Orchids and Plectranthus at Foster's Folly (Thursday 11 April, 2019)

After good early autumn rains we decided to visit Foster's Folly, a steep but climbable rock-capped finger pointing into the Umtamvuna River gorge. Its rocky summit is always interesting and the views in the vicinity are stupendous.

As we set off walking we saw several eye-catching patches of Monocymbium ceresiiforme with the russet seed heads waving in the breeze. In the grassland we found a few Aspalathus chortophila in flower and amongst the moss on rock sheets were many Craterostigma sp. nov., some of which were flowering.

We reached the first of two places where large slabs of cliff had moved away from the edge, with the gap having become filled with soil and debris, providing habitat for species usually found in dense forest. Here we found Rothmannia capensis and R. globosa, both bearing a good crop of fruits. Also in this gap was a Podocarpus latifolius with dozens of small blue-green fruits peeping from the leaf axils.

Monocymbium ceresiiforme

Aspalathus chortophila

Craterostigma sp. nov.

Podocarpus latifolius fruits

Rothmannia globosa fruits

Rothmannia capensis fruits

A bit further along in the open grassland we found a few Protea roupelliae with a conveniently situated open flower in one case. A flash of bright orange caught our attention and this proved to be an early Erica cerinthoides. In a crevice in a rock outcrop we found a small broad-leafed Delosperma. This is a species we have yet to identity. On top of the rock outcrop was Euryops brevipapposus and in the grassland nearby were some flowering Helichrysum pannosum.

Protea roupelliae

Delosperma sp.

Erica cerinthoides

Euryops brevipapposus

Helichrysum pannosum

Just before we reached Foster's Folly we found an Ypsilopus erectus in bud. This particular plant is in an easily reached place, unusual for Ypsilopus which seems to prefer growing on exposed rock faces above sheer vertical drops. As we approached Foster's Folly we saw a small cascade on the opposite bank of the gorge through which the Swamp Forest river discharges into the Umtamvuna River. This is the first time we have seen significant flow in this waterfall.

Ypsilopus erectus 

View around Foster's Folly into the Umtamvuna River gorge

Small cascade tumbling down to meet the Swamp Forest stream

As we scrambled through the shrubs to get onto the top of Foster's folly, we saw several Plectranthus ernstii with their "Michelin Man" stalks. In the leaf litter on the ground were a few Hypoxis membranaceus and several Brownleea coerulea. We also found what appeared to be bright red sporangia on a moss or lichen.

We were delighted to find that one of the several Trichocladus grandiflorus we know to grow along this path was flowering - the first time some of us had seen this species flowering in the wild.

Plectranthus ernstii

The base of a Plectranthus ernstii

Hypoxis membranaceus

Trichocladus grandiflorus

Brownleea coerulea

Spores on moss or lichen

We enjoyed lunch in the shade of the low trees here and then admired a small Cussonia nicholsonii that had managed to produce a cluster of fruits.

Plectranthus saccatus subsp. pondoensis

Setting off back through the grassland we found Moraea spathulata, a few Rhoicissus tridentata in fruit and a robust Lotononis eriocarpa.

Moraea spathulata

Rhoicissus tridentata fruits

Lotononis eriocarpa

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