Assessing a private grassland (Thursday 19 September 2019)

The owner of a property overlooking the lower Umtamvuna River gorge and the Red Desert Nature Reserve asked whether it would still be a good idea to undertake a management burn of his grassland. We advised that it was now too late but agreed to assess the condition of his unburned grassland as well as a section that had been burned earlier. We met near the Red Desert Nature Reserve and drove along a steep farm track to reach the grassland. The grassland was wet after overnight drizzle so we all donned waterproof gear and set off.

Very soon we started seeing flowers in a mowed track and in the adjacent grassland, despite the obscuring effect of the tall grass. Here we found Hewittia malabarica, Freesia laxa, Ledebouria petiolata, Gomphocarpus physocarpus, Dierma igneum and some well disguised Acrolophia coclearis. Protruding well above the dry grass were several Drimia echinostachya, a few Eriosema salignum and Selago tarachodes. Kohautia amatymbica waved their white flower clusters at the end of grass-like stalks.

Hewittia malabarica

Freesia laxa

Ledebouria petiolata

Gomphocarpus physocarpus

Acrolophia cochlearis

Dierama igneum

Drimia echinostachya

Eriosema salignum

Selago tarachodes

Kohautia amatymbica

However it was only when we reached the burned section that we saw the full botanical richness of this grassland area. Dyschoriste burchellii clustered around some early Helichrysum pannosum shoots. There was a tangle of Geranium flanaganii and several Eriosema umtamvunense as well as bold Chamaecrista comosa flowers. Splashes of white clusters of Callilepis laureola overshadowed some discrete Acalypha wilmsii.

Dyschoriste burchellii

Geranium flanaganii

Eriosema umtamvunense

Chamaecrista comosa

Callilepis laureola

Acalypha wilmsii

We found Argyrolobium rotundifolium with its yellow-turning-orange flowers, Ajuga ophridis, and three Berkheya species: B. setifera, B. speciosa, and B. umbellata. There were some Commelina africana, Convolvulus natalensis, Cyanotis speciosa and Eriosema kraussianum.

Argyrolobium rotundifolium

Ajuga ophridis

Berkheya setifera

Berkheya speciosa

Berkheya umbellata

Commelina africana

Convolvulus natalensis

Cyanotis speciosa 

Eriosema kraussianum

Gladiolus longicollis bobbed their heads in the breeze -- most of these flowers were boldly marked, in contrast to the plain white we normally see. There were several Hilliardiella hirsuta with their large purple inflorescenses. We found Ipomoea crassipes and despite its attractive markings, a well-camouflaged mantis on a Schizoglossum atropurpureum subsp. virens.

Gladiolus longicollis

Hilliardiella hirsuta

Ipomoea crassipes

Well-camouflaged mantis 

Clustered near some rocks was Plectrnthus hadiensis, Polygala myrtifolia  Psychotria capensis, and Psoralea arborea. Out in the open we found several Ruellia cordata, Scabiosa columbaria and Ornithogalum saundersiae.

Plectranthus hadiensis

Polygala myrtifolia

Psychotria capensis

Psoralea arborea

Ruellia cordata

Scabiosa columbaria

Ornithogalum saundersiae

With the drizzle starting again we turned back towards the shelter of the vehicles finding Cucumis zeyheri, Euryops leiocarpus, Helichrysum pallidum, Thunbergia atriplicifolia and Watsonia densiflora along the way.

Cucumis zeyheri

Euryops leiocarpus

Helichrysum pallidum

Thunbergia atriplicifolia

Watsonia densiflora

We also found the first Sisyrantus imberbis of the season and a few of the short spur form of Eulophia parviflora.

Sisyranthus imberbis

Eulophia parviflora (short spur)

Participants; Alf H, Anne S, Dorothy M, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie A, Tracy T.