Middelrus (Muden) in summer

dsc_1572indigoferatorulosavar.angustiloba

Indigofera torulosa var. angustiloba – common on the roadside verge where we stopped.

dsc_1582pachystigmadealbata

Pachystigma dealbata – never seen this before. It looks dried up and insignificant until you look closely.

dsc_1584thesiumgoetzeanum

Thesium goetzeanum (I think) – not a good photo because as usual I thought I was looking at another of the same. It turns out it wasn’t.

$dsc_1587polygalarefracta$ dsc_1601polygalarhinostigma

Polygala refracta (top) and Polygala rhinostigma – two polygalas looked very photogenic

Aloe dominella – with old flower heads. We inadvertently stumbled on this special, it is just so different to all the other aloes.

dsc_1643hermanniabrachymalla27

Hermannia brachymalla I think. New to me.

dsc_1660dolichosangustissimus

Dolichos angustifolius – I have stumbled across this only once before next to the railway line on the exposed shale at Oribi Airport. I thought it was an introduced plant at first. The pressed specimens at BEWS call it D angustissimus.

dsc_1674ledebouriascabrida

Ledebouria ovatifolia subsp scabrida – this was our target species for this CREW trip but where we had found it three years before the site had been turned into a ploughed field. This small population had been saved by living on a steep road verge.

dsc_1686pomeriasandersonii

Pomeria sandersonii – I loved the old name Hoffmannsteggia because it is almost impossible to forget! Notice I’m holding the flower upside-down. The anthers are those black spots resting in the cup-shaped lower petal.

This is a 5cm tall Salvia in Lamiaceae. Any suggestions?

dsc_2001dolichos

This is another colour form of Dolichos angustifolius.

dsc_2007gomphocarpusrivularis

Undescribed Gomphocarpus with chocolate brown corona.

dsc_2057justiciaodora

Justicia odora – another yellow Justicia easily confused with Justicia flava.

dsc_2080adeniahastatavar.glandulifera

2080 Adenia hastata var. glandulifera – the flower very missable. I visited this bush twice, a month apart and realised that the flowers were hidden within themselves appearing not to develop.

Botsoc at Tumble Down, Curry’s Post

The Inland Branch of the Botanical Society went on a grassland walk for the end-of-year outing. We had lunch at the cafe afterwards. What a decadent meal! It is fashionable in some areas to mow the lawn up to the grassland and not plant trees or shrubs which would otherwise hide the beautiful view.

Pachycarpus natalensis

Pachycarpus natalensis (ishongwe elibomvu elikhulu) (Family Apocynaceae) here with two colour forms. The flowers are large 20mm in diameter. These flowers are not seen if cattle graze the area.

Asclepias cucullata

Sisyranthus fanniniae

Two other species in the same Milkweed family are this Asclepias cucullata (no flower shown) and Vulnerable and endemic Sisyranthus fanniniae. All Milkweeds are feed plants of the African Monarch butterfly larva shown here.

Indigofera hilaris

Another family of forbs common in these grasslands which rely of fire to maintain their biodiversity are the Legumes. Above is Indigofera hilaris (English common name: red Indigo; Zulu: isikhubabende).

Lotononis foliosa (syn Leobordea)

Eriosema distinctum (Scarlet Eriosema; ubangalala olukhulu) is very common early flowering legume forming large clones (one plant spreading underground over a wide area) and quite widespread across the KZN Midlands. The yellow legume is a Leobordea species (inhlamvusenhla).

Tephrosia macropoda

Tephrosia macropoda white form

Also common and forming large spreading plants is Tephrosia macropoda (Creeping Tephrosia, ilozane). We also found the white flowering form.

Senecio coronarius Photo:G Dewar

Helichrysum acutatum

An even bigger family that inhabits grasslands is the Asteraceae (or composites). Senecios (above left) and Helichrysum (above right) make the bulk of the genera. Click on the photos to get species names. Senecios are sometimes blue or purple like this S. erubescens below.

Senecio erubescens

Senecio oxyrifolia

Senecio glaberrimus

Tolpis capensis

Sphagneticola trilobata

The last one is Sphagneticola which is an exotic garden escape and has become an invasive alien.

Rotheca hirsuta

Polygala ohlendorfiana

Other pretty forbs that were flowering were this Rothera hirsuta (Wild Violet; usikisiki) and Polygala ohlendorfiana (umanqandi).

Our grasslands contain a lot of bulbs (monocots). Here is a selection:

Boophone disticha (Fan tail; incwadi) and Ledebouria (squill; isikholokotho).

Eulophia leontoglossa

Some orchids: Orthochilus leontoglossus (yellow) and Orthochilus foliosus (green).

There may be up to 6 or 7 species of Hypoxis in a small area:

Hypoxis angustifolia

Hypoxis iridifolia

Hypoxis longifolia

Hypoxis costata

There were of number early flowering grasses. Melinus nerviglumis (Bristle leaf Red Top) is common in many grasslands. Rendlia altera (Mahem’s Crest) is not so common.

Rendlia altera

Melinus nerviglumis

References: Pooley Wildflowers; Orchids of SA; Grasses of Southern Africa; iNaturalist.

Wingfield Nature Reserve

Orchid Society outing to Wingfield Nature Reserve.

The intrepid hunters were at it again this time on a rather more strenuous and wet expedition into a very deep and dark gorge. Dark because our cameras were working at their limits and it was a good idea to set up for flash photography. We returned with clothes and skin torn by the prickly climbers, bruises, bumps and slips from all the boulder hopping: all good for building character. The recent rains had filled the stream a little and had greened up the vegetation especially the scratchy Basket grass.

There were a number of beautiful colonies of fungi on the many different dead branches and tree trunks which littered the floor of the gorge.

DSC_9211 fungi

Polystachya pubescens grows on wide horizontal branches.

DSC_9157 Polystachya

Mystacidium venosum

DSC_9161 Mystacidium venosum

Mystacidium pusillum

There were large tubers of Gerrardanthus on the rocky cliffs. Gerrardanthus tomentosus (VU) can only be identified by bat-wing-like seedpods which we (unsuccessfully) scoured the forest floor for.

DSC_9163 Gerrardanthus

A smaller tuber growing inside the original.

Here the photographers are scaling the rocks to photograph the Habenaria arenaria growing next to a Gerrardanthus tuber.

Filmy fern

DSC_9171 Filmy firm — Probably Crepidomanes

Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katharinae

DSC_9260 Scadoxus kathrinae — Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katharinae

Waterfalls and rocks:

A water fern called Potamogeton pusillus stuck to rocks sheets under fast flowing water:

DSC_9240 Potamogeton pusillus

Stenoglottis fimbriata

DSC_9247 Stenoglottis fimbriata

We went to two sites. The first was down the Mlungu stream which runs into that steep gorge. It runs into the Gwahumbe River lower down but it was necessary to do a long drive to the bottom of the gorge, across a scary rocky ford and then another march to get there.

Encephalartos villosus with leaves 2.5m+ long growing in shallow sandy soil next to the river.

Also Diaphananthe millarii (VU).

Notice the distinctive venation pattern on the leaves.

Growing on the cliffs where some Gasteria croucherii, Crassula multicava subsp floribunda in flower and Crassula perforata.

DSC_9317 Crassula perforata I think — Crassula perforata

Ficus sur trees were all in new leaf

DSC_9320 Ficus sur new leaves

Commiphora harveyi

DSC_9321 Commiphora harveyi

The hunters: Natalie, Alison, Peter and Paul. (Photographer Andrew).

Mhlopeni Nature Reserve

In May the Inland branch of the Botanical Society visited this reserve in Muden. This very dry landscape has a very interesting selection of different plants from what we are used to seeing in the KZN Midlands. Enjoy the photos; post some comments and please give names to the unnamed plants that you recognised. Do follow our blog by clicking the link on the right of the page.

DSC_8299 Aloe mudenensis — Common in the valleys and habitats around Muden is *Aloe mudenensis*

Distinguishing feature is that the cut surface of leaves turn purple. Probably browsed on by kudu or cattle.

DSC_8304 Aloe marlothii — *Aloe marlothii* (syn. *spectabilis*) is common in this dry landscape.

DSC_8319 Aloe marlothii with Jasmine — *Aloe marlothii* stem

Jasmine growing into the Aloe for support

DSC_8418 harvestor termites — Termites taking dry grass into the nest to regulate moisture levels in the nest.

DSC_8408 Richard Alcock showing us the artifact table — Richard Alcock showing us his artifact table

DSC_8426 Andrew Alcock — Andrew describing how the habitat changes over time.

DSC_8336 Boscia albitrunca — A common feature of this habitat are these Shepherd’s trees, *Boscia albitrunca*

DSC_8542 Euphorbia pseudocactus — Euphorbia pseudocactus are endemic to the Tugela Valley system.

Epiphytic parasite Viscum rotundifolia on a dead tree. They will not survive long after the tree dies.

DSC_8545 Viscum rotundifolium' — Viscum rotundifolia in fruit. The fruit are sticky to enable them to be transported on the bills of frugivorous birds to other host trees where the birds wipe them off their bills.

DSC_8468 Loranthaceae fruit — Erianthemum (Family Loranthaceae) is another parasite. The fruit are larger than *Viscum*.

DSC_8521 Loranthaceae joined to stem — Where *Erianthemum* stems emerge from the tree branch.

DSC_8309 Coddea rudis — *Coddia rudis* is a common small bushveld tree. Here it is continually grazed by goats making a natural bonsai.

DSC_8355 rock landed in Coddia — We were fascinated by the presence of small rocks perched in the branches of small trees. We think they rolled down the hillside and landed in the compact shrubs.

DSC_8329 Dichrostachys cinerea — *Dichrostachys cinerea* or Sickle-bush with these distinctive pods in curled clusters.

DSC_8330 Sarcostemma viminale flowers — On some of the Acacia trees was this creeper Sarcostemma viminale (Apocynaceae) in flower.

DSC_8327 Sansevieria hyacinthoides — *Sansevieria hyacinthoides* growing in shade.

DSC_8374 Blepharis natalensis — *Blepharis natalensis* is a pioneer shrublet in overgrazed or disturbed ground. It is very thorny so tends to be left alone by grazers. Mostly the flowers are blue but sometimes they are white.

DSC_8410 Rhoicissus bright red — Occassionally one finds these bright red leaves of Rhoicissus (Bushman’s Grape) in the landscape.

DSC_8436 porcupine damage on Ziziphus — *Ziziphus mucronata* (Buffalo Thorn) is often ringbarked by porcupine which kills the tree.

DSC_8411 algae — Recent damp weather allows these algae clumps to form.

DSC_8443 Berchemia Red Ivory — *Berchemia zeyheri* (Red Ivory) leaves. Rhamnaceae.

DSC_8483 Mushroom — An odd looking mushroom that suits this dry environment. *Battarrea phalloides*

*Battarrea phalloides* in habitat – easily overlooked

*Battarrea phalloides* released a mass of brown spores when touched.

DSC_8492 fungus — Another fungus growing in the bark of this tree.

DSC_8498 Oyster mushroom — An oyster type mushroom

DSC_8533 bracket fungi with green algae — This bracket fungi is covered with green algae

DSC_8534 mushrooms — More mushrooms 8mm wide

DSC_8532 wasp parasitised caterpillar — This unfortunate caterpillar was parasitised by wasps which have since hatched and abandoned their host.

This Giant Jewel Beetle is about the size of a tree frog!

*Sternocera orissa* is the largest beetle within the Buprestidae family

Karkloof Nature Reserve – mid December

High mistbelt grassland, dark peaty soils, wetlands, streams, some rocky outcrops. Grazing by cattle and horses in places.

DSC_3813 Miroglossum pilosum

Miroglossum pilosum (Apocynaceae)

DSC_3817 Eriosema distinctum

Large stand of Scarlet Eriosema distinctum with close-up below (ubangalala olukhulu).

Xysmalobium tysonianum (Apocnaceae) mostly seen between rocks.

DSC_3851 Lycoperdon pulcherrimum'

An old specimen of fungus Lycoperdon probably pulcherrimum starting to fall apart – sometimes called Golf-ball mushroom.

Two Moraea: lots of blue elliotii and only one tiny yellow trifida.

DSC_3876 Kniphofia fluviatilis

River Poker, Kniphofia fluviatilis grows with its ‘feet’ in running water.

DSC_3882 Valeriana cpensis var lanceolata' (1)

Valeriana capensis var. lanceolata.

DSC_3902 Wahlenbergia madagascariensis

Large carpets of white flowering Wahlenbergia madagascariensis under the grass tufts.

Something else which occurred in large carpet colonies was this Berkheya pannosa: (flowers in September).

DSC_3895 Berkheya pannosa

And then these two exotics:

DSC_3898 Viola kitaibelliana

Viola kitaibelliana from Slovenia

DSC_3905 Hybanthus parviflorus'

and Hybanthus parviflorus

I don’t know what this is but it may be Modiola which is also exotic:

DSC_3906 Modiola' or Modiolastrum'

Langolin, near Eston

Mix savannah and grassland, Steep hillside, deep dark soils, rarely grazed till recently.

Indigenous Wild Bramble (ijikijolo): Rubus rigidus not to be confused with Rubus ludwigii from mistbelt areas.

Two Phyllanthus compared: Phyllanthus glaucophylla with grey leaves and few upright stems; and Phyllanthus heterophyllus which is much bushier; both +/-25cm tall. They are in the Euphorbia family and share the genus name with the Potato-bush Phyllanthus reticulatus.

DSC_4003 Sisyranthus anceps EN Endangered Sysiranthus anceps

A dwarf cassia Chamaecrista plumosa (ihlalnyosi), with distinctive blue leaves.

A very tall and dense stand of white flowering Senecio scoparius. These are not common.

Delicate Jamesbrittenia kraussiana (usikisiki, Kerriebos)

DSC_4023 Searsia rehmanniana

Searsia rehmanniana, a Rhus that is commonly seen in grasslands.
(Blunt-leaf Crow-berry, inhlokoshiyane, stompblaartaaibos).

Two Delosperma species: pink might be saturatum and the white is lineare.

Not sure what this is but is might be Schistostephium rotundifolium.

Cleome monophylla (Spindlepod, isiwisa): most plants in this Caper family (Capparacaea) have a palmate leaf. The heart-shaped leaf in the second photo is Acalypha villicaulis.

DSC_3994 Merwilla kraussii

A bulb that grows next to rocks is this hairy-leafed Merwilla kraussii. Botanists have sunk it into Merwilla plumbea which has much larger bulbs and distinctive broad and blue-grey glaucous leaves. Plant people who live in this area refuse to accept that they are the same.