A FLORAL PRIMER FOR THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE
By Tony Kietzman
Moraea huttonii and Tonyosis Kietzmaniaecae on the Bokspruit by Tom Sutcliffe
Contrary to the many myths and legends surrounding a trip to the Highlands, a visit need not consist of fly fishing (and related activities!) only. Amongst the many other attractions is the floral wealth that has remained largely undiscovered by South Africans. Groups of foreign visitors come here solely to experience our floral diversity. Unlike the “big hit” seen in Namaqualand in spring, the floral mphasiz here continues in succession throughout the summer.
The biome is known as montane grassland and many of the plants found at higher altitude are referred to as alpines. The floral kingdom has been shaped by the altitude, geology and resulting climate. Among shaping forces of these plants at altitude are the higher levels of ultra-violet (UV) radiation and their ability to handle snow as opposed to frost.
The dark soils seen along the riverbanks are basaltic in origin and they in turn influence the fertility of the streams thus allowing trout to thrive.
The seasons are very distinct with a long winter. Cold spells often return at the most inopportune moments, especially when fruit trees begin to flower! Late frosts have occurred in November, and it even snowed on New Year’s Day in 2001!
I would accordingly like to introduce some of the more visible flora one is likely to encounter on your travels through the area. Some of these well-adapted local species are endemic.
Rhodes is situated above the tree line and most of the trees one sees are in fact exotic. All trees, other than the Ouhout (Leucosidea sericea), are introduced. The Ouhout is a beautiful evergreen tree highly adapted to local conditions. As we encounter them most are gnarled looking and shrub like, where younger plants are browsed by game or stock, they take on a more tree like form. Expeditions up some of the gorges reveal magnificent specimens forming a canopy. The Ouhout is in fact encroaching much as the Acacia karoo is spreading across the country. It is said that one only finds trout where the Ouhout grows.
The stream banks are lined with dead trees; these are the Crack willow Salix fragilis. The Crack willow is in the process of being eradicated by the Working for Water project, a government sponsored initiative under the Department of water affairs. This is a project aimed at job creation and the protection of our water resources. Locally, specifically on the Bell River the execution seems to have been a bit misconstrued.
Other exotic species are the Weeping willow, Poplars, Black and honey locusts and conifers. Fruit trees especially apples, pears, quince, peaches and nuts also do well providing that late frost does not kill all the buds or small fruit. Some ancient wrecks of farmhouses are surrounded by fruit trees and many still bear fruit for the birds and baboons.
There are a few naturally occurring shrubs, amongst them the Buddlejas also known as “sage or butterfly bushes”. Buddleja salvifolia with smaller darker leaves is found in at higher more exposed locations while the more vigorously growing salvifolia found lower down in more sheltered locations. “Blinkblaar” or “Dogwood”- Rhamnus prinoides is a dark, shiny leaved shrub with red berries. Blinkblaar is found at the roadside as well as in the river valleys. The Rhus or Karee species are easily identified by their trifoliate leaf structure (leaves are always attached to the stalks in threes).
I’ll start at the roadside referring to and identifying the flowers one is most likely to encounter at various stages of the year. The first really noticeable early season (September /October) plants are likely to be the mauve flowering Felicia filifolia, up to knee height with daisy like flowers, growing alongside the road. There is also a plant with ericoid leaves (needle like small stiff leaves rolled along the stems) and yellow ball like flowers borne on terminal spikes Chrysocoma. This is a weed on overgrazed land.
Towards years end the blue flowering giddy weed arrives, Echium violaceum, also known as “Hanekam”. Fortunately, this is only really found in the road reserve and on fallow lands. This is a plant introduced from the northern hemisphere.
Sweetbriar commonly referred to as rosehips- Rosa rubigena is another introduced species. It flowers in spring, producing a small pink rose followed by the “hips” or seed capsules which turn red as the summer advances and shrivels after the first frosts. This is when the hips should be picked for processing. A sweet red syrup is made from the flesh of the hips. The syrup has a high vitamin C content and is reputed to have saved England after the Second World War. The seeds also yield oil, this is used in the cosmetics industry.
Another exotic to be seen flowering alongside the roads in summer is the Scots’ Thistle.
The next significant flush occurs after the first rains and includes Euryops tysonii with pointed grayish green ericoid leaves and covered with yellow daisy like flowers. This beautiful bush may reach 1.5m in height and these large showy shrubs flower for an extended period are known as “haarpuisbos” or “resinbush”.
The bright orange indigenous poppy, Papaver aculeatum is widespread.
The Berkheya species with their large white, yellow or mauve daisy like flowers and spiky thistle like foliage are generally found in the road reserve and on disturbed ground.
Helichrysum species are numerous but relatively easy to recognize, often having grey leaves and long-lasting flowers. They are in fact called “everlastings” or “sewejaartjies”. Helichrysum splendidum lines the roadways from late spring to winter. These grey leaved plants grow to knee height and are covered with yellow flowers. There are Helichrysums that carry their yellow composite flowers through winter to drop their seeds in spring.
There are many different species of “red hot pokers”. The early flowering Kniphofia northiae is impressive because of the size of the flower head. Fields of K. caulescence can be seen later up near Tiffindell. Other more solitary species flower at overlapping times thus sustaining the Malachite sunbirds who in turn offer pollination services.
At the height of summer “Harebells”- Dierama species, abound. These grass-like plants carry their pink flowers suspended from the tips of long stalks and will be seen gently waving in the breeze. Species identification can be difficult as colours can range from white through pink to mauve and height can vary quite considerably. The Harebells are also aptly known as “Angel’s fishing rods”
Identification of plants to genus level is relatively easy as the different species within a genus all bear a similar flower, the flower shape is diagnostic.
Euphorbia clavaroides – by Tony Kietzman
There is one very interesting succulent, the “Vingerpol” or Euphorbia clavarioides. This cushion like mound of clenched fingers grows among rocks at the roadside. Some specimens are quite large and many years old. In spring these plants are covered with small yellow flowers. These plants have a milky sap and the flowers are similar to other members of the genus like the Christ thorn and Poinsettia.
Succulents of the Mesembryanthemaceae family, referred to as “Mesembs” or “vygies” are to be found growing among the rocks, sometimes appearing to grow from the rock instead of soil. Most have pink flowers during the summer months. The genus Crassulaceae is also well represented with plants having differing growth habits but usually with small white star shaped flowers.
Often found growing among the grasses one sees beautiful small blue Lobelias, these flowers have a very distinctive shape. The petals are arranged with three hanging downwards and two almost fused and pointing up.
As with many other genera, the flowers are very similar. One needs to look at the leaves to identify to species level. There are a few Geranium species, most bearing mauve flowers. Many of the plants known as geraniums belong in fact to a closely related genus Pelargonium. The difference may be observed in the flowers. Geraniums have five petals of the same size equally arranged about the flower centre. Pelargoniums also have five petals but they are arranged differently. The pelargonium flower has two petals pointing upwards and three hanging below.
Another distinctive blue flowering genus with many species represented is the Wahlenbergia. These have characteristic upturned bell like flowers with five pointed petals.
There are a few species of Diascia and Nemesia, both genera produce flowers with “spurs” (a hollow tube-like extension of the petal) The Diascias two and the Nemesias one. Diascias are in fact colloquially known as “twin spur”. The Diascias produce bright pink and the Nemesias pink to mauve flowers.
Alongside and even in the streams during the summer months one is likely to encounter the white flowering Gomphostigma virgatum. This plant is widely spread across the country.
“River bells”- Phygelius aequalis with its dark green leaves and suspended red trumpet like flowers grows right in the riverbanks or where lots of water is available.
In March Schizostylis coccinea or scarlet river lilies put on quite a show along the stream banks. These six-petalled geophytes can vary from scarlet to pink in colour.
Geophytes are plants having a bulb or corm. This is an effective survival strategy in an environment where winters are long and cold and the growing season short. These bulbous plants always have strap leaves and usually spectacular blossoms. The early flowering Moraea huttonii can even be observed growing in the stream bed in a position where it can end up living underwater at times. It has beautiful
Gladiolus saundersii – by Tony Kietzman
yellow iris like flowers and is colloquially known as a “vlei iris” At higher altitudes one may even see clumps of summer flowering yellow vlei irises. In fact, this is a related species- Moraea alticola.
From February onward, the Gladiolus saundersii start appearing alongside the road and along the streams, generally occurring above 1800m. This beautiful plant bears up to three bright red blooms with white markings in the throat. Just on the other side of Naude’s nek we find the salmon to pink Gladiolus oppositiflorus with white and red markings in its throat. This is one of the sources of genetic material that the Dutch used to create hybrids that many think are the real thing. Surely these genes are worth keeping intact and protecting? At lower altitudes and in slightly more sheltered environments the orange, yellow and red hooded Gladioulus dalenii will be seen growing in the road reserve and in sheltered areas.
A visit to Naudesnek is well worth it during the summer months with the most significant plant group on show, the alpine terrestrial orchids. There are locally resident individuals who know the flowers and where to find them and as with fly fishing in the highlands, making use of the services of a guide will enhance your Alpine flora-viewing experience immensely.
Thanks to Elsa Pooley for her book “Mountain Flowers” which I used extensively as a reference.
Zaluzianskya crocea – Maxi Holder
Hyobanche research by Andrea Wolffe, Assoc. professor, Ohio St University
(Prof Andrea Wolffe visited the Rhodes in the late 90s an stayed at Walkerbouts while conducting her Hyobanche research in the area, particularly on the Naudesnek/Den McDhui plateaux)
I started working on the systematics (evolutionary history and relationships) of Hyobanche in 1996, shortly after the end of the Apartheid era in South Africa. I’ve had nine field seasons in southern Africa to collect museum specimens, tissue samples, and to make ecological observations. My lab group is actively working on the population genetics, phylogenetics, and a variety of projects for this interesting genus.
Hyobanche (Orobanchaceae) is a small genus of holoparasitic plants (i.e., plants that parasitize other plants) native to southern Africa. Its common name is “Cat nails” because of the way the stigma curves out of the corolla tube in several species to resemble a cat’s claw. It’s also called “inkbloom” because it turns black upon drying, and it was used in the colonial days for an ink substitute. The plants were ground into a fine powder and suspended in liquid.
Most species are in South Africa. In addition, two species are found in either Lesotho (H. rubra) or Namibia (H. barklyi). Most of the species were described in the early 1900s, but little was known about them until the recent work done by Wolfe and colleagues (Wolfe & Randle 2001, 2004; Morawetz et al. 2010; Wolfe 2013; McNeal et al. 2013).
Hyobanche is a cool genus for many reasons, but my favourite is that it seems to be an analogue to a “canary in a coal mine” for assessing the health of an ecosystem. Parasitic plants, in general, tend to increase biodiversity of ecosystems. One only finds Hyobanche in systems that are relatively undisturbed by humans. Occasionally, I’ve seen Hyobanche species in urban gardens or along roadsides, but it mostly occurs in ecosystems that have native vegetation and soils. Another cool fact about Hyobanche is that it has no roots. Well, actually, there is one root as soon as the seed germinates, but that immediately finds a host plant to latch onto and then develops into a special organ of attachment (the haustorium), which functions in nutrient transfer from host to parasite. What one finds underground, below the inflorescence, is an extensive rhizome system. The rhizomes are covered in modified bracts that can form secondary haustoria. When a host root touches the bract, it can form a haustorium to capture the root. Thus, each Hyobanche plant can be attached to multiple roots – sometimes from the same plant, but often from multiple species of hosts simultaneously.
Hyobanche (Orobanchaceae) is a small genus of parasitic plants native to southern Africa. These plants are root parasites, attaching themselves to the roots of other plants and drawing water, mineral nutrients, and carbon from their host plants. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that a plant can feed on another plant in this way, but there are many thousands of species in the plant kingdom that are parasitic.
Inkbloom – Inkblom, Hyobanche rubra
There are different kinds of parasitic plants. Some can survive without a host plant but do better if they are attached to another plant. These are called facultative parasites. Hemiparasitic plants can make their own food through the process of photosynthesis but draw nutrients from their host plant. Hemiparasites have green leaves and, if they are root parasites, you might not even suspect they are parasitic. Holoparasites, in contrast, have no leaves, are not green, and depend entirely on their host plants for water, mineral nutrients, and the products of photosynthesis (i.e., reduced carbon). The family to which Hyobanche belongs, the Orobanchaceae, encompasses all of these strategies.