1,2,3 and Spring is Done
Although being in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record in the Cape, this spring has been the most productive of my career thus far. I’m not sure whether I am sad or grateful that spring is now past, in light of the amount of extra work I have made for myself. On top of all my M.Sc work, in November I had to prepare all my specimens to take to the various herbariums (170 specimens and constantly growing for 2017). All November field trips were done with Ismail and the rest of the CREW team from Cape Town.
The first trip took place from 1-2 November in the Koue Bokkeveld to the east of Ceres. The farm we visited in currently looking to enter into stewardship and requires more extensive botanical surveys. We found many interesting plants in a variety of soil types across the farm and still much remains to be done. The most exciting find was effectively a rediscovery of Aspalathus compacta (CR PE). This species was only known from the type locality which is now under orchards near Gydo Pass. Nick Helme had apparently found a population nearby in 2010, but after looking at his specimen, I was able to determine that it had been misidentified and was rather just A. lanifera. Dahlgren in his 1988 Aspalathus book noted the variation in A. lanifera and we may in time split this species into two subspecies. Thus, our population is not only a massive range extension for this species, but is now the only confirmed population still alive. Other good finds include Lotononis exstipulata (EN), Lotononis argentea (VU), Othonna ciliata (VU), Perdicium capense (VU) and Aspalathus desertorum (NT). Many other legumes were found and still need to be identified, along with some interesting sedges and Thesiums for Prof. Muthama and Daniel from UCT.
The next trip was a day trip to Tulbagh waterfall with Ismail, Tony Rebelo and Anthony Hitchcock. We first drove and botanized the track up Ontongskop where we had amazing sightings of Kumara plicatilis (LC) and Oldenbergia papionum (LC). Rares found on this trip include the unique Aspalathus leptocoma (Rare), Aspalathus linearifolia (NT), Serruria triternata (NT), Diastella parilis (CR), Sorocephalus imbricatus (CR), and a potentially new species of Hermannia. The river above the waterfall is in a shocking state with wall to wall aliens, Cape Nature will certainly have to catch a wake-up and get stuck into alien clearing.
It was then the turn to visit the northern side of the Riviersonderend Mountains in the Olifantsdoorn area. Our main target was to find Aspalathus theresae (Rare) that was collected and described a few years ago by Chris Cupido, with very sketchy locality details. In the end the day was just too short and we were unable to find it, hopefully near year we can get lucky by going higher. The day was, however, far from a waste of time. The Psoralea we found may be a new species and we are awaiting confirmation from Prof Charlie Stirton. I also found a beautiful small Aspalathus growing on a rocky outcrop and took a nice specimen of it. And as it turns out, it is Aspalathus taylori (VU) which has only ever been collected twice from only two localities, making this a third population of this very rare species. Another amazing find was what appears to be Aspalathus vulpina (VU) which was previously only known from the Northern Langeberg between Barrydale and Garcia’s Pass. This would represent a massive range extension for the species, although it cannot be ruled out that this could be described as a new subspecies based on subtle morphological differences. Other specials include Aspalathus burchelliana (EN) and Anaxeton hirsutum (VU).
The final trip of spring was a climb up Matroosberg Peak. Standing at an impressive height of 2249m, this is the highest peak in the SW Cape and the tallest I have climbed so far in my life. The going was fairly easy, with fitness not being a problem and no challenging scrambles along the way. The vegetation on the mountain is probably about 30 years old and in need of a burn sometime. For this reason, legumes were rather scarce especially at high altitude, and same for some of the other specials we were after. We did, however, manage to find several specials including Protea effusa (NT), Cyclopia glabra (Rare), Acmadenia matroosbergensis (Rare), Acrosanthes parviflora (Rare), Esterhuysenia alpina (Rare), Askidiosperma insigna (VU), Agathosma phillipsii (Rare) and Amphithalea villosa (NT). There were also two tiny pink Erica’s growing out of a rock face that require further attention.
Stop the press! Charlie has confirmed that a Psoralea I collected in Febraury 2016 on Piketberg is Psoralea peratica (CR PE). This species was last assessed as being Endangered but was not seen since then. Another Psoralea that I collected in October 2016 on Piketberg has also just been described as new by Charlie, and an Otholobium collected on that same day may also be new!
And that is a wrap for spring. The past three months have been very botanically rewarding for me, having seen dozens of legumes that I have not seen before, the prospect of a few new species to science and a few high peaks off the bucket list. The summer upon us, it is now time to catch up on some admin and get stuck in the lab. With my holiday only starting on 21 December, it’s going to be three long and busy weeks in the now ghost town of Stellenbosch (No rest for the wicked…)!
This is more than likely my last feedback report for 2017 as the field trips are winding down and the summer temperatures starting to soar! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making 2017 very memorable. Special mention must be made of the following people: Many thanks to the Outramps for their continued support, Ismail and the Cape Town CREW team, Pat and Tony Rebelo, Odette and Jannie from Haarwegskloof, Prof Charlie Stirton for his continued mentorship, my supervisors from SU, UCT and UWC, and of course all my wonderful friends from dancing who have been helping me keep fit (and young), especially my dance partner Liza. Wishing everyone a happy, relaxing holiday, Merry Christmas and a ‘Fab’ 2018!
My storie is uit…
Groete,
Mr Fab / The Boy
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