If you go down
in the woods today
Outramps CREW Diaries
Monday
18th February 2019
|
|
Here is the ALBUM 18 FEB 2019
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 – Collinshoek, Outeniqua Foothills, Herbertsdale Road and The Boy - a short pictorial history
For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Reportback - see the Album.
|
|
|
If you go Down in the Woods Today
You're Sure of a Big Surprise.............
Do any of you remember that favourite Childen's Song, "The Teddy Bear's Picnic"? If you do, it probably reflects your age.
A stunning little patch of afrotemperate forest lies close to Hoekwil on the northern side of the Seven Passes Road. It is one of the best-kept secrets in the Wilderness National Park. An attractive trail of about 2km winds under the green canopy, after you've admired the Woodville Big Tree, which is at the entrance. The 'Big Tree' is a Yellowwood (Afrocarpus falcatus) estimated to be +- 800 years old, with a circumference of 12m and a height of 33m.
A feature of this forest is the prevalence of coppiced Black Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata - Endangered) and Witels (Platylophus trifoliatus). It is a fairy-tale environment and it is quite easy to believe that there are hobbits, elves and fairies hiding behind the trees and beneath the fungi that are prolific. At any moment you could come across "The Teddy Bears picnic" on the banks of one of the small streams.
Our main objective was to check if there has been any illegal bark-harvesting, particularly of the endangered Stinkwoods. This forest is very close to human habitation, but so far there is no reason to be alarmed. There were no signs of the distinctive bark-stripping, which is killing large trees in other areas. For the moment anyway, Ocotea bullata is safe in this lovely piece of afrotemperate forest.
tanniedi
|
|
|
Herbertsdale Road |
On Thursday 7th Feb, LOT visited sites on the Herbertsdale Road for the purpose of ongoing monitoring through all the seasons.
Leucospermum cuneiforme - a bag of new growth tips was picked to plant in the botanical garden.
Argyrolobium molle - the flowers were yellow and red. Nicky informed me that the red indicates the flowers have been pollinated. Brian named the plant for us via cell phone.
Bobartia robusta - growing profusely. Prix said that there were very few seeds that weren't parasitised.
Haemanthus sanguineus - was in full flower, but plants were small, which is maybe due to the drought in this area.
Aspalathus obtusifolia (VU) - coming into flower.
Prismatocarpus candolleanus - flowering everywhere. On Friday Nicky popped in and helped us to id this one.
Lampranthus - white flowers were to be seen in droves.
Brunsvigia josephinae (VU) - maybe( not sure), a bud was seen by Rusell and Prix.
Thesium - three species sighted.
An enjoyable outing.
Gail
|
|
|
|
The Boy
At the end of 2012 during the University vac. I noticed a number of observations on iSpot that featured mainly Garden Route birds. I recognised the name of a youngster that I had seen competing at the George Riding Club many years earlier. I contacted him and asked if he was interested in doing some CREW work and he said "Yes".
The rest is history. At the time, Brian was a first year Nature Conservation student at NMU with a passionate interest in Nature. He knew a lot about birds, but his knowledge of plants was sketchy. He was an awkward teenager and had some difficulty coping with the Tannies and the Oomies socially. We nicknamed him "The Boy".
We soon realised that he was like a sponge and absorbed anything and everything that we could tell him. His general interest in the plants soon honed down to an absolute passion for the Fabaceae. Dr Tony Rebelo encouraged, challenged and drove him on. It wasn't very long before the mentors became the mentored, as his single-minded focus took him forward in great leaps, leaving the tannies and oomies largely in his wake.
When he met Prof Charles Stirton, who specialises in Fabaceae, the die was cast. By the time he left to do a BSc Honours at Stellenbosch, his nickname was "Mr Fab". He worked with Dr Kenneth Oberlander on Oxalis for his Honours degree and for his MSc, he did a revision of the Genus Polhillia, encouraged and helped by our beloved Prof Charlie. We have just heard the news - he achieved an MSc cum laude.
We are very proud of Brian and wish him well, as he studies for a PhD. He will be revising the South African Indigofera, taking over from Dr Brian Schrire of Kew. Voorspoed!
tanniedi
PS. The photo on the left is at the Robberg Corridor in 2013. This was Brian's first field trip with the Outramps. The photo on the right is much more recent and was taken on a HAT trip to the northern Langeberg.
|
|
|
Outeniqua Foothills
HAT Report
Our WAGS outing this past week was into the foothills of the Outeniqua Reserve above George. Uphill from the Botanical Gardens is always a pleasant park to start from, with open grassland, interesting “manmade” rock gardens and upward views of the Outeniqua Mountains straight ahead. We wound up to one of the old dams - it is called “Horseshoe Dam” by the locals. Evie was panting for a swim. “It’s too early for swimming breaks”, I was told!.
Here in the old plantation/indigenous forest, the fun began - numerous branches, fallen burnt trees and partially burnt bushy undergrowth. Outramps Marge was determined to make use of one of the many items she carries in her pack - a fold-up saw.
Out in the open – a few pink Erica gracilis plants, the slopes of yellow Bobartia aphylla and the red Tritoniopsis caffra we have so enjoyed, are getting ready for the next season. We saw the odd Tritoniopsis antholyza here and there. In shade near the railway line – garden escapees – a bright spot of Tradescantia.
Our special small forest of Leucadendron conicum (NT) – the large trunks are all very black. They are reseeders – sadly not showing any signs of regrowth. We climbed up to the “cross”. Despite rumours, it has not been burnt. Pretty carpets of green all over – there are hundreds of Watsonias in leaf stage. To finish the hike - back to George along the forest margins. There were vivid carpets of green contrasting with the blackness of the burnt trees – mainly old Pine. Evie
|
|
|
|
|