Discovering Brownleea Bank

As we had received a request to look out for the orchid species Ypsilopus erectus, we decided to return to the same area where we walked last week, but on this occasion to try to get to the opposite bank of the waterfall where we had seen suitable habitat for this range-restricted  species.
 

The rugged edge of the Umtamvuna River gorge

We first found our way into the stream bed and then down to the top edge of the waterfall where we enjoyed the stunning view across the gorge towards the Eastern Cape.

Climbing down to the waterfall

View from the top of the waterfall

In a seep at the side of the stream we came across a group of mauve tinged bladderwort species, Utricularia livida, and a bit further from the stream were sheets of the data deficient species Erica aspalathifolia with its white flowers tightly enclosing the stems. 

Utricularia livida

Along the cliff edge we found several Pondoland endemics - Eugenia erythrophylla, Eugenia verdoorniae, Manilkara nicholsonii and Pseudoscolopia polyantha. In the shade of the forest below the top edge of the scarp we many Brownleea coerulea - some surrounding a flowering Streptocarpus formosus.

 

Brownleea coerulea

There was a Robsonodendron ecleiforme in flower and not far away there was a Schefflera umbeliffera with inflorescence buds within reach.

Robsonodendron ecleiforme

Schefflera umbellifera

We came across a rather unusual colour of an undescribed Wahlenbergia, which we collected for our herbarium in the hopes that someone will work on this group soon.

Wahlenbergia sp.

At the forest edge we came across a Lotononis eriocarpa in flower. We kept checking the vertical faces of the rocks for signs of Ypsilopus and were finally rewarded with one plant with open flowers on a vertical face overhanging a vertical drop of about 350m.

Lotononis eriocarpa

Ypsilopus erectus - the brown in the background is the Umtamvuna River some 350 metres below

Uschi braving the drop to get a photo

 On the way back we found a solitary Disa tripetaloides at the edge of the stream.

 Disa tripetaloides

Participants: Anne S, Debbie K, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Uschi T.

A stroll down Syncolostemon Slope

The objective for this Thursday's outing was to collect Craterostigma sp. nov. to add to our existing measurement data. We headed off to the Kwazamane area where we know populations grow on the rock plates. One of the first things I saw on getting out of the vehicle was a Spotted bush snake sunning itself on a rock plate - a good omen for the success of the day's outing.

Spotted bush snake

The Craterostigma in this area were only in bud -no flowers to be found. However, the colourful scene of Syncolostemon rotundifolius below us (prompting us to dub this walk Syncolostemon Slope) drew us downward. Anne found herself following the gully and came across a large Syzygium pondoense growing in the stream bed. On the grassy slopes near the stream were many Erica aspalathifolia and several Cyanotis robusta. A few pink Erica cubica were also peeping out from the grass.

Erica aspalathifolia

Cyanotis robusta

Erica cubica

Seeing a waterfall below us we decided to make our way down to a small knoll to get a better view. In the shade at the edge of the knoll we found the orchid Brownleea coerulea in flower.

Brownleea coerulea

This was such a beautiful spot we decided to have an early lunch on the knoll.

Could there be a better lunch spot?

Walking back up to the top of the cliffs we came across some bright splashes of magenta Lampranthus fuigitans.

Lampranthus fuigitans at the cliff edge

And finally we found a few brave flowers on the Craterostigma sp.nov. These plants have obviously been stimulated by the recent good rains and there will probably be more flowers in the days to come.

Looking up the Umtamvuna River gorge

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

Mpumalanga sojourn #2: Waterval Onder

We spent two weeks on the farm "Ntsinini" - a place on which Kate and I have been botanising for many years and where we have steadily been adding to the plant species list. This trip was no exception as we could add a few species which we had not previously encountered. We had some great sightings of game and birds and, when our Gauteng guests arrived, we had a good time catching up socially.

The bottom waterfall

Bushwillow cottage across the weir

Watchful giraffe

Half-collared kingfisher

Cape clawless otter

The Sphedamnocarpus pruriens were flowering profusely during this trip, their lemon-yellow flowers catching the eye. Tetraselago wilmsii pushed their lilac flowers above the grass and Pseudarthria hookeri towered over them.

Sphedamnocarpus pruriens

Tetraselago wilmsii

Pseudarthria hookeri

In the tall grass we were lucky to find for the first time Aspidoglossum araneiferum with its intricate flowers. This was one of the species added to our already substantial list.

Aspidoglossum araneiferum

Another Asclepiad we found near the cottage was Pentarrhinum insipidum. This was the more common red-tinged form of the white form of the species recently found at Ngele.

Pentarrhinum insipidum

The scenery on the farm is most conducive to recharging the batteries.

Late afternoon walk

Evening view up the Swartkoppies Spruit

Participants: Gerrit G, Gill C, Graham G, Kate G.

Mpumalanga sojourn #1: Wakkerstroom

Kate and I had planned to travel to a farm near Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga in which we have an interest, but having met Mike and Jenni Maxted from Wakkerstroom at the CREW workshop, we decided to stop over in Wakkerstroom to provide moral support for their fledgling CREW group as well as to see the vulnerable Nerine platypetala which had been seen flowering on a farm near the town.

We arranged to stay on the farm Forellenhof where the Nerines were growing in the wetland. Despite the welcome wet conditions we walked with our hostess, Ronelle van Eeden. None of the other potential members of the CREW group were able to join us as the access roads were very slippery. It did not take us long to find the first of the Nerine platypetala plants in the nearby wetland. Although clearly past their best, this population had flowered well and there were many old flower heads visible. The majority of those still flowering had no leaves, but there were a few with leaves.

Nerine platypetala

Nearby we found the interesting member of the Apocynaceae family, Cordylogyne globosa hidden in the grass.

Cordylogyne globosa 

On higher ground above the wetland we found several Athrixia gerrardii with their large, bright pink flowers .

Athrixia gerrardii

In the afternoon, under threatening skies we decided to try to walk up into the nearby hills. We worked our way up to a quartsite ridge, on the way finding many interesting plants such as the Gnidia gymnostachya shown below.

Gnidia gymnostachya

There were numbers of bushy Felicia filifolia and low-growing Hermannia geniculata.

Felicia filifolia

Hermannia geniculata

On the slopes we found lots of Diospyros lycioides covered in orange fruits and along the quartsite ridge there were several Otholobium caffrum in flower.

Diospyros lycioides

Otholobium caffrum

At this stage with the rain coming down steadily and being thoroughly soaked already, we called it a day and walked back along an avenue lined with the pretty alien Cosmos bipinnatus.

This is definitely a place worth visiting again - hopefully in better weather conditions. Our best wishes for stimulating field trips in the future to the new CREW group.

Homeward bound

Participants: Graham G, Kate G, Ronelle v E.

Back to Ngele to locate another population of Emplectanthus gerrardii

After our last visit to Ngele to find Emplectanthus gerrardii, Robertson Madwe, the DAFF Security Guard who accompanied us, came across another population of what he thought was also Emplectanthus gerrardii while patrolling the forest. To confirm the identification of these plants and record the location, we made another trip to Ngele for Mr. Madwe to show us where he found this population.

After a relatively short walk through the forest and across the busy N2 highway, we arrived at the plants, some of which were still flowering. It was soon clear that while this is also a member of the family Apocynaceae, it is not an Emplectanthus. Specimens were taken of this unknown plant and we have referred it to an Apocynaceae specialist for identification. It will certainly be an addition to the plant species list for this area (See under "Species Lists" above). The plant was subsequently identified as a white form of Pentarrhinum insipidum, a species which has not previously been collected at Ngele.

This is the time of year when Plectranthus are at their best, as can be seen from the photo below.

Pondoland CREW with Robertson Madwe in front of Plectranthus ecklonii

As we returned through the forest we saw many Begonia geranioides at the side of the path. The photo below shows male and female flowers next to each other.

Begonia geranioides

We then left Mr Madwe as he had to travel to Pietermaritzburg and set off to explore a grassland patch near Umsilo Hut. Very soon we found ourselves dwarfed by towering Senecio panduriformis.

Senecio panduriformis inflorescense

Uschi amongst the Senecio panduriformis

As can be seen in the photos, the Kniphofia linearifolia were flowering well. 

Kniphofia linearifolia

There were several other plants flowering in a little wetland and close to a stream. A first for some of us was the sprawling Scabiosa tysonii with its purple flowers. Close by were Chaenostoma floribundum and several Cyphia tysonii twining up grass stems and bracken.

Scabiosa tysonii

Chaenostoma floribunda

Cyphia tysonii

On the slopes above the wetland there were many flat-headed Crassula acinaciformis and then we started encountering orchids. First we found some Brownleea parviflora and several Habenaria cornuta.

Crassula acinaciformis

Brownleea parviflora

Habenaria cornuta

We then headed up to the grasslands below Umsilo Hut that were dotted about with bright pink Gladiolus oppositiflorus and not far away, an even pinker Disa nervosa. We also found Sopubia cana with its grey leaves and contrasting pink flowers.

 

Gladiolus oppositiflorus

Disa nervosa

Sopubia cana

A brief foray into a wooded area turned up Stachys caffra, Impatiens hochstetterii and Sparmannia ricinicarpa, and under the pine trees we found groups of Disperis fanniniae.

Stachys caffra

Impatiens hochstetteri

Sparmannia ricinocarpa

Disperis fanniniae

Heading back home we stopped at a stream and found Smithia erubescens hanging out over the water, a creeping Ceratiosicyos laevis and a Lasiosiphon species (still to be confirmed).

Smithia erubescens

Ceratiosicyos laevis

Lasiosiphon sp

Pondoland CREW on the Umsilo Hut grasslands

After a long but unexpectedly fruitful day, we returned with homework to do on some species new to us.

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