Category: Outdoors

Pondoland’s medicinal plants treasures

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Written by Zoë Chapman Poulsen. Photos by Graham Grieve or supplied by Sinegugu Zukulu.

To celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day on 31 August, Zoë Chapman Poulsen interviewed pioneering Pondoland conservationist and champion of medicinal plant Sinegugu Zukulu.

“For me, the future is about protecting Pondoland’s biodiversity, so we are able to sustain it for future generations to see the treasure that we have,” says Sinegugu Zukulu, Pondoland trailblazer in community-focused conservation, ecotourism, upskilling youth and raising awareness of Pondoland’s unique and extraordinary biodiversity and ecosystems.

Above: Sinegugu Zuluku. Photo supplied by Sinegugu Zulu.

Sinegugu (51) has devoted his life to protecting Pondoland’s rich, diverse and spectacular landscapes. This fascinating area stretches from Hibberdene in Kwa-Zulu Natal, south along the coastline to Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape.

The Pondoland centre of endemism forms part of the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot and has about 200 unique endemic species. Botanists believe more new species will still be discovered in its isolated habitats and river gorges.

“Protecting the land is protecting livelihoods,” believes Sinegugu. “It is protecting the lives of the people.”

Top: Tribute of the Gwe Gwe River. Above: Berkheya speciosa subsp. speciosa. Photos: Graham Grieve.

The key to successful conservation, he believes, is highlighting how people depend on better functioning ecosystems for water, medicinal plants, livestock grazing, thatch and ecotourism.

As a pioneer in supporting ecotourism development along the Wild Coast, Sinegugu began leading walks into the grasslands, sharing his extensive knowledge of Pondoland’s medicinal plants. This grew into the 2012 book, Medicinal and Charm Plants of Pondoland. The book showcases the traditional knowledge of many herbalists from the community of Amadiba and surrounds where Sinegugu has spent most of his life.

“For me, it was vital to show how important indigenous knowledge is for us,” says Sinegugu. “I wanted to put the faces of our herbalists there for the world to see – and also to recognise their indigenous knowledge.”

Above: Bongeka’s Patch and herbalist. Photo: Graham Grieve.

Knowledge of medicinal plants is very common among the communities of Pondoland, often starting with young children, who learn while accompanying local herbalists collecting medicines in the veld.

“We are losing that knowledge now,” Sinegugu says. “Kids today are no longer exposed to plants and the environment as we were”.

“Young people today can no longer learn as much as we did because they are leading such a different life from when we were young. There were no television sets then, no cellphones. Young people today are preoccupied with cellphones.”

Top: Boophone disticha. Above: Eriosemopsis subanisophylla. Photos: Graham Grieve.

A holistic approach to healthcare is at the core of the traditional use of medicinal plants. As well as  treating illness or injury, plants can be used as charm plants.

“Charm plants may be used for steam baths to make skin more attractive or even by people who want to be lucky with something – perhaps  they are going job seeking.”

The biodiversity of Pondoland, including its medicinal plants, faces a number of different threats. Population pressure is a widespread threat and croplands from farming can often expand into virgin veld. Too frequent veld fires used to burn old dry grass in the sourveld for better grazing is another challenge. Pondoland has also not escaped widespread alien plant invasion.

Some medicinal plants are in such demand that they have fallen victim to overcollection in some areas. This is one reason why Sinegugu Zukulu has been discussing with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) the idea of establishing a botanical garden dedicated to the cultivation, use and conservation of Pondoland’s endemic plants.

Above: Gwe Gwe Bay. Photo: Graham Greave.

The proposed new botanical garden aims to save and protect these endemic species, as well as showcasing them to visitors so they can be seen all in one place. Part of the project would comprise a nursery to grow and process medicinal plants. This would create jobs for local people by supplying the local market.

Sinegugu has always had the people of Pondoland front and centre of his extensive and highly varied work. Innovative community-driven conservation remains key to his success.

“If conservationists understand the importance of biodiversity to people’s lives and livelihoods, their task would become much easier,” he says. “If you take this approach, people would not need a lot of convincing for them to conserve biodiversity.”

Sinegugu would love to see Pondoland getting some recognition and conservation status, such as a biosphere reserve or a world heritage site.

“But,” he cautions, “we have to make sure that the rights of the people are also protected so they still have access to the land.”

Further reading

Medicinal and Charm Plants of Pondoland by Sinegugu Zukulu, Tony Dold, Tony Abbott and Domitilla Raimondo (SANBI,  Pretoria).

Get in touch

Sinegugu Zukulu regularly leads guided hikes along the spectacular Wild Coast. For more information email: zukulusinegugu@gmail.com or phone: +27 72 428 5109.

Spring Flower Watch: Biedouw Valley

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Written by Zoë Chapman Poulsen. Photos by Rupert Koopman & Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Famous for its extraordinary red sandstone rock formations, South Africa’s Cederberg mountains are popular with hikers and adventure lovers alike, seeing the peace of wild landscapes within easy reach of Cape Town.

Towering above the small towns of Clanwilliam and Citrusdal, the Cederberg is often dusted with snow on the highest peaks during the winter months. This mountain range is named after the Clanwilliam Cedar (Widdringtonia wallichii) which is endemic to the area and at the brink of extinction.

View into the Biedouw Valley from the Tra Tra Mountains. Photo: Rupert Koopman.

One of the main roads ascending the Cederberg is the Pakhuis Pass, which leads eastwards to the turnoff that winds gently and then steeply down into the Biedouw Valley. This beautiful place is a mecca for those looking to see beautiful displays of spring blooms without making the longer journey to Namaqualand further north.

A rewarding feature of this route is seeing how the vegetation changes from fynbos in the west transitioning to succulent karoo as the amount of annual precipitation drops heading east into the Tanqua.

Above: During spring local farmers restrict their livestock from grazing in the Biedouw Valley, allowing a spectacular array of flowers to come into bloom. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Located between the Biedouw mountains to the north and the Tra Tra mountains to the south, the Biedouw Valley is one of the centres of the rooibos tea growing industry. Enjoyed all over the world, the rooibos tea plant (Aspalathus linearis) is only grown commercially in the Cederberg area and surrounds.

During spring local farmers restrict their livestock from grazing in the Biedouw Valley, allowing a spectacular array of flowers to come into bloom, much to the enjoyment of the many visitors who enjoy this popular place. The main displays are an array of daisies and Heliophila but the many stunning geophytes to be found are also pleasant on the eye.

Above: Spectacular spring flower displays in the Biedouw Valley. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

The small and delicate spring favourite Moraea gawleri come in a variety of different colours from cream to yellow or brick red. They bloom fleetingly, found growing on both deep sands and clays in fynbos or renosterveld vegetation from Namaqualand to Humansdorp.

Above: Moraea gawleri. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Cyanella alba is easily recognised by its delicate cream coloured blooms that often have a hint of yellow. The flowers smell much like Magnolias. Flowering from August to October, this species grows on sandstone or clay slopes from the Bokkeveld mountains to the western Karoo.

Above: Cyanella alba. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Lapeirousia divaricata is often seen blooming en masse in the Biedouw Valley during spring with its delicately fragrant blooms. This species grows in damp sandy areas from the Bokkeveld mountains southwards to Citrusdal.

Above: Lapeirousia divaricata. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Right now is one of the best Biedouw valley flower seasons in a while due to higher rainfall in the eastern Cederberg than in the last few years.

Above: Lapeirousia divaricata blooming en masse in the Biedouw Valley. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Look out for next week’s edition of Spring Flower Watch, where we will be continuing our virtual botanical tour to some of the Cape’s special spring flower sites.

Spring Flower Watch: Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve

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Written and photographed by Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

The second edition of our weekly Spring Flower Watch comes from Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve. Each week this spring we will be taking you on a virtual tour of some of the best places to see the spring flowers, both for those of you planning to hit the road now restrictions on interprovincial travel have been lifted, as well as for those of you who would still prefer to stay home.

Above: View from the summit of the Vanrhyn’s Pass across the Knersvlakte.

The small Northern Cape Town of Nieuwoudtville where the reserve is based is located on the Bokkeveld Escarpment, reached by the winding Vanrhyn’s Pass. The plateau has a diversity of different vegetation types including renosterveld, fynbos and succulent karoo and is world famous for its diversity of flowering bulbs that bring spectacular displays during spring.

Above: View across the Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve during the peak of spring flowering season in August. Hantam National Botanical Garden is visible in the distance.

Encompassing over 100 Ha of Hantam-Roggeveld Dolerite Renosterveld, the Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve is managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Hantam Municipality. Entrance to the Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve is free for visitors. The reserve is home to more than 300 plant species, of which many are of conservation concern including several local endemics.

Above: Hesperantha vaginata in bloom at the Nieuwoudtville Wildflower Reserve.

Also known as the Harlequin Evening Flower, the distinctive bright yellow and brown blooms of Hesperantha vaginata are hard to miss. This stunning bulb is endemic to the Bokkeveld Plateau from the Nieuwoudtville area eastwards to Calvinia. The odourless flowers are pollinated by the monkey beetle Clania glenlyonensis, who use the flowers for mating as well as feeding on the pollen.

Above: Diascia cardiosepala. 

Look out for the delicate tiny purple flowers of Diascia cardiosepala, which grows predominantly on deep red dolerite derived clays. Flowering takes place from August to October. This species is also endemic to the Bokkeveld Escarpment.

Above: Aptosimium indivisum. 

In drier places, Aptosimium indivisum, also known as the Karoo Violet, can be seen. It is found throughout southern Africa on dry clay flats.

Above: Colchicum coloratum. 

A rather quirky-looking customer to look out for is Colchicum coloratum, appropriately named the ‘Red Cup and Saucer’ due to its unusual morphology. It grows on heavy red clays derived from dolerite eastwards to Botterkloof.

Look out for next week’s edition of Spring Flower Watch, where we will take you along to visit the Biedouw Valley in the Cederberg.

Gardens open again from Monday 3 August

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At long last, we have some truly wonderful news to share. On Wednesday, 29 July, we received official notice from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) that they would be re-opening the National Botanical Gardens (NBGs) to the public for exercise on Monday, 3 August. The main activities permitted within the gardens during advanced level 3 include walks, hikes, and exercise (no more than four people in a group allowed), and restaurants and shops will open for sit-down. Please click here for the full document outlining SANBI’s protocols for re-opening of NBGs. Note the second last section, which outlines the allowed and prohibited activities specific to each garden.

Please do remember to enjoy the wonder floral diversity and look out for what might have changed since you last visited in terms of biodiversity over this period while you exercise in the gardens.

Expired membership card entry


Above: Bulbs and annuals in bloom on the Spiderweb Trail, Hantam National Botanical Gardens.

SANBI has confirmed that BotSoc members whose old paper membership cards expired during lockdown (26 March – 31 July 2020) will be allowed entry into Kirstenbosch NBG in Cape Town and Walter Sisulu NBG in Joburg in order to renew or replace cards at the BotSoc office. This will be the case for the whole month of August, providing a window for us to assist any members who find our new online platform on Webtickets difficult to transition to (see section on card collections below).

All members are requested to bring their ID card/document along with their membership card, as SANBI gate staff will request to view both.

BotSoc Offices


Top: Leopard’s Kloof Waterfall, Harold Porter NBG. Above: Disa Kloof Waterfall, Harold Porter NBG. Photos: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

Both our offices, at Kirstenbosch NBG in Cape Town and Walter Sisulu NBG in Joburg, will re-open on Monday, 3 August, adhering to strict safety procedures such as daily cleaning and sanitising of offices, provision of Personal Protective Equipment to all staff (including hand sanitizer for public use), placement of physical barriers in appropriate places, temperature screening and use of contact tracing registers. It is important to note that we are a non-profit organization with a small staff complement who have been working remotely for the past 4 months. In anticipation of unsafe numbers of foot traffic:

Only one member will be allowed to enter the office at a time.
PLEASE NOTE: All members must make an appointment in order
to visit a BotSoc office.

To book an appointment to see a Membership Officer
at Kirstenbosch NBG, click here.

To book an appointment to see a Membership Officer
at Walter Sisulu NBG, click here.

The only services available are membership sign ups and renewals, new card collections and lost card replacements. We love it when our members pop in to chat to us, but unfortunately this will not be possible yet. This is for your own safety as well as BotSoc staff, and will avoid an unsafe situation where too many members find themselves congregating outside the office in long queues.

We urge members to consider emailing queries to info@botanicalsociety.org.za first, as it is likely that we can assist you remotely. Physical visits should be limited as much as possible.

Membership Card Collections

Above: Main waterfall at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. Photo supplied by SANBI Marketing.

Members who have renewed and are now on our Webtickets system have been patiently waiting for their new membership cards, the distribution of which had to be postponed due to the national lockdown.

While our offices will be open for card collections, it is important to note the following:

1. A digital barcoded card is now available – and highly recommended at this time instead of the physical card, for current health/safety and environmental reasons. This digital “card” can be downloaded and saved to your mobile device (or printed) to be displayed at the gate in the same manner you would use the physical membership card to access the gardens. Please email us at info@botanicalsociety.org.za to request instructions for downloading the digital card if you have not already done so.
2. If you would still like to have a physical plastic membership card, please make an appointment to visit our offices using the booking links provided above, thus assisting with safety controls.
a. Walter Sisulu NBG: 
Card collections at our Northern office will only be possible from Monday, 10 August. Please bear this in mind when booking your appointment.
b. Other areas:
Members who do not live close enough to book an appointment and visit Kirstenbosch NBG or Walter Sisulu NBG will have to download the digital card for the time being until other arrangements can be made.
Bookshops at Kirstenbosch NBG
Above: Spectacular mountain views at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Photo supplied by SANBI Marketing.

Please note that the only membership-related query that can be handled by the Kirstenbosch Branch Bookshops at this time is the collection of a physical plastic membership card on the weekend. This must be pre-arranged in the following manner:

– Email info@botanicalsociety.org.za from Monday to Thursday with the subject
“Card collection at bookshop” and your request to collect a physical membership
card from the Bookshop on the weekend.

– One of our Membership Support Officers will respond to acknowledge your request, and will ensure that your card is at the Bookshop at Gate 1 (main entrance) for collection on the weekend.

– Email requests received on Fridays will only be attended to in the following week.

– Please do not visit the Bookshop to collect your card unless you have received a confirmation email.

Veld & Flora
Above: River Cascade viewpoint at Lowveld National Botanical Gardens.
Lockdown delayed the printing and posting of the June issue of Veld & Flora.
Our return to office means that we can now address this – please note that
both the June and September issues will be enveloped together and posted to members.In the meantime, you can still read the March and June issues online.

We are very excited to have you all enjoying the botanical gardens again and we are pleased to connect with you at our offices under the conditions described above. We trust that we can count on your cooperation and thank all our members for your continued patience and support. Working together with understanding and kindness will ensure that we all make it through these unusual circumstances.

From your BotSoc Team at National Office

A Megadiverse Country: Introducing South Africa’s biodiversity hotspots

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Written by Zoë Chapman Poulsen. Photos by Isobel Johnson and Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

South Africa is a country that is world famous for its extraordinary biodiversity. Recognised as one of the earth’s 17 megadiverse nations which combined contain two thirds of the world’s plant diversity, South Africa sits in the top ten nations for plant species richness worldwide. This is as a result of the country’s highly varied climate, topography and geology, which also has led to extremely high levels of endemism across its many different ecosystems, meaning that many South African species are found nowhere else on earth.

Perhaps one of South Africa’s most famous centres of plant diversity is the Fynbos Biome or Cape Floristic Region, which is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, few realise that South Africa is in fact home to three different biodiversity hotspots, namely the Cape Floristic Region, the Succulent Karoo ecoregion and the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany corridor. Biodiversity hotspots are the world’s most biodiverse and threatened terrestrial regions. For an area to qualify it needs to have a minimum of 1500 species of endemic vascular plants and to have lost a minimum of 70% of its primary vegetation. There are 37 biodiversity hotspots worldwide, of which 8 are found on the African continent. In this week’s edition of the BotSoc Blog we are taking a look at South Africa’s biodiversity hotspots and what makes them special.

Cape Floristic Region Hotspot

Above: Fynbos in the Akkadiesberg above Stanford. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen

The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) is perhaps South Africa’s most famous biodiversity hotspot. It is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing to its extraordinary vascular plant diversity at all taxonomic levels. In recent years the Cape Floristic Region has been expanded to become the Greater Cape Floristic Region, with the previous extent of the CFR now being known as the Core Cape Subregion. The Core Cape Subregion (CCR) is 90 760 km2 in size and has around 9 383 known species of vascular plants. A total of 68% of these species are endemic to the area, therefore meaning that they are found nowhere else on Earth.

Above: Watsonia coccinea in bloom in newly burnt fynbos vegetation. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

The CFR comprises a variety of different vegetation types. The most well-known and well-researched of these is fynbos. Fynbos is a Mediterranean type shrubland that is both fire prone and fire dependent. It is dominated by plants from three key plant families: The Proteaceae family, the Restionaceae family and the Ericaceae family. The less well-known renosterveld differs from fynbos by consisting of predominantly Asteraceous shrubs and grasses with an extraordinary diversity of geophytes that produce spectacular flowering displays during spring. On the coastline of the CFR we find strandveld, which has strong floristic links with subtropical thicket vegetation. The CFR also includes small patches of forest growing in sheltered areas with relatively high moisture availability where it is sheltered from fire.

Succulent Karoo Hotspot

 

Above: Succulent Karoo vegetation, Ou Tiep Farm, between Garies and Soutfontein, Namaqualand. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

The Succulent Karoo Biodiversity Hotspot is one of two arid biodiversity hotspots located in predominantly winter rainfall semidesert. Extending northwards into Namibia along the West Coast of South Africa, the Succulent Karoo encompasses the regions of Namaqualand and the Little Karoo, the latter of which lies in a valley between the Swartberg mountains in the north and the Langeberg and Outeniqua mountains in the south. The Succulent Karoo is known for being home to the world’s highest diversity of succulent plant species. A total of 40% of the Succulent Karoo’s 6 356 plant species are endemic to the region and found nowhere else on earth. The area is also known for its high reptile and invertebrate diversity.

Above: Pelargonium echinatum. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

The Succulent Karoo ecoregion has highly diverse geology owing to its complex geological and geomorphological history. However, the majority of the vegetation occurs on shale. Members of the Aizoaceae family, more commonly known as ‘vygies’ form a significant component of the flora, with their colourful daisy-like flowers. After flowering they form seed capsules that open upon contact with moisture from rainfall, flinging the seeds away from the parent plant into the veld. Few realise that geophytes also form a significant part of the Succulent Karoo’s flora, comprising 18% of the flora.

Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Hotspot

Above: Grassland and forest in the mountains near Barberton on the border with eSwatini. Photo: Zoë Chapman Poulsen.

The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany biodiversity hotspot is found on the east coast of South Africa below the Great Escarpment. Encompassing three of South Africa’s centres of endemism, it extends northwards from the Eastern Cape, also including the countries of eSwatini and Mozambique. There is considerable climatic variation from subtropical/tropical in parts of the hotspot in the north and nearer to the coast, ranging to more temperate with winter frosts in more inland higher altitude areas. The Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot is an important centre of plant diversity for South Africa, being the second richest floristic region in Africa after the Cape Floristic Region. Vegetation types of the area encompass subtropical thicket, which is an endemic vegetation type to the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot, forest and grassland.

Above: The iconic Christmas Bells (Sandersonia aurantiaca) Photo: Isobel Johnson.

The area is home to almost 8100 plant species from 243 families in an area approximately the same size of New Zealand, of which nearly a quarter (more than 1900 species) are endemic to the area. There are 39 different genera which are endemic to the area and one endemic plant family, namely the Rhynchocalycaceae, which comprises the single monospecific species Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides which is found in southern KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. It is listed as Near Threatened on the Red List of South African Plants due to firewood harvesting, alien plant invasion and inappropriate fire regimes. Another well-known endemic of the region is the iconic Christmas Bells (Sandersonia aurantiaca), which is now becoming increasingly rare due to habitat degradation, flower picking and forestry.

Further Reading

Bergh, N.G. Verboom, G.A. Rouget, M. Cowling, R.M. (2014) ‘Vegetation types of the Greater Cape Floristic Region’ in Allsop, N. Colville, J.F. Verboom, G.A (Eds) Fynbos: Ecology, Evolution and Conservation of a Megadiverse Region, Oxford University Press, UK.

Manning, J. & Goldblatt, P. (2012) Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region: Volume 1: The Core Cape Flora, Strelitzia 29, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.

Mucina, L. Rutherford, M (Eds) (2006) The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Strelitzia 19, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Meet the Marasmodes: A celebration for Freedom Day

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Written by Zoë C Poulsen, Photos by Rupert Koopman, Ismail Abrahim & Leandra Knoetze

Today we celebrate Freedom Day, commemorating the day that South Africa held its first democratic elections. This important day in our country’s history is a celebration of freedom and opportunity for South Africa as a new era dawned. Our partners at the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) have found a perfect way to celebrate this day, honouring our natural heritage by collecting data for conservation.

Each year since 2007 on Freedom Day CREW host Marasmodes Day, a day of monitoring for the threatened species that make up this little-known genus of plants. It is at this time of year that members of this genus come into bloom, well outside the normal flowering season for many plant species that call the Fynbos Biome home. This year sadly, due to COVID-19 and associated social distancing regulations, we can’t go and find the Marasmodes, so we decided to celebrate Marasmodes Day by bringing them to you at home instead.

Above: Marasmodes oppositifolia (Critically Endangered) growing in its only known habitat in Breede Alluvium Fynbos at Romansrivier, Breede River Valley. Photo: Rupert Koopman.

So what are Marasmodes? Marasmodes are a small genus of shrubs that belong to the Asteraceae or Daisy family. There are currently thirteen recognised species, all of which grow in lowland renosterveld and fynbos vegetation. The majority of our Cape lowland vegetation  has been lost, predominantly due to habitat transformation for agriculture and urban development as this vegetation occurs on fertile soils in accessible areas.

This has rendered Marasmodes the Cape Floristic Region and South Africa’s most threatened plant genus, with ten of the thirteen species classed as Critically Endangered. The remaining three are classified as Endangered on the Red List of South African Plants. One species in the genus, Maramodes reflexa, was last collected in the Napier area of the Overberg in 1946 and is considered to be possibly extinct. Extensive efforts have been made by CREW volunteers to locate any surviving subpopulations, currently without success. It is however possible that this species may have been overlooked, and biodiversity surveys in the area are ongoing.

Above: Marasmodes dummeri (Endangered). Photo: Rupert Koopman.

So what are Marasmodes? Marasmodes are a small genus of shrubs that belong to the Asteraceae or Daisy family. There are currently thirteen recognised species, all of which grow in lowland renosterveld and fynbos vegetation. The majority of our Cape lowland vegetation  has been lost, predominantly due to habitat transformation for agriculture and urban development as this vegetation occurs on fertile soils in accessible areas.

This has rendered Marasmodes the Cape Floristic Region and South Africa’s most threatened plant genus, with ten of the thirteen species classed as Critically Endangered. The remaining three are classified as Endangered on the Red List of South African Plants. One species in the genus, Maramodes reflexa, was last collected in the Napier area of the Overberg in 1946 and is considered to be possibly extinct. Extensive efforts have been made by CREW volunteers to locate any surviving subpopulations, currently without success. It is however possible that this species may have been overlooked, and biodiversity surveys in the area are ongoing.

For those of us in the Cape Town area or the Swartland, the Marasmodes are close to if not right on our doorsteps. We cannot be the generation that stood by and did nothing as this part of our natural heritage quietly journeys towards extinction. It is not just the big spectacular flagship species that bloom during spring that are important, these off-season autumn blooming ‘Cinderellas’ of the Cape Floristic Region need a look in too.

Above: Marasmodes macrocephala (Critically Endangered) in bloom on Wolsley Commonage in Breede Alluvium Fynbos. Photo: Rupert Koopman.

So what have we done and what can we do? Effective conservation of threatened species is driven by knowledge. How many populations still survive? Where are they? What threats do they face? What can we do about it? We have identified that Marasmodes are often overlooked in biodiversity surveys, as they are easy to miss when not in bloom and most surveys and monitoring take place during spring. Most also grow on private land outside formal protected areas, which may not be routinely visited by biodiversity practitioners. There may therefore very likely be populations of Marasmodes species that have gone undiscovered and undocumented.

With a relatively limited number of biodiversity professionals in the field, the citizen scientists of CREW have become the heroes in the story of the Marasmodes. Each Freedom Day they have volunteered their time and headed out into the field, gathering data that each year has improved our knowledge of this little-known and neglected genus.

Above: Marasmodes dummeri being visited by a Crimson Speckled Footman moth. Photo: Rupert Koopman.

Each Marasmodes Day we have celebrated new discoveries, including new subpopulations identified and even new species found. Two new species, Marasmodes crewiana and Marasmodes oppositifolia, were described alongside a new revision of the genus, published in the South African Journal of Botany in 2017. This would not have been possible were it not for the efforts of CREW’s citizen science volunteers. Revising the genus has meant that past confusion over species names no longer hampers accurate red listing of threat status and other conservation efforts.

Above: Marasmodes undulata in bloom. Photo: Ismail Abrahim.

Furthermore, the CREW Cape Floristic Region (CFR) team, with support from the Drakenstein municipality, Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and the Millennium Seed Bank team at Kirstenbosch, have received a grant from the Mohammed Bin Zayed species conservation fund to improve the conservation status of the Critically Endangered Marasmodes undulata, which is currently only known from three individuals at Orleans Park in the Paarl Valley.

This project aims to secure and grow the last wild population of Marasmodes undulata at Orleans Park, by propagating the species from 300 seeds that have been collected and stored ex-situ by the Millennium Seed Bank project team. In addition, the project aims to raise awareness around the conservation status of Marasmodes undulata and support the municipality in the effective management and conservation of the site.

Above: CREW volunteers in the field at Orleans Park (Photos taken prior to COVID-19 social distancing regulations). Photo: Ismail Abrahim.

We can celebrate that the Marasmodes have now been given the attention they deserve, although there is still much work to do for their monitoring and conservation. There are still many other Cinderella plant species across South Africa and beyond that are threatened and of which we know little. Maybe they bloom outside the main flowering season, or perhaps are overlooked in biodiversity surveys. They deserve our attention too.

Above: Planting seeds of Maramodes undulata ex-situ at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Photo: Leandra Knoetze.

The close- knit community of SANBI’s CREW citizen science volunteers look forward to returning to the field when it is safe, to continue their dedicated and hard work, bringing a little more hope for survival in the future for of the ‘Cinderellas’ of South Africa’s megadiverse flora.

Growing a dream: A learning hub for Overberg Renosterveld

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Found in the lowlands at the heart of South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region, the lowland renosterveld of South Africa’s Overberg is one of the most biodiverse and yet most threatened habitats on earth. Large herds of game including black rhinos once roamed these landscapes, but today they have been hunted out and just 5% of this imperilled ecosystem now remains, the majority having been ploughed up to make way for intensive agriculture.

The Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust (ORCT) is a small nonprofit dedicated to halting the renosterveld’s spiral towards functional extinction, with the aim of conserving this highly biodiverse ecosystem through working alongside landowners across the region. In 2014 WWF-SA purchased the property Haarwegskloof and it was handed to the ORCT to manage and conserve. The ORCT is an organisation that has always dreamed big: Thanks to a successful crowdfunder, funds were raised to turn the derelict farmhouse into the world’s first research and visitor’s centre for renosterveld, aptly located by the world’s largest surviving area of lowland renosterveld.

Located in the eastern Overberg, Haarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve is the jewel in the crown for this vegetation, its extraordinary flora and wildlife as well as a space for visitors to learn more about why we need to conserve it. The research centre offers a home away from home and space to collaborate for a lively cohort of postgraduate researchers working hard to grow our knowledge on renosterveld ecology and conservation management.

It is now more than five years since the Renosterveld Reserve and Visitors Centre was founded at Haarwegskloof. The ORCT has another dream for the place, and they need your help. The Trust is now raising funds through another crowdfunding initiative to develop a learning hub on the reserve, with a focus on environmental education. The aim is to grow the Centre to invite school children and other interested groups from the Overberg and beyond to learn about the ecology and biodiversity of renosterveld, raising awareness about the challenges facing threatened ecosystems across the globe.

Why is this such an important initiative? One of the keystones of effective conservation is raising awareness about what we are seeking to protect so that others are aware of its importance. To do this most effectively we need to reach and inspire as many people as possible, no matter their age, interests or background.

It is widely acknowledged across the environmental sector that children who participate in outdoor nature-focused activities are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards the environment as adults, encouraging them to implement change within their daily lives to benefit the environment. It also plays a key part in training the conservationists of tomorrow, inspiring them through immersion in the natural world. Given the state of the earth that our future generations will inherit, it is crucial that we prepare our children with the skills to become the problem solvers and decision makers of tomorrow. The time to act is now.

If you would like to help the ORCT to develop a learning hub for children at Haaarwegskloof Renosterveld Reserve, more information can be found here:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/renosterveld.

We thank you for your support.

Summer Blooms in the Kogelberg: Walking the Palmiet River Trail

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Tucked away 6km off the R44 between Bettys Bay and Kleinmond, the Kogelberg Nature Reserve is one of the hidden gems of Overberg region. Considered the heart of the Cape Floristic Region, it is renowned for being home to the highest fynbos plant diversity in the region.

Top: Ceratandra atrata (Orchidaceae). Above: Lanaria lanata

This stunning 18 000 ha mountain wilderness is afforded the highest level of protection. It forms part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve which was founded in 1999 and one of the world’s first biosphere reserves. More than 1 800 species of vascular plants are found here in the reserve’s Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos. Shy Cape leopards roam these mountains, black eagles soar and Cape clawless otters are found in the rivers and streams.

Above: A variety of beautiful post fire blooms seen in the Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos along the Palmiet River Trail in Kogelberg Nature Reserve.

But yet just 1.5 hour’s drive from Cape Town, this spectacular mountain reserve is surprisingly accessible to visitors. The longer Perdeberg and Kogelberg trails cater to more energetic hikers but the Kogelberg Nature Reserve also offers a far more gentle but no less rewarding option of the Palmiet River Trail. This gently undulating trail starts at the reserve office at Oudebosch and follows the river bank for 7 km along the valley floor, offering spectacular mountain views, summer swimming spots aplenty and a wonderful opportunity to get up close and personal with the Kogelberg’s extraordinary sandstone fynbos flora.

Top: Tritoniopsis parviflora. Above: Thereianthus bracteolatus. 

In January 2019 the fynbos along the Palmiet River Trail burnt during the Bettys Bay fire. Fynbos vegetation is both fire prone and fire dependent, making it a challenging neighbour to live alongside when it inevitably goes up in flames. But over the last year since this fire that proved devastating for many in these coastal communities, residents from Pringle Bay, Bettys Bay, Kleinmond and beyond have watched as an extraordinary array of post fire flowers have grown from the ashes, and Kogelberg Nature Reserve has been no exception.

Above: Watsonia in bloom against the evening light in Kogelberg Nature Reserve.

While wandering along the trail, camera and field guide in hand, the plethora of wildflowers encountered in this extraordinary fynbos encourages slow progress and much time spent on hands and knees admiring these beauties up close. The fluffy white inflorescences of Lanaria lanata, also known as the kapokblom in Afrikaans, can be seen all along the trail from November to January, looking like fluffy lambs’ tails emerging from narrow serrated leaves with small honey-scented mauve flowers. Their flowering is strongly fire-driven.

Top: Disa racemosa. Above: Moraea ramosissima. 

In the wetter areas early summer brought blooms from several relatively common but no less beautiful orchids, such as Disa racemosa with its spectacular pink flowers that arrive in fynbos throughout the CFR after fire. Along streams the cheerful yellow blooms of Moraea ramosissima could also be seen. The delicately veined purple blooms of the geophyte Therianthus bracteolatus, also known as Common Summerpipes, added to the fireworks of colour in the post fire fynbos.

Top: Tritoniopsis antholyza. Above: Disa bivalvata. 

So why not head along and see this stunning mountain nature reserve for yourself? The Kogelberg Nature Reserve, run by CapeNature, is located off the R44 between Bettys Bay and Kleinmond. There is a 6 km unsealed road to reach the reserve office at Oudebosch where hiking permits can be purchased but it is well maintained and accessible to most sedan vehicles.

Above: The Palmiet River offers some beautiful swimming spots during the summer months, but care is strongly advised. Please avoid swimming when the river is flowing strongly (such as in the above photo) as currents can be dangerous.

Hiking permits can be purchased at Oudebosch (opening hours 7h30 to 16h00) with a conservation fee of R50 payable for adults and R30 for children or free for valid Wildcard holders. Card facilities are not available at the time of writing so please bring cash for any permit payments required. It is important to keep your permit on you at all times. Don’t forget to always hike well prepared, bringing along sufficient drinking water, snacks, sunhat and sunblock as well as warm clothes as the weather can change quickly in the mountains.

Top: Pillansia templemanii. Above: Schizaea pectinata (Toothbrush Fern).