This week we decided to explore either Kwazimane Terraces or Syncolostemon Slopes, whichever was the more accessible. When we reached the track to Kwazimane we found chest high grass growing over the track and opted for Syncolostemon Slopes instead. After bumping down a poorly maintained track for some time we reached the spot where we normally park and started walking, clambering down the rock terraces here.
There were signs of Craterostigma sp. nov. but after the last dry week, there were few of these plants with decent flowers on show. We reached the spot where the top of the waterfall was visible and stopped to admire the view.
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| Looking down into the Umtamvuna River gorge |
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| From the top of the waterfall |
Crossing the stream we moved up the slope passing a group of
Aspalathus dahlgrenii in flower. At the edge of the gorge, a rare
Faurea macnaughtonii was bearing a number of flower spikes as well as some fruits from the previous season.
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| Aspalathus dahlgrenii |
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| Faurea macnaughtonii |
We investigated a nearby exposed rock outcrop finding Euryops brevipapposus, Hypoxis membranaceus, Searsia acocksii, Buchnera dura, Vangueria infausta, Crassula perforata and, in the shelter of a small forest patch, Plectrantus ciliatus, Blechnum punctulatum and Tephrosia polystachya var. latifolia.
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| New leaf of a Blechnum punctulatum |
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| Buchnera dura |
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| Hypoxis membranaceus |
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| Vangueria infausta fruits |
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| Searsia acocksii |
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| Plectranthus ciliatus |
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| Tephrosia polystachya var. latifolia |
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| Crassula perforata subsp. perforata |
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| Euryops brevipapposus |
We walked around the forest patch onto an exposed grassland dotted with
Watsonia densiflora and
Kniphofia laxiflora and climbed up between some large rocks to see the Umtamvuna River gorge spread out below us. Some of the more daring found a way down to a small but nevertheless comfortable looking rock overhang where there were signs of previous occupation. On the way to the cave we found
Lampranthus fugitans hanging down the rocks and a few
Rhipsalis baccifera, all bearing numbers of fruits.
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| Lampranthus fugitans |
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| Studying what was growing on the floor of the cave |
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| Contemplating the natural beauty of the gorge |
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| On the way back from the cave |
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| The lunch spot |
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| Rhipsalis baccifera |
Heading back across the knoll behind us we found a large patch of
Macrotyloma axillare var
axillare covered in flowers, surrounded by many
Cyanotis robusta. Some of the weathered rock formations looked rather animal-like. Walking down along the reserve boundary we found a small patch of
Lycopodiella sarcocaulon with upright strobili (the spore-bearing spike)
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| Macrotyloma axillare var axillare |
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| A petrified male elephant seal |
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| Lycopodiella sarcocaulon |
As we crossed back over the stream we came across a dense colony of both
Exochaenium grande and
E. sp. nov. growing next to one another. This was the densest concentration of these species any of us had seen before.
This was Serf's last opportunity to walk with us as the contract he was working on has been terminated and he will be returning to the highveld soon. We were glad to have had this last opportunity to share our plants and scenery with him.
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| Exochaenium grande |
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| Exochaenium sp. nov. |
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| Both Exochaenium species together (E. grande top right and E. sp. nov. bottom left) |
Participants: Anne S, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Mark G, Serf S, Tracy T.
