Album 15th December 2020
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 month - De Rust, Goukamma, Meiringspoort with the Vloks, Robberg Corridor with Kei Heyns, Aasvoëlberg, Cederberg, Swartberg North and East, Robinson Pass, Storms River, Sally's Lockdown Quiz and Farewell 2020.
For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Diaries - see the Album.
For earlier versions of the Outramps CREW Diaries
https://us17.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=be2accf3de565e1297257f79e&id=8113ba68c6
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De Rust
Red Light Flashing……
Great Southern Bioblitz
Young Fred beamed! He really wanted to see this flower. So did I. Over the years, we have been to the De Rust koppie many times, but Moraea regalis (Critically Endangered) in flower always eluded us. Once Gail found a little spear in bud. The nondescript spears opened to a startling azure this time. The flowers looked engineered. It reminds me of a mini wind-turbine. An oh so slick design. Worthy of a design-innovation award. There is only one record of this species on another site. For all we know it only occurs here.
Scattered amongst the Moraeas are tiny heart-shaped leaves in rosettes. They are hairy and lie flat on the ground. Each plant has a fuzzy upright flower stem with little buds. This is Pelargonium ladysmithianum (DDT) or species nova 1, for those who still use the first edition of the Vlok’s Klein Karoo fieldguide. This is the only place in the world where this species grows. There are several other interesting and charismatic species on the site.
All is not well at the koppie. The site is used by the De Rust and Blomnek communities. There is grazing (goats) and guided walks. Periodic removal of rubbish takes place. Of concern is the level of degradation. There is unexplained cutting of several woody species (some might be for kindling); evidence of plant removal; digging and digging at bases of plants. The latter could be harvesting of some sort. A person was seen digging in the distance whilst we were there. We clearly need a much better understanding of all the uses of the plants by the community. The status quo is not sustainable and the site urgently needs collaborative custodianship from multiple stakeholders. De Rust and Blomnek are small communities and deserve sustained hands-on support and role models from BotSoc, WESSA, GCBR, CapeNature, SANBI and funders. There are many, many opportunities here which simply cannot be ignored.
Sandra, Guido and Fred Munro (Nature Con prac student )
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Goukamma
Our numbers were down to 4, but it didn't detract from the lovely outing with plenty of flowering plants to see. Our guests, who are friends of Peter's, joined us once more - mother and daughter, Joan and Inge Redlinghuys.
At the top of the never-ending ascent dune, Inge turned right instead of our usual left turn and to my joy we found Erica glumiflora (VU) in full flower. This patch must have escaped the fire, as we didn’t see any more. It bordered on the unburned thicket, so was protected. We then continued along the right-turn track to the fence-line, trying not to fall into the enormous mole holes.
To our delight we came across a nice patch of Satyrium princeps (VU) in flower. There were masses of beautiful Polygala umbellata followed by lots of Hyobanche rubra. The prettiest find of all was a big patch of Harveya purpurea on the jeep track.
The 3 year old veld is looking good and common old Helichrysum cymosum was at its best. A good day was had by all. The only negative - Nicky managed to delete all her photos for the day !
Jenny
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Of Hugs, Elbow bumps and Baby bumps
Cape Town & Kleinmond
It was a long wait for restrictions to be lifted to see our elderly and only remaining parent. Somewhat hug-deprived we set off for Cape Town mid-September. Sadly, in the end protocols and elbow bumps prevailed.
The visit coincided with the baby shower weekend for Magriet Brink of Kogelberg CREW. Whew, Kleinmond still served hugs to those gathered celebrating baby business with Mom Magriet and Dad Leo! Soon after the baby bump inspection and way faster than one can ask ‘Resprouter?’ - the CREW friends cluster together. There is Helen (Linkie), Carina, Mo, Richard, Marthinus and our two young ones Peter and Werner.
We head for the hills for more plants. The plant jabber comes with us, probably much to the relief of the non-plant people. But this year’s CREW workshop was cancelled. Everyone missed that and it was great to catch up. The Outramps have come to love Magriet and we wish her and Leo all the best for the arrival of their baby girl sometime close to Christmas.
N2 Riversdale: Fields of orange Tritonia crocata edged by startling stands of weedy Trifolium and Petrorhagia species
Clarence Drive: Prolific colour pops of Pelargonium cucculatum and Felicia echinata
Betty’s Bay & Kleinmond species list adds:
Gladiolus carneus – perhaps taken for granted…
Erica amphigena (VU)
Erica paucifolia subsp. paucifolia (EN) – ID awaits confirmation
Muraltia minuta (EN) Another Muraltia mystery solved by Dave!
Sandra
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Meiringspoort with the Vloks
A Sunday black Friday rush to view three rare cliff-clutching Ericas in Meiringspoort
25th October 2020
Jan and AnneLise Vlok offered to show us the localities of some rare and inaccessible plants in Meiringspoort. Peter and Werner came along as our younger understudies! Meiringspoort is where the Swartberg splits open. It reveals layers of rocks in agonised twists and whirls, tracing impossible movements in incomprehensible ways over time and time and time….. It is jaw-droppingingly awesome. It should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Jan and his silvery lockdown halo of beard and hair does not look out of place in this extraordinary poort. Stop one is a bit of a chuckle. Jan slings a short and shiny ladder over his shoulder. This is a new field trip prop for the Outramps! We traipse after him to see Erica viridiflora subsp. redacta (EN) where it dangles down from crevices in a rocky wall. The flowers are the creamy colour of parchment. The little ladder brings us frustratingly close to the plants, but they are still out of reach! Excited and bemused with the new prop most of our photos come out so-so. Aaaahh, luckily we can blame too much backlight! Jan discovered the plant two decades ago, whilst overseeing post-flooding restoration work. It is only known from here.
Next, up another cliff face is the Critically Rare Erica umbratica. The Dirty Boy Erica is in flower, here and there on ledges, but way, way above us. And the common name? It is sticky, apparently and gathers dirt… says AnneLise. Further along we line up along the busy road and gaze at the shallow, but steeply-sloped valley where Erica astroites var. astroites (Rare) grows. High up it starts as a meadow, turns into a sheer, rocky waterfall drop, which then breaks up into an unfriendly scree slope. Below this is Meiringspoort’s meandering stream. The slope is tinged pink when the Ericas flower – but there is no inviting pink! Jan reckons it is too soon after the fire. It could be a fun scramble to reach this Erica! Not even Peter and Werner take the bait……
Last stop. There is not a sign of Indigofera thesioides (EN) at the turnaround site. A vygie underfoot with green flowers attracts attention, it is Mesembryanthemum granulicaule. We backtrack a bit, share a picnic lunch with melktert for pudding and it almost feels like a Sunday afternoon. Of the Vloks, what can one say: If the Outramps dished out Bossie Oscars, the Vloks would win hands down year after year! Thank you Jan and AnneLise for your generosity and the delight of sharing your boundless plant knowledge with us. You make the world better place.
Anisodontea sp. - not recognised by Jan
Cotyledon woodii
Drosera capensis
Gladiolus aquamontanus (VU)
Gunnera perpensa
Kiggelaria africana
Maytenus acuminata var. acuminata
Melianthus comosus
Pelargonium hispidum
Psoralea elegans (Rare)
Withana somnifera
Sandra
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Robberg Corridor
with Kei Heyns
An invitation to visit the Robberg Corrdior arrived in our Inbox from Kei Heyns. It was accepted with alacrity. Kei is busy building a coastal trail across the Robberg Corridor Conservancy. He was keen to discuss details of the trail with the Outramps. Apart from our CREW work, we are very keen hikers and are always interested in new hiking destinations. When this private trail is complete, it will rival the very heavily-booked Otter Trail, as it winds its way down to the remote beaches and across the rocky cliffs of one of the most spectacular sections of coast in the world. It will be guided by some of the local residents, who will be able to give information about the stunning flora and fauna of the area. Once again, this is a wonderful initiative on the part of the Robbeg Corridor property owners, who are putting conservation first, second and third.
We spent a delightful day with Kei who is an old friend. We've known him ever since he was a student at NMU and rented a cottage at Strawberry Hill. He proved to be our best tenant ever. He then went on to be the Head Ranger at Fransmanshoek Conservancy, west of Mossel Bay and is now working full-time on the Robberg Corridor Trail.
And never forgetting that our core job is looking for Rares, we managed to find Psoralea vanberkelae (Vulnerable), Acmadenia alternifolia (Vulnerable) and the most elusive of all, Muraltia knysnaensis (Endangered). On the way out we had to drive through a very muddy and slithery section of road. New to the Duster, I managed to slip into the largest hole in the road. I simply abandoned the car and left Kei to drive her out in impeccable fashion. It was Dusty's Baptism and an indication of what she can expect on Outramps field trips in the future. Thanks Kei for that and a simply wonderful day.
Please let us know when your trail is complete. We would love to do it and advertise it and the wonderful flora that is part of this jagged coast's appeal.
tanniedi
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