We also found a solitary Aloe linearifolia (Near Threatened, endemic).

Crassula obovata subsp. obovata

Crassula nudicaulis

Aloe linearifolia

Another plant we found growing amongst the rocks was a Kniphofia laxiflora. Nearby were several Dierama reynoldsii and in rock crevices there were some Delosperma tradescantioides.

Kniphofia laxiflora

Dierama reynoldsii

Delosperma tradescantioides

We then traversed the grassland where there was little to see until we reached a small hill that is destined to disappear when the road is built. Here we found Tephrosia capensis var. capensis and a very substantial subpopulation of the vulnerable, cycad-like Stangeria eriopus, the latter being one of the species listed for rescue.

Tephrosia capensis var. capensis

Stangeria eriopus

We reached the vehicles just as it started drizzling and drove in the rain most of the way to Drifter's Camp at the mouth of the Msikaba River but fortunately the rain stopped as we arrived and started unpacking the vehicles. We had just enough time before dark to have a short walk to the beach where we saw a pair of Black Oystercatchers.

Black Oystercatchers

The next morning allowed a little time to take photos of some interesting plants around the camp before we set off to survey the remainder of the road reserve on the south approach to the Msikaba bridge.

Pavetta revoluta

Tricalysia africana fruit

Tricalysia africana flower

Shortly after we set off to walk this last section it started raining and it continued to rain steadily for the rest of the morning, setting in more substantially just after we reached the vehicles on the return trip.

On a bank of a small stream we found Kniphofia linearifolia and Cliffortia odorata, both in flower.

Kniphofia linearifolia

Cliffortia odorata

After this there was relatively little to see until we reached a small forest patch where there was an Apodytes dimidiata covered in pale pink flowers. Also in this patch were Zanthoxylum capense as well as one or two Zanthoxylum davyi, several Afrocanthium mundianum and some Harpephyllum caffrum.

Apodytes dimidiata

We trudged on through the rain and once again, in a forested gully, we found a few of the Near Threatened Alberta magna, some in flower.

After a brief stop at the impressive but rain-swept, Msikaba gorge at the bridge site, we walked back as fast as we could in the slippery conditions.

Looking into the gorge at the Msikaba bridge site

A rain-swept and misty Msikaba gorge at the Msikaba bridge site

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

A depleted group - walk two trails at Beacon Hill (Thurday 16 February 2017)

With several of our usual group members being away or having other unavoidable commitments, only three of us gathered together at Beacon Hill on a very hot and steamy morning. After some discussion of how the Msikaba survey went, we decided to split up, with Dorothy and Uschi heading inland towards the Beacon and Graham starting down along the Porcupine Trail to see whether the Corymborkis corymbis were flowering in the forest.

The search for the Corymborkis was disappointing as only a few plants were found and none appeared to have flowered this season. At the entrance to the forest Graham was momentarily misled into thinking he had found an unknown Ipomoea by a Hewittia malabarica growing high into the canopy. Below this was a Hypoestes forskaolii.

Hewittia malabarica

Hypoestes forskaolii 

The only flowering occupant in the understory of this part of the forest was a single Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. kathrinae.

Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katharinae

 In the grassland along the path back to the offices were several flowering plants. The first was a yellow form of Tinnea galpinii that has only been seen at Beacon Hill, sometimes growing alongside the much more common deep maroon form.

Tinnea galpinii (yellow form)

Scrambling over a rock was an Oldenlandia affinis with tiny blue flowers, and nearby was a clump of blue-flowered Psoralea glabra.

Oldenlandia affinis

Psoralea glabra

At the stream crossing was a Tricalysia capensis with clusters of bright orange fruits.

Tricalysia capensis

Back out in the sunshine and the grassland were several Tephrosia polystachya, and near the offices was a small cluster of Exochaenium grande.

Tephrosia polystachya

Exochaenium grande

Dorothy and Uschi also saw a good selection of flowers on their walk, the most notable being Aspidoglossum ovalifolium. We last saw this plant in the same area three years ago and searches since then have been unsuccessful.

Aspidoglossum ovalifolium (Photo: D McIntyre)

Participants: Dorothy M, Graham G, Uschi T.

Back to the Western Heights and Foster's Folly (Thursday 9 February)

In view of last week's discovery of a previously unknown locality for the Rare endemic Emplectanthus dalzellii, we decided to return to this small forested gorge on the Swamp Forest stream to see if we could find more plants of this species.

Leaving our bags behind to scramble through the forest understorey, we worked our way downstream to a beautiful pool, with the rocky cliff faces framing the open grassland beyond.

The tranquil pool above the forested gorge

The pool at the Emplectanthus site

Anne quickly pointed out the specimen they had found the previous week. This plant was climbing up a small Podocarpus latifolius with its roots between rocks in the stream bed. We soon found several other plants, scattered around in the stream bed. These plants undoubtedly will be under water when the river is in flood but their subsurface parts appear to be well protected between the rocks. It was interesting to note that while the plants we know from the Swamp Forest have flowers in shades of wine-red, some of the flowers of this new subpopulation have much paler, buff to yellow flowers, reminiscent of those of Emplectanthus gerrardii which we have found at higher altitude at Ngele.

This prompted me to check the differences between the flowers of these two species of Emplectanthus. Fortunately, the differences are very evident, even before comparing the leaf shape and venation, which, again, are very different.

A partially open flower of Emplectanthus dalzellii from the Swamp Forest

Emplectanthus dalzellii from new site

Emplectanthus gerrardii from Ngele

We returned to the rocks at the start of the forested section to enjoy our lunch. There were several flowers growing in the seeps flowing down the rocks at the side of the stream: Anthospermum herbaceum, Disa tripetaloides, Monopsis unidentata and Utricularia sandersonii.

Anthospermum herbaceum

Monopsis unidentata

Anne contemplating having a lunch-time swim

After lunch, we climbed our of the narrow valley and headed for Foster's Folly - so named when Dick Foster, an aviator, had an attack of vertigo as they were climbing the steep slope up from the Umtamvuna River below.

On the rocks here we found Anthosermum hispidulum as well as several Plectranthus ernstii in flower.

Anthospermum hispidulum

Plectranthus ernstii

Apart from the fabulous view down into the Umtamvuna, we were surprised to see a Syzygium pondoense growing in an atypical habitat at the top of the cliffs, not far from a flowering Homalium rufescens.

Syzygium pondoense

Homalium rufescens

On the way back to the vehicle we came across several Indigastrum fastigiatum and Indigofera abbottii.

Indigastrum fastigiatum

Indigofera abbottii

Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Graham G, Kate G, Uschi T.

Thesium hunting with a SANBI team (1st and 2nd February 2017)

Arrangements had been made to guide a group of visiting botanists to localities in the Port Edward area to find examples of the various Thesium species recorded here in the past. The Thesium of the Pondoland Centre of Endemism cannot really be thought of as eye-catching, having very small, often insignificant, flowers on slender stems.  However, when viewed through a hand lens, the flowers can be quite attractive.

We met at the Beacon Hill herbarium, with specialists Marianne le Roux and Natasha Visser from SANBI in Pretoria and Prof. Dan Nickrent from Carbondale University in Illinois, USA. After they had an opportunity to go through the Thesium specimens in the herbarium, we took a walk to the rocky promontory where the commemorative plaque is mounted, where we found many Thesium cupressoides.

We then drove to the Red Desert Nature Reserve where we were able to find Thesium pallidum and Thesium natalense. Along the way, Marianne was able to examine some of the Fabaceae genera which were flowering, while Dan was kept busy taking photographs of the many hemi-parasitic species in the family Orobanchaceae encountered - plants with which he is familiar but had not previously encountered in the field.

Thesium cupressoides

Thesium natalense

Thesium pallidum

The following day we arranged to meet with the rest of the Thursday group at the Western Heights where we would look for Thesium angulosum. Fortunately, having previously collected this species near the swamp forest, it did not take us long to find several plants. This gave me the opportunity to check on a known population of the Rare endemic Emplectanthus dalzelii and we managed to find two plants flowering. Subsequently the group found another on in flower some distance away at the side of the Cascades stream - a previously unknown location!

Emplectanthus dalzellii

On the outskirts of the swamp forest Plectranthus ciliatus were in flower and a short distance away we found two Kniphofia linearifolia with their tall flower spikes, as well as a few Melasma scabra.

Plectranthus ciliatus

Kniphofia linearifolia

Melasma scabra

Dan giving an impromptu Thesium master class in the field (Photo K Grieve)

We then split up as the visitors wanted to explore other Thesium locations, while the balance of the Thursday group continued downstream to the Cascades.  

Lunch at the Cascades (Photo M Abbott)

The other group first made a brief visit to the Vulture Restaurant area to show the visitors the view over the Umtamvuna Gorge.  At this site we were pleased to see the Vulnerable Lampranthus fugitans flowering brightly. Searching for more parasitic genera for Dan, we found Viscum obscurum growing in a Brachylaena discolor.

Lampranthus fugitans

Viscum obscurum

Rhipidoglossum xanthopollinum

We also saw Rhipidoglossum xanthopollinum, Sarcostemma viminale, and the creeping form of Tephrosia bachmannii.

Sarcostemma viminale

Tephrosia bachmannii; the creeping form as opposed to the
bushy form seen at Oribi last week

Natasha trying to keep hold of her hat while enjoying the view of the 
Umtamvuna Gorge and still avoiding getting blown off the cliffs

The Thesium hunters at the Vulture Restaurant

The Thesium Hunters overlooking the Gorge (Photo K Grieve)

Our last Thesium stop was at Rennies' Beach where we found what we think was a stunted form of Thesium pallidum. The following morning Dan, Marianne and Natasha headed northwards to Mtunzini via a detour to Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, where they found an unusual Thesium after we had provided the locality, having collected some material there previously.

Participants to all the walks during the Thesium hunters' visit: Anne S, Dan N, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Marianne le R, Uschi T, Natasha V.