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.

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.

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

Aloe marlothii stem

Jasmine growing into the Aloe for support

Observing some busy harvester termites

Termites taking dry grass into the nest to regulate moisture levels in the nest.

Richard Alcock showing us his artifact table

Andrew describing how the habitat changes over time.

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

Euphorbia pseudocactus are endemic to the Tugela Valley system.

Euphorbia pseudocactus in habitat

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

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.

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

Where Erianthemum stems emerge from the tree branch.

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

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.

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

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

Sarcostemma viminale flowers

Sansevieria hyacinthoides growing in shade.

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.

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

Ziziphus mucronata (Buffalo Thorn) is often ringbarked by porcupine which kills the tree.

Recent damp weather allows these algae clumps to form.

Berchemia zeyheri (Red Ivory) leaves. Rhamnaceae.

Berchemia zeyheri (Red Ivory) bark

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.

Another fungus growing in the bark of this tree.

An oyster type mushroom

This bracket fungi is covered with green algae

More mushrooms 8mm wide

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