Broekskeur

Outramps CREW Diaries
Broekskeur
Tuesday 11th September 2018

Here is the ALBUM For captions or info click on i on the top right-hand side. A good way to go - the Slideshow is found at the top of the page on the rt hand side by clicking on the 3 dots. Featured this week – Tolberg, Ruitersbos, De Rust, Oudtshoorn, Sarahsrivierberg near Montagu and a newie from last Spring at Mons Ruber.

For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Reportback - see the Album

HAT Report/ Tolberg in the Outeniquas
Amazing – twice in 10 days! Having reported on the MCSA visit to Vensterberg last week, it turned out that this week I would revisit the area. WAGS decided to do the same hike up from the Sputnik only hiking up as far as Tolberg, which is the Outeniqua Peak just before Vensterberg peak. It is an easier version of the hike as it avoids the very exposed rocky boulders of Vensterberg itself. The hike was very ably led by one of our members - Andre Roux. Andre is passionate about this hike and his photography skills are exceptional. A gorgeous day out – with continuous 360 ‘views all along the hike. Today there was a chequered view down towards Mosselbay – between the low scraggly clouds!

Good to be able to examine the same plants again – this time at a much more leisurely pace. Lobelia dichroma (DDT) was hiding under the rocks. Last week’s unusual hairy pink Erica- it turned out that the “stukkies” were still in bud. So today I searched along the saddle at the top Ridgeline and found 2 plants with a few open cups. They appear to be E. lehmannii?? The Fynbos on this hike is exceptionally thick with Restios. Clearly, without a path it would be difficult to make much headway. Outramps Ann spent some time along the lower levels of the mountain. She says there is an abundance of Elegia filacea, Elegia neesii, Elegia thyrsoidea, Rhodocoma gigantea and Rhodocoma fruticosa – to name but some!

Evie

Take One - Then Two - Eight Bells and Ruitersbos
Only one Protea cynaroides was seen, then Acmadenia tetragona (Near Threatened), and Serruria fasciflora (Near Threatened) - a bit later Erica unicolor subsp. mutica (Endangered). Only a few of these three plants were seen here and there. The large white flowers of robust Pseudoselago outeniquensis popped out on a south-easterly slope. Unfamiliar, unassuming cream bells made us stop. Sally tipped up the little cups and we gasped. Exquisite little flowers with blue markings inside. It is Heliophila elongata, which appears to have a wide distribution, but it is not a plant seen or really known by the Outramps. Without flowers or fruit the structure of the plant is stark and very similar to that of Montinia caryophyllacea, noted nearby. For sure there is convergence of strategies for these two plant species. Heliophila elongata status is given as Least Concern – though we are all wondering about that, considering how much time we spend in the veld.

Unfortunately pines and wattle are already showing their presence too amongst the lovely Fynbos

Three days later….

Fire also swept through some of the plantation exit areas at Ruitersbos. Alas, not all the burnt veld is destined to become mature Fynbos at Ruitersbos. Sally says the emerging vegetation was sprayed, followed by replanting with pines – extensively so! Sally noticed an unusual Aspalathus species during her regular forays and her iNat observation yielded the tentative identification of Aspalatus longifolia (Vulnerable).

Aspalathus expert Brian du Preez added this to Sally’s observation:
”Looks more or less right, quite a bit out of distribution and I have honestly never seen this species in flower and Dahlgren does not have a great sketch in his revision. Would love to see it sometime. Hoping to see some when I go to Garcias in the next few weeks.” https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15868881.

Obviously this needed some investigation. Despite iffy weather we went out on Sunday to collect a specimen for the Southern Cape Herbarium. A grey patch across the valley on a slope above a remnant forest seemed to be a group of these plants, though we had to walk a bit further to where we could access plants closer to the track. Meeting it up close showed upright, single-stemmed plants, many standing well above the general cover canopy at 1,5 - 2m tall. Long and very soft leaves make it lovely to touch (this is very unAspalathus-like!), with the palest of yellow flowers, drying to brown. For now these plants were clear winners in the post-fire race of the reseeders. How will they fare when the planted pines grow up around them? What is the life-span of this plant? Only time will tell, and Sally – we hope, will tell.

We noted the same enthusiastic ‘Trappe van Vergelyking’ of the three Rhynchosia species around us, but the weather closed in, bringing welcome rain. No more photographs. Time to head home. Sandra with Sally, Gail and Rusell… and other family members!

Broekskeur
There was an interesting start to Friday, when the Buchu Bus refused to start. I was met with stony silence when I turned the key. So I kicked her wheel, cursed her roundly and in a vile temper transferred the goods and chattels to Bloody Mary. (Bill reports that she started first time a little later. Maybe she has changed her allegiance from me to Bill – FMC!). We drove towards De Rust for our annual monitoring trip to the area. The veld is looking good, but it is very dry. We are just hoping that the good rains forecast for the week will materialize. Heavy rain is forecast for the coastal plain, Oudtshoorn and the Swartberg and they could just give us a slightly better Spring than anticipated.

At the base of the Conglomerates, Dave went off on his own to explore the higher reaches. Startlingly beautiful on the valley floor was a Passerina sp. in full flower. Not sure which one it is. Nymania capensis in flower is always a show-stopper and Euphorbia mauritanica was sunshine yellow. Sometime later, as we laboured up the steep scree slopes to the open cave, we noticed that Dave had come down to the valley again, which was a bit puzzling. A short while later, 2 local youngsters joined our party. It was rather unnerving. We had the distinct feeling that we were being herded to a destination. We weren’t terribly keen to pull out cameras for our usual crop of photos, but eventually Sandra did and managed to get some pics of Machairophyllum brevifolium. But the fun had gone out of the day. When we joined up with Dave, he had a similar story to tell and had bailed out of his ridge walk, with the feeling that he was being chased to a destination. Although the two youngsters were no real threat, we were wondering whether some more dangerous adults were waiting somewhere for the unwary. Next time we go to de Rust, we will need to make sure that we have a larger party and just maybe, the Turner’s German Shepherd as well.

After that, we restricted our exploration to the side of the road between De Rust, Oudtshoorn and George and managed to find some real treasures. Sandra got hooked up on a fence to the detriment of her hiking pants, giving me the title for the Reportback. Another interesting interlude – at one of our road sites, a white Bakkie stopped next to Bloody Mary and a young woman climbed out and walked towards us with determination, obviously to ask what we were about. As she got nearer, I recognized Marianne de Villiers and she recognized me. She is in charge of stewardship for Cape Nature. It is good to see that Cape Nature is keeping eyes open for “skelm” plant collectors. Marianne also has plans for us to visit some of the stewardship sites in the future. We look forward to that. So another plus for the day, although without the two youngsters, our tally would have been doubled. A sign of the times?

Rares we saw
Arctotis sp. nova (vlokii) - Rare
Lachenalia haarlemensis - Vulnerable
Manulea derustiana - Vulnerable
Machairophyllum brevifolium - Vulnerable
Conophytum truncatum. - ? not sure of the species
Haworthia emelyae – Data Deficient
Babiana radiata – Critically Endangered
Glottiphyllum carnosum - Endangered
tanniedi

P.S. The rain finally arrived and there was lots of it. An extra bonus - snowfalls on all the surrounding mountain ranges and even on the ground in the Langkloof. Yippee!!!

HAT report
SarahsriviersBerg in the Langeberg
On Sat 1 Sept, for the start of spring, I joined the South Cape MCSA on an “up and over” hike in the Langeberg. We started from a private farm near Montagu. Looking up at the route to the peak – I thought, “Golly, am I going to make it? Are there going to be any plants in what looks like sheer rock faces”? It certainly proved to be one of my toughest hikes –a long day on difficult terrain - no path with an accent over rocks and more for 1000m. The hike was a first for our group of 5, and very well led by our capable leader Ed, directing us according to his GPS. Exciting!! Yes, there were plenty of plants on the northern side – all on rocky ledges and shelves hidden from the overall view.

To begin with a burn area – mostly resprouting Protea nitida, then gradually some good greenery and colours on Leucadendron eucalyptifolium, Metalasia sp & other daisys (??), ground cover-like Lachnaea pencillata( R) , ovata-like(?) Agathosma sp, pretty Lobostemon sp, Adenandra sp, Paranomus dispersus, Paranomus spathulatus(NT), Leucospermum calligerum and Protea lorifolia . On a steep section between the rocks there was Lobelia pinifolia.

The overall mountain was an ocean of Restio sp. So far there were only Ericas with old flowers, while higher up a riot of colourful Ericas were dominated by patches of bright red Erica plukenetii . Close to, and along the top ridge there were numerous Protea trees- with old flowers on Protea grandiceps(NT) in various spots.

Finally, we reached the Peak – known as Sarahsriviersberg peak- Hooray! There were amazing views over the Langeberg down to the little Karoo side on the north, and the heavily farmed southern sides. Protea sp were all over the southern side of the high ridge. The descent proved to be tricky, with loads of loose rocks hidden in the thick Fynbos, followed by “real live rolling stones” on the lower previously burnt area. Further along the ridge there were some orangy/red Erica vestita, and my first sighting of some low growing Liparia splendens subsp comantha (LC) – exceptionally pretty and known as the ‘Mountain Dahlia”.

For the downhill run – HAT Evie was rather ‘flowered out” and the loose rocks took a great deal of concentration. I did notice some pretty purple Ixia’s, the odd small blue Disa sp, an interesting Agathosma sp , white flowered Psoralea sp in the rocky crags and there are numerous Pincushion reseeders underway.

A big thanks to Ed for directing us from the car on the north, and back to our car on the South of the Langeberg. An amazing day out in mountain Fynbos.

Evie

STOP PRESS

Eriocephalus tenuipes
On Friday, while the rain was pouring down, I decided to look at some of the pictures I took on Spring Day last year when the Outramps visited Mons Ruber, near De Rust. Included in the pictures were those of an Eriocephalus which looked a bit different. After some bookwork, I thought E.tenuipes. I posted the pictures on INat with the very tentative ID and sent the link to Jan Vlok who came back very quickly with the following: “I would agree with Eriocephalus tenuipes as it has the typical equal, short leaves and short peduncles. Well done, this is now the westernmost locality known."

It is redlisted Rare and is another newy for the Outramps!
Nicky

Congratulations Nicky and thank you Jan - Ed

Forthcoming Field Trips
On Thursday we will be meeting Charl Wade (FPA) at Gourikwa to help with the alien clearing around Lobostemon belliformis and hopefully to find Erica baueri ssp gouriquae in flower. On Friday we will be doing some plant monitoring for the Great Brak Conservancy.
Groete en dankie
Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno, Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.


Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.
Cola Conservancy - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/cola-conservancy
Dune Molerat Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/dune-molerat-trails
Featherbed Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/featherbed-nature-reserve
Gouriqua - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve
Heaven in the Langkloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/heaven-in-the-langkloof
Herolds Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-herolds-bay
Kammanassie - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kammanassie-reserve
Langeberg Grootvadersbosch - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/grootvadersbosch-nature-reserve
Kranshoek - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kranshoek-
Masons Rust - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/masons-rust-32-ptn-4-gezwinds-kraal-41-ptn-0
Mons Ruber and surrounds - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mons-ruber-and-surrounds
Mossel Bay Aalwyndal - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/aalwyndal
Mossel Bay Diosma Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/diosma-reserve
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-14072
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-19201
Mossel Bay St Blaize Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/st-blaize-trail
Natures Valley - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/nature-s-valley-south-cape-south-africa#page=2
Outeniquas Bobbejaanberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-bobbejanberg-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas Camferskloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-camferskloof
Outeniquas East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Outeniquas Flanagans Rock - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/flanagans-rock-rsa
Outeniquas Lange Berg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/lange-berg-112
Outeniquas Paardepoort East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-east
Outeniquas Paardepoort West - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-west
Outeniquas Southern Traverse - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-outeniqua-southern-traverse
Rooiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-rooiberg-reserve
Spioenkop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ruigtevlei-plantations
Strawberry Hill - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/strawberry-hill-7-passes-road-wilderness-south-africa
Swartberg Spitskop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-spitskop-to-meiringspoort-swartberg
Uitzicht Portion 39 - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-portion-39
Uitzicht - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-ptn-65
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-1-buffalo-bay
Western Head – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-2-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-3-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/western-head-knysna
White Heather - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/white-heather
Wilderness Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/brown-hooded-kingfisher-trail
Wilderness Kingfisher Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kingfisher-trails
.
Outramps Projects on iNaturalist
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo

Veg Types of South Africa - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Abbreviations Glossary

MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” - An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants

OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly

Our mailing address is:
di@strawberryhill.co.za

Posted on September 11, 2018 02:11 PM by outramps-tanniedi outramps-tanniedi

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