We decided to explore the rocky crags above the Bulolo River gorge on the Western Heights for our walk this Thursday and set off with two full vehicles. The road to the Western Heights was dry and easy to navigate despite the "lumpiness". Leaving the vehicles at the side of the track we moved through thick grass down the slope towards the Bulolo. There was a small tree fern Alsophila dregei on this slope and many stops were made to inspect the colonies of lithophytes on the rocks.
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| Alsophila dregei |
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| Checking the lithophytes on one of the rocks (photo Gail B-W) |
We found a few (very early) Polystachya pubescens flowering. In this same patch Ochna serrulata displayed its characteristic spiky galls and all these plants were surrounded by dry Selaginella dregei. On a nearby ledge was a cluster of Erica aspalathifolia displaying old flower stalks.
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| Polystachya pubescens |
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| Gall on Ochna serrulata |
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| Erica aspalathifolia |
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| Selaginella dregei |
Moving further down and along a ledge we found a few Rangaeris muscicola in flower - this was no surprise as in earlier walks this month we have seen this species in bud. There were a few Sopubia simplex around and we found one plant with (almost) white flowers. Burchellia bubalina plants were beginning to flower too.
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| Rangaeris muscicola |
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| Sopubia simplex |
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| Burchellia bubalina |
Working our way back up the slope we encountered an oddly-shaped weathered rock posed against the skyline. Near the base of this was a stunted Syzygium cordatum in flower and also sporting a few ripe fruits. On many of the rock outcrops Aloe arborescens proudly displayed their eye-catching flower spikes and we saw a few Gurney's Sugarbirds taking advantage of the nectar offered by these flowers.
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| Very weathered rock |
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| Syzygium cordatum |
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| Aloe arborescens |
We found a pleasant spot for lunch and Mark grabbed the chance to rest his weary eyes - see him in the background in the image below.
In the area near our lunch rocks we found a small Gerrardina foliosa with flowers and fruit and after we got going again we found Maesa lanceolata with a few flower spikes. Above this shrub was Cassipourea gummiflua with tight clusters of fruits towards the ends of the branches
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| Gerrardina foliosa |
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| Maesa lanceolata |
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| Cassipourea gummiflua |
On many of the rock plates we found Crassula perfoliata subsp. heterotricha in bud. There was Dalbergia multijuga displaying a spray of dried fruit pods, a small Tricalysia capensis dotted with orange fruits and a similar display from Psychotria capensis.
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| Crassula perfoliata subsp. heterotricha |
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| Dalbergia multijuga fruits |
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| Tricalysia capensis |
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| Psychotria capensis |
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| View down into the Bulolo River gorge |
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| (Photo Gail B-W) |
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| The last stretch back to the vehicles (Photo Gail B-W) |
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| Tracy could not resist the cushion offered by the cut grass |
Participants: Anne S, Colin T, Dorothy M, Elaine L, Gail B-W, Graham G, Kate G, Maggie M, Mark G, Tracy T.
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