South Africa

Spring at the Cape

A Greentours Trip Report

3rd to 18th September 2009

Led by Paul Cardy and Callan Cohen

Daily Accounts by Paul Cardy. Systematic Lists compiled by Paul Cardy, with much information from Callan Cohen.

Days 1 & 2 Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September Arrival and Kirstenbosch

Callan drove the mini-bus to the airport whilst I returned there in my hire car, arriving to find the ‘plane had landed a little early, and immediately on entering the arrivals hall I met Jill, the first through. Soon we were all assembled, and, vehicle loaded, we drove the short distance to the leafy Cape Town suburb of Pinelands, making good use of the bus lane on the motorway to avoid the longish queues at this hour of the morning. We were immediately spotting common birds such as Egyptian Goose and Hadada Ibis.

Bronwyn welcomed us to the lovely Howard’s End Manor, and we settled into the excellent rooms, taking up most of the guest house. There followed a short break, with time to change and unpack, but there was so much to see we were keen to get into the field as soon as possible. Cape White-eyes were active in the garden trees.

The first stop, at the Observatory, not far from the hotel, was intended to target just one plant, the critically endangered Moraea aristata, this being the sole remaining site for it. Our experience here soon revealed how the rest of this trip would be! Not only was the target Moraea in superb flower, and in some numbers, but there were many many other things of interest, not least more petaloid monocots. Consequently we spent the rest of the morning here, and could have easily spent all day I believe. Gaining permission to visit here had not been easy, Callan having spent some time to do so. Anne, the astronomers wife, and in effect the guardian of the plants here, very kindly accompanied us, but was very limited for time, and we greatly appreciated her putting up with us for so long as she was due to leave town for the weekend.

As we walked towards the Moraea aristata, the lawns held some fine Sparaxis grandiflora, and there were at least two species of Lachenalia. Albuca juncifolia, the orange Baeometra uniflora, and the blue Geissorhiza aspera were all in flower. As well as the very special Moraea there was one

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patch of the lovely Moraea vegeta (the only place we saw it), and the common Tulp, Moraea miniata. Oxalis pes-caprae was familiar to anyone who has been to the Mediterranean, where it is a serious weed. Other European weeds included Erodium cicutarium, Trifolium dubium, Plantago lanceolata, and Orobanche minor. I picked up a small Clicking Stream Frog.

A bird hide was something of a surprise here and from it we saw Anhinga, Long-tailed Cormorant, Red-billed Teal, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot and African Masked Weaver. Lesser Swamp Warbler was calling, and seen in the reeds. Tiny Grass Blue and African Monarch were the first butterflies of the trip, along with the recently naturalised Large White! Anne showed us a collection of plants in pots that she had inherited, the most interesting of which was Wurmbea echinata. On her lawn was the beautiful Spiloxene capensis.

Finally we dragged ourselves away and made the short drive to Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden where we enjoyed an excellent and substantial lunch in the upper restaurant. The adjacent bookshop was tempting, but the one at the main entrance was altogether more inviting. A few Acraea horta were on the wing, here using Kigileria africana as a foodplant.

Kirstenbosch is a large and important botanic garden, the extensive planted areas having a wealth of native flora, a superb succulent collection in the glasshouse, and in the upper part, native fynbos on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. A short visit such as ours can only scratch the surface, but we made the best of our time here.

So it was to the bookshop. Whilst the group stocked up on those essential field guides, Callan and I drooled at the selection of rare books in the cabinet, he persuading me to buy Wild Orchids of Southern Africa, but me failing to get him to buy the Pelargonium monograph! Then it was into the gardens. We strolled slowly upwards, admiring the fine plantings, with Table Mountain looming above, the lower slopes of fynbos not far from the upper edge of the garden.

The gardens are a great birdwatching site, and we had good views of species such as Cape Robin Chat, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Southern Boubou, and Cape Spurfowl. Some were able to photograph Cape Sugarbird. Striped Grass Mouse ran between the vegetation and Forest Buzzard was seen soaring. Cape River Frog sat under a rock by a small pond.

Oxalis purpurea coloured areas of lawn pink, and Oxalis obtusa was seen too. Diascia elongata was the first of several species of this genus we would see. Once in the fynbos we were faced with a wealth of plants, many from very unfamiliar families. The pink flowered legume Podalyria calyptrata was in fine flower, as was Virgilia oroboides. Cape Sweet Pea Dipogon lignosus, Lotononis umbellata, and the tar scented Bolusafra bituminosa were among the other legumes. We were pleased to find the orchid Satyrium bicorne, and we would see several more examples over the next few days. The yellow Moraea collina was still in flower, and a single Peacock Moraea, Moraea villosa, the only one of the tour, was a great find. The anemone relative Knowltonia vesicatoria grew in the shade, and Erica hirtifolia was in flower. Cunonia capensis was of great interest as its only surviving relatives occur in New Caledonia.

Attractive Silver Trees dotted the hillside here and there, and representing the same family were Protea coronata; Waboom, Protea nitida; and the tree Brabejum stellatifolium. Among the many other species were Oftia africana, Lobelia pinifolia, Struthiola ciliata, Cyphia volubilis, Pelargonium myrrhifolium, Hermannia hyssopifolia, Podocarpus elongatus, Canthium inerme, Clutea

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pulchella, Olea europaea africana, and Diospyros wighteana. The only Wachendorfia thyrsoides of the tour was found by Jill (J).

Weary after the flight and a very rewarding introduction to the wealth of wildlife here, we made our way back to the vehicle, and thence the guesthouse, preparing for dinner, which was in a restaurant a short drive away. The food was excellent, as was the wine, but the place was very popular and the acoustics not so good so it was difficult to hold any sort of conversation.

Day 3 Saturday 5th September Cape Peninsula

Today, after an excellent breakfast at Howard’s End, we spent exploring the Cape Peninsula. Roadsides on the pass south of Muizenberg had orange spikes of Satyrium coriifolium, but in a place impossible for us to stop. There was also Satyrium bicorne in the area. Our first scheduled stop was at the African Penguin colony at Boulder’s Beach. Here we walked passed a series of souvenir stalls and thence onto a boardwalk that allowed us to get within inches of the penguins, allowing fine photographs. This species is also known as Jackass Penguin due to its call.

Rocks out to sea had many Cape Cormorants, as well as Swift Terns, and two Black Oystercatchers. Kelp Gulls were much in evidence. Levaillant’s Cisticola perched very close in the dune vegetation and we watched a nesting pair of Karoo Prinias. The white butterfly Mylothris agathina, Common Dotted Border sped across the vegetation. Out at sea we watched Cape Fur Seal, cavorting in the water. A shady stretch along the entrance road had the monocot Melasphaerula ramosa, in flower.

Further south along the impressive False Bay coast, with the shrubby Scabiosa africana flowering on the roadsides, we reached Cape Point Reserve. A troupe of Baboons were at the entrance. Our first botanical stop in the park was to see some fine examples of the broomrape Hyobanche sanguinea that I had found earlier in the week. This proved to be an excellent spot and we spent the remainder of the morning here, continuing to find new plants. Among the many species here were Manulea cheiranthus, Muraltia ericoides, Crassula fascicularis, Adenandra uniflora, Erica imbricata, Oxalis versicolor, Drosera trinervia, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Penaea mucronata, Gnidia pinifolia, and Struthiola dodecandra. A great find was the small orchid Disa obliqua, and the Silky- puff, a small pink flowered protea, was attractive. A few Rock Agamas were seen.

One area had much of the small, blue flowered Moraea lugubris, and we found Hesperantha falcata. There were also one or two mystery white flowered monocots here! An interesting find was a piece of old ordnance, a shell or something similar, very rusty. We were puzzled about which conflict it could date from.

The fynbos here had some fine proteoid patches with Leucadendron salignum, the very yellow Leucadendron laureolum, Protea repens, Protea scolymocephala, Mimetes fimbriifolius, and Leucospermum conocarpodendron.

It was already past lunch time but we had one more stop to make before that. Even that was delayed by a large group of Eland on both sides of the road. A brief stop at the end of the this road produced a rather gone over Gladiolus debilis, as well as Babiana ambigua, Gnidia

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juniperiifolia, Androcymbium eucomoides, Senecio arenarius, and some fine coastal views. We stopped to look at an Angulate Tortoise to the right of the vehicle and, stepping out to open the door for the group, I almost trod on a fine Puff Adder, which soon slid away into the vegetation. It didn’t rear up in threat, but from inside the bushes came distinctive warning hisses.

It really was time for lunch, still a short drive away at the restaurant near Cape Point. Here we joined the tourists and tried to order something quick and get back into the field as soon as possible. Red-winged Starlings tried to share our lunch. A highlight came when two Humpback Whales appeared, giving some great views. This was something of a surprise and a bonus as Southern Right Whale was much more likely to be seen from here. The pasta must have been good because some of the group couldn’t tear themselves away from it to even glance at the cetaceans!!

After a short time appreciating the views at this, almost the southern most point of the continent (the southermost point is Cape Agulhas), we headed back into the fynbos. A search for the woody iris Witsenia maura was successful, the plant having spread over a large area, but it was not in flower. This is apparently a very rare species, with only some fifteeen known specimens extant. Another stop produced the spiderhead Serruria villosa, and then Lobostemon montanus, Saltera sarcocolla, and Thesium viridifolium.

Next we waded into a marshy area to admire the beautiful Mimetes hirtus. The last stop of the day was just outside the reserve, on a burnt patch where I had found Watsonia coccinea a few days earlier. That was in fine flower but we also made many other discoveries, our only enemy being time, as dusk was threatening. Orchid wise there was a species of Holothrix in leaf; more Disa obliqua; Satyrium bicorne; and the only Monadenia atrorubens and Monadenia rufescens of the tour.

We travelled back along the impressive and rugged west coast of the peninsula, the sun beginning to set over the waves, with striking cloud formations too. Back in Pinelands after dark, and a very productive day, saw us quickly preparing for dinner. This we ate nearby, at the Spur in the Howard Centre, which was very pleasant and worked well in avoiding any loud Saturday night crowds.

Day 4 Sunday 6th September West Coast, and to Langebaan

Today we left Pinelands, just a little late (!), and headed for the west coast, north of Cape Town. Wetlands north of town had Greater Flamingos, Great White Pelicans, and a selection of other waterbirds. This being Sunday the traffic was not heavy, and we made good progress to our first stop, where the fascinating Babiana ringens flowered commonly on one stretch of roadside. This is a remarkable plant, whose highly specialised flower structure has a central spike to serve as a perch for pollinating Malachite Sunbirds.

At this same stop were many other things of interest. Among the other petaloid monocots were Gladiolus carinatus, Lachenalia pustulata, and Babiana nana. Manuleaeoid Scrophulariaceae were well represented with at least Nemesia versicolor, Lyperia triste, Hebenstreitia repens, Hebenstreitia robusta, Hemimeris sabulosa, Phyllopodium cephlophorum, and Manulea rubra. Cysticapnos vesicaria

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was an interesting twining fumitory with small pink flowers and inflated pods, and the red tubular flowers of Microloma sagittatum were bird pollinated. The brown flowered Salvia lanceolata; Tetragonia fruticosa and Tetragonia nigrescens; the orchid Corycium orobanchoides; the orange flowered and strongly scented Hermannia pinnata; Oxalis obtusa; and Cynanchum africanum were all here too. A very dinky tortoise shell was an interesting find.

The next stop, where a few days earlier I’d found Gladiolus alatus, also proved to support a wealth of other species. No sooner had we got out of the van than we almost stepped on the diminutive orchid Disperis villosa, and across the road was another orchid, Pterygodium catholicum. Wachendorfia paniculata, a member of the Haemodoraceae, would be seen at many other sites too. The pink flowered Podalyria sericea; Lachenalia longibracteata; and Lapeirousia jacquinii were also identified, and the beautiful deep purple (almost black) and white flowers of Nemesia barbata were a delight.

All that was only a taster for what was to come at the Waylands Wild Flower Reserve, part of a farm set aside for the wealth of flowers. It’s difficult to know how to express the fine floral show here, but here are some of the highlights. Much Moraea tripetala, the inner tepals reduced almost to short hairs giving a three-petalled appearance; the yellow cones of Bulbinella triquetra; swathes of the purple and red Geissorhiza radians, and its co-mimic Babiana rubrocyanea; Geissorhiza monanthos; the large pink flowers of the leafy stemmed Drosera cistiflora and the leafless stemmed Drosera pauciflora; Salvia africana-caerulea; the onion scented Tulbaghia capensis; Sparaxis bulbifera; the also European Triglochin bulbosa; Lachenalia pallida; the orange flowered Ixia maculata and Ixia dubia; Moraea tricolor and Moraea angusta; Geissorhiza imbricata; the brick red and small flowered Moraea gawleri; Albuca cooperi; the flat to the ground umbellifer Arctopus echinatus with central spiny bracts; and the shrubby borage Lobostemon fruticosus.

There was so much going on that we hardly had a second to look at anything else, but Bokmakierie and Cape Longclaw were much in evidence here, and Blue Cranes were calling from a nearby field. Sadly we had to tear ourselves away to go into the small town of Darling for a quick toasted sandwich lunch (with chips!) before returning to Waylands. Although initially daunting it was interesting to realise that we were getting used to what was there, and new plants were harder to find on the second visit.

We did however add Geissorhiza aspera, Ursinia anthemoides, Aspalathus hispida, the yellow ‘mesem’ Carpanthea pomeridiana, and Moraea flaccida. Southern Black Korhaan, the second male of the day, was seen, and back near Darling were two Blue Cranes perched near the road allowing excellent views.

Next was another small flower reserve, Tienie Versveld. Cloud Cisticola performed aerial display flights here. This reserve supports the only population of Geissorhiza darlingensis but it flowers a little later in the year. The showy Ornithogalum thyrsoides was much in evidence, Babiana ambigua was identified, and Babiana angustifolia was common. The orchid Corycium orobanchioides was here, and Spiloxene canaliculata was another speciality of the area. In the wet channels were Aponogeton angustifolia and Cotula coronopifolia. The yellow flowered legume Lebeckia plukenetii was found, and Indigofera procumbens had attractive spikes of salmon flowers. Romulea tabularis was identified. A largish pond here supported Cape Teal, Cape Shoveler, and Red-knobbed Coot.

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Now heading purposefully for our accommodation in Langebaan, we saw Steenbok as we neared the town. Most settled into the rooms of the Glenfinnan Guesthouse, whilst Norman, Callan and I had rooms in the just as comfortable and well equipped stylish guesthouse next door. It was in our guest house that we met a short time later, me having rushed around like crazy to prepare the monocot list for an initial run through, quite a task as we’d seen so much, but this certainly assimilated things thus far.

Callan drove us to a very good lakeside restaurant for dinner.

Day 5 Monday 7th September West Coast National Park

We awoke to persistent rain in Langebaan, but fueled by the excellent breakfast at Glenfinnan we set out regardless. This was our only chance to explore the West Coast National Park and we had to make the most of it. A short drive from town saw us arriving at the northern park gate. Whilst Callan bought the tickets we watched Fiscal Flycatcher, and I braved the rain to examine a few plants.

The park comprises Langebaan Lagoon, and the surrounding areas and includes varied habitats such as coastal dunes, salt marsh, wetlands, and fynbos.

The strandveld vegetation had much Euphorbia mauritanica, with distinctive yellow bracts, and we spotted the mistletoe Septulina glauca with tubular red flowers. Sand Rain Frogs called throughout our visit, the weather at least suiting them. As we neared the Geelbek Visitor’s Centre Jill (Aussie) spotted two rather distant Red Hartebeest off to the right which prompted a stop. The tall yellow and green flowered Albuca here was Albuca fragrans, and indeed was strongly sweet scented. The drive around the lagoon was rather uneventful in the poor weather, a few days previously I’d seen a Caracal very closely from this road, but not today. Ostriches however provided some interest. A Black-headed Heron hunted in the vegetation for small mammals or reptiles, and even wandered along the road in front of us.

We reached the Postberg section of the park, open only in August and September. Here were a good selection of ungulates, but with a rather complex situation regarding which are native. Steenbok sheltered under a bush, Bontebok and Cape Mountain Zebras, both reintroduced and native to the area, grazed on the open grassland, as did Springbok, also native here. The sandy verges had the attractive drumstick like Zaluzianskya villosa, and Melianthus elongatus was in flower.

A timely comfort stop call from Norman had us finding the wonderful Spider Lily Ferraria crispa, and the first of many of a blue form of Moraea fugax. The purple composite here was Felicia tenella, and there were also Euphorbia burmannii and Roepera morgsana. Next came a rather wet pair of Bokmakierie, and then a very very bedraggled Spotted Eagle Owl that perched on a bush near the road.

Having reached the designated parking area where we were allowed to get out and wander around, the rain became even heavier, a fine opportunity for tea or coffee, very kindly prepared by Callan in the back of the bus, and very much appreciated. As soon as the rain eased however we couldn’t wait to be out and explore the vegetation. Initially, as at so many stops,

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this was rather daunting, there was so much new, but we soon got to grips with the most important components. The red Pelargonium fulgidum was striking, there was also Pelargonium hirtum, and Chaenostoma uncinatum was a bush belonging to the Scrophulariaceae. Between the bushes was the hairless yellow flowered gentian Sebaea exacoides, and the Cape Sweet Pea Dipogon lignosus was in bloom. Other monocots included Moraea flaccida, Trachyandra muricata, Asparagus ovatus, Asparagus capensis, Drimia exuviata and Babiana tubulosa. Chasmanthe floribunda was just still in flower. A small very spiny bastard toadflax looked like it should be called Thesium spinosum, and it was!

We walked a short circular path, seeing much new along the way. The pink flowered Podalyria argentea; the twining Cyphia crenata; Nemesia affinis; the small, orange flowered Ornithogalum maculatum; the last plant in the Fynbos book – Hemimeris sabulosa; and Muraltia harveyana.

Back at the vehicle we ate the packed lunch, with a Hartlaub’s Gull waiting hopefully in the rain. After a few car problems we were on the way again, seeing a Greater Kudu very close too. A stop in the dunes produced Euphorbia caput-medusae, Limeum africanum, and several young spikes of the broomrape Harveya squamosa.

Weather wise things deteriorated even more and the afternoon became cold and wet. Even the great find at the last stop of Wurmbea spicata couldn’t entice some of the group out of the vehicle. Here too was the diminutive Ornithogalum multiflorum. Black Harrier flew past and was seen very closely.

There was nothing for it but an early finish, time for a warming cup of tea and coffee, and relaxing (for some) before a mammoth session with the dicots at the evening plant session held chez nous. As this was going on Callan managed to be present at the checklist as well as waiting for and dealing with the mechanic who’d come to fix our van next door! After that we returned to the same restaurant as last evening for another excellent dinner, with great wine.

Day 6 Tuesday 8th September to Nieuwoudtville via Clanwilliam

Under clear blue skies this morning we loaded up and said farewell to Langebaan, seeing as we left, on a patch of good vegetation in the town, Bokmakierie (not bedraggled as yesterday), Yellow Canary, and Grey-backed Cisticola. Introduced Springbok grazed in the farmland, Capped Wheatear was seen, and two Blue Cranes were right beside the road. On the R27 we headed north to Velddrif where we crossed the Berg River and made a stop to ’scope the many waders on the estuary there.

A familiar suite of palaearctic waders was here including Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Greenshank, Redshank, Curlew Sandpiper, and Little Stint. The Redshank is a rare migrant here. More exotic were African Spoonbill, two immature Lesser Flamingos, Great White Pelican, and many Red-knobbed Coot. Both Caspian and Swift Terns perched on distant sand bars, and there were Yellow-billed Ducks, and of course Egyptian Geese. Levaillant’s Cisticolas frequented the saltmarsh flora that comprised many halophytic chenopods, with species of Suaeda, Salsola, Sarcocornia and the like.

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The next stop was in sandvelt, where there we several new plants for us. The spiny Solanum giftbergense was prominent, and the tall white flower heads of the scroph Manulea altissima were attractive. The weed Amsinckia ?retrorsa, an orange flowered borage from the new world, was numerous. Also here was a species of Ferraria; Polycarena lilacina; the pink flowered Hermannia trifurca; and Aspalathus ternata. We could have found and identified much more here with more time. Both Pearl-breasted Swallows and Banded Martins were nesting in an old Aardvark burrow.

The roadsides now had much Leucospermum rodolentum, typical of sandvelt, and the only place we would see it. Our journey took us through varied landscapes, much agriculture, and some more major roads. Callan explained the phenomemon of many small mounds visible in the fields in one area as being those of an extinct termite species, the mounds now occupied by another species of termite. Jackal Buzzard became regular, and there were several patches of the stately Melianthus major. Once over the Piekenaarskloof Pass we made a brief stop at a service station in the citrus growing town of … Citrusdal, for toilets and supplies.

We decided that the botanic garden at Clanwilliam would be a suitable place for lunch, so we held out until we reached there. However we were held up by a great roadside stop in the Cedarberg that yielded Ferraria uncinata, Pelargonium scabrum, Babiana ecklonii, Lapeirousia jacquinii and much more. We had to tear ourselves away however and arrived at Clanwilliam and the excellent botanic garden in time for a late-ish lunch. As we entered the town the river had much Prionium serratum, the first plant featured in the Fynbos book.

Lunch was eaten swiftly so we could make the most of our short visit, also interrupted by rain showers. Growing wild in the car park was the yellow Moraea anomala, and on paths in the gardens the very small, blue Moraea ciliata. Seemingly growing wild in the garden was the orchid Corycium crispum. Between the rain showers a Citrus Swallowtail was seen.

The next roadside stop had the carmine flowered Tetragonia rosea; Felicia hirta; the desert primrose Grielum humifusum; the broomrape Harveya squamosa in better flower than yesterday; and Phyllopodium cephalophorum.

Before long we were in the arid landscape of the karoo, with much Acacia karoo scrub. Grey- backed Sparrow Larks were noted. We took a detour onto a side track late afternoon and had a brief look at the fascinating vegetation here. One of our targets was the succulent ‘babies bottoms’, a species of Argyroderma. We found a fine patch as well as Aloe variegata; Masseria depressa gone over; many unidentified ‘mesems’; a Conophytum species; and Cyanella orchidiformis. Common Quail was flushed, and I walked over to a line of scrub where I saw Namaqua Warbler very well. Porcupine quills were found, numerous in this area. As we drove out Callan stopped for Cape Glossy Starlings in a tree, apparently unusual quite this far south.

Next we climbed the escarpment, stopping at the top for the views, and seeing Tylecodon paniculatus and Ficus cordata on the slopes. Here I found a very attractive form of Moraea tripetala, and the impressive Lessertia frutescens was in flower and fruit. Nemesia cheiranthus was here too. Nearby we just had to stop for one of the plant spectacles of the tour, a roadside absolutely covered in the pink spikes of Satyrium erectum, an amazing sight. Also here was the yellow flowered Babiana vanzyliae.

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Dusk saw us rolling into the farmstead of De Lande and settling into the rooms before enjoying a raved about dinner of delicious lamb, with a fire roaring in the corner, and as usual good wine available. Spotted Eagle Owl was seen in the grounds, and another by Callan and Paul after driving back to the orchid roadside to look for the latter’s notebook.

Day 7 Wednesday 9th September Nieuwoudtville

The fields around the farm buildings were full of the yellow spikes of Bulbinella nutans, and the salmon coloured Moraea bifida. There was also Limonium sinuatum. Common Waxbill, Karoo Thrush, Mountain Wheatear, and Greater-striped Swallows were much in evidence.

On our way into Nieuwoudtville a roadside stop produced Massonia depressa, Lapeirousia jacquinii, Babiana framesii, and more Nemesia cheiranthus.

Whilst we waited for Simon, an ecologist working in the area who would spend the next two days with us, we found Lachenalia elegans, and Albuca maxima as tall as we were.

First of all we travelled a little way to the north of town, to the Quiver Tree or Kirkeboom Forest. A species of Aloe, Aloe dichotoma, with a remarkable shape, this was a very sparse and open forest on a dry hillside, an atmospheric and beautiful place. The karoo flora here was all new to us and we found many good things. As we drove in we had great views of Namaqua Doves and Namaqua Sandgrouse at a roadside puddle.

Other birds were much in evidence too, with Lark-like Buntings, Mountain Wheatears, Cape Sparrows, Acacia Pied Barbets, and Malachite Sunbirds among them. There were even a few butterflies on the wing, mainly Meadow Whites Pontia helice, but a fine find was Namaqua Bar, and Cape Black-eye was seen too. Large Camponotus ants, and an attractive silver dipteran were among the other insects.

The Karoo Violet, Aptosimum indivisum was particularly attractive, and the spiny shrub Monsonia crassicaule was remarkable for being a geranium, the long stork’s-bill pods showing its affinities. Othonna quercifolia, Arctotis fastuosa and Gazania lichtensteinii were among the composites; Trichodesma africanum and Codon royenii represented the Boraginaceae; and Euphorbia decussata, Androcymbium burchelli, Thesium lineatum, Albuca namaquensis, and Jamesbrittenia fruticosa were all identified. A good find was the diminutive Ornithoglossum vulgare, although a little past its best, the only example of this genus we saw on the tour. There were several black Western Rock Skinks and the dragonfly Sympetrum fonscolombei, also a European species, was on the wing.

Back towards town, passing slopes with many Dorper sheep, white with black heads, we took a side track through ever more flowery scenery to our lunch site. This was a stunning floral show, and we were some time before any of us was interested in eating. The Sparaxis tricolor was superb and numerous, and here was Moraea tripetala again. Other petaloid monocots included the pink Hesperantha pauciflora; the yellow Babiana vanzyliae; blue Babiana sambucina; Geissorhiza splendidissima; Hesperantha cucullata; the blue spikes of Ixia rapunculoides; Moraea vallisbelli; the only Gladiolus watermeyeri of the trip; Bulbinella eburniflora; and Romulea hirta.

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The orchids here were the endemic Corycium ingeanum, very similar to Corycium orobanchioides. Gazania rigida, the sweetly scented Dolichos decumbens, Cotula microglossa, Cotula nudicaulis, Hebenstreitia parviflora, and Hemimeris sabulosa were all seen too. After lunch we walked a little further to a streamlet that supported a fine population of Onixotis stricta and the white flowered Spiloxene aquatica. We continued to add new species such as Geissorhiza sulphureus, Ornithogalum maculatum, Gorteria diffusa, Gorteria personata, and Trachyandra falcata. The clouded yellow Colias electo was on the wing.

Back in the vehicle we had a great sighting of three Bat-eared Foxes, initially very close by in a grassy field. We watched them as they moved away, stopping every now and again to look back at us. The tall umbellifer Annesorhiza altiscapa, and Sparaxis elegans were at the next short stop.

Another stop had a fine show of beautiful Sparaxis elegans, as well as Hesperantha radiata, Massonia depressa, Bulbine aloides, Ferraria divaricata, Hemimeris centrodes, Indigofera heterophylla, and Senecio erosus. A lady bearing an ostrich egg brimming over with a bunch of porcupine quills came to try and sell some, and had some success with the group. Then Simon came clutching a bunch of his own, found nearby. A male Black Harrier flew past, and a small pond had a nesting colony of Southern Red Bishops, and Three-banded Plovers at the water’s edge.

The afternoon was drawing to a close and it was time to retire to the farm and catch up with notes after a marvellously varied and productive day.

Day 8 Thursday 10th September Nieuwoudtville

Before we left I showed the group Cyanella alba flowering in the pasture behind the farm house. Karoo Thrush and Mountain Wheatear were as usual much in evidence. The weather was again fine, as we travelled south. Yellow Mongoose ran across the road, and spurred on by the previous night’s checklist there was much birding interest along the way. Callan kept spotting new birds: Cape Clapper Lark was displaying; Sickle-winged Chat perched on the fence; Rufous-eared Warbler perched on a rather distant bush; African Pipit; Large-billed Lark; and even Southern Black Korhaan, punctuated the journey. This fine series of birds ended with a pair of Greater Kestrels, easily photographable on a telegraph pole.

As we sought permission at the farmhouse for our visit to the nearby waterfall, a Black Stork flew over, another great bird. The common Southern Red Bishop was much admired, as was Yellow Bishop. Anchusa capensis resembled European members of the genus, and Protea laurifolia was in flower. We parked, finding the fine leaved Pelargonium anethifolium, and Euryops tenuissimus growing by the vehicle. A short rocky walk led us to the edge of the gorge and fine views of an impressive narrow waterfall tumbling into it, and a green pool at the bottom. This was a remarkable landscape, with hardly a sign of human interference. After admiring the view we turned our attention to the plants, which were many and varied.

A highlight was the Pineapple Lily Eucomis regia, and nearby the related Whiteheadia bifolia. The orchid Holothrix secunda was only in leaf. Among the many other species here were Bulbine praemorsa, Lachenalia mutabilis, Lobostemon laevigatus, Arctotis revoluta, Crassula quadrangularis, Crassula muscosa, Crassula alpestris, Crassula umbella, and Crassula comptonii. The shrub Dodonaea

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angustifolia was of interest as it has a widespread global distribution. Other shrubs included Osyris compressa and Diospyros glabra.

Fairy Flycatcher was seen very well, and Richard was able to get photographs of this charismatic little bird. It was becoming hot and a few butterflies were on the wing, a fine find being the Namaqua Arrowhead, and Fynbos Blue was also seen.

Simon led us to a specimen of the rosaceous tree Cliffortia arborescens, a relict and now very scarce member of a large Cape genus. Geissorhiza inaequalis, Geissorhiza divaricata, Heliophila elata, Salvia dentata and Oxalis ambigua were here too. Albuca spiralis had coiled leaves and the large Aloe mitriformis was impressive.

A surprising find was a small rock puddle that supported many small beautifully coloured shrimps. Also on the rocks were several very interesting miniature plants including Conophyton comptonii. Another stop had many fine Gazania rigida, Polycarena aurea, a species of Selago, a small yellow Rhyncopsidium, and Ursinia pilifera.

We had to tear ourselves away as we had an appointment with the bus tour at the Botanic Garden, some forty minutes drive away. On arrival there we ate our lunch, denied that we were from Grahamstown, and spotted the Swedish Bill Oddie.

We had arranged that Simon would lead the bus tour today, so although we were outnumbered by all the other passengers, the route would take into account what plants we wanted to see. Initially we walked through renosterveld, chock full of bulbs, many of species already familiar to us, but what a superb display. It has been calculated that up to 20,000 bulbs can occupy a square metre of ground here! Sparaxis elegans was abundant, as was Moraea tripetala and there was much Geissorhiza splendidissima. Bulbinella elegans, Cyanella alba, and a small white Heliophila were also in bloom. Two Southern Black Korhaan were seen.

On Simon’s suggestion we broke away from the group and wandered off in search of the orchid Pterygodium pentherianum, which finally we located in good flower. Also seen were Diascia veronicoides; the leaves of a Boophone sp.; Arctotis acaulis; Lotononis hirsuta; Androcymbium pulchrum; and the thistle like Berkheya glabrata. On the wing was the satyrid Pseudonympha trimenii.

It was back in the old rattly bus for a short drive onto the seam of dolorite that stretches for a short way north to south here and supports a very different flora with many endemic species. In a few minutes we were finding Hermannia verdoorniae and Hermannia johansenii; the orchid Pterygodium halleri; the allium relative Tulbaghia dregeana; Ferraria divaricata; Babiana flabellifolia; and the fine Veltheimia capensis in fruit. A Scrub Hare put in a brief appearance and the lycaenid Cacyreus dicksoni was seen.

Another stop on dolorite produced the hoped for orange flowered endemic subspecies Bulbinella latifolia doloritica still just in flower and swathes of the beautiful Hesperantha vaginata. Romulea monodelpha was a good find, and also here were Moraea odorata and Diascia cardiosepala.

Saying farewell to the bus and Hantam, after a fuel stop in town, we paid a short early evening visit to the Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve, another great site. Time was unfortunately limited but among the interesting things we saw were Hesperantha bachmannii, Cyanella lutea,

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Ornithogalum suaveolens, Kniphofia uvaria, Lapeirousia oreogena (many leaves, a few in flower), Roepera foetida, Melianthus comosus, Stachys rugosa, Hemimeris centrodes and Namaqua Rock Fig. Long-billed Pipit was noted too and a huge Porcupine burrow was admired. It was time to tear ourselves away once more, take Simon home and say our goodbyes, and return to the farm for the last delicious dinner there, and to reflect on what an amazingly productive day it had been.

Day 9 Friday 11th September Tanqua Karoo

Saying farewell to all at De Lande we headed into town for a few practicalities such as a visit to the post office. Meanwhile I paid a short visit to Protea Motors where a large collection of old motorbikes, many of them British bikes, several vintage, and even a veteran car, and a wealth of automobilia would have been to my father what a bulb filled field at Nieuwoudtville is to me!

Now heading east we saw no fewer than four Ludwig’s Bustards in the fields, Callan saying this was probably the best stretch of road for them anywhere. All flew revealing the strongly patterned wings. We were back in the Karoo, with vast arid landscapes all around, framed by distant flat topped mountains. A roadside stop produced many mystery plants as well as Gladiolus venustus, Albuca ?cooperi and Nemesia fruticans.

In Calvinia was the last chance for a fuel stop before taking the longest uninhabited road in the country at 250 km, passing through the Tanqua Karoo. This stop also allowed phone calls, post office visits, and snack shopping. Here too was the largest post box in the world!!

Just onto the karoo road was a Pale Chanting Goshawk with a not yet dead hare. I hope he returned for his prey but those in a car that stopped suspiciously behind us may have claimed the hare for themselves. Two more Ludwig’s Bustards were seen, three Namaqua Sandgrouse, and there were several Large-billed Larks and Black-headed Canaries. The roadsides had much Gazania krebsiana, and Ixia rapunculoides was still with us.

A stop produced the ‘carpet’ forming Aptosimum procumbens and two species of Androcymbium, namely Androcymbium volutare with coiled leaves, and Androcymbium crispum with strongly undulate leaves. Lycium ferocissimum, Berkheya onobromoides, Diascia nana, and Tylecodon wallichii were identified here. Reaching a pass we encountered three Klipspringers which characteristically bounded effortlessly away among the rocks. Lunch was eaten near here, with fine views of the karoo stretching away below us. I went off with the butterfly net suspecting something interesting, and there was indeed, in the form of Poecilmitis lysander hantamensis, a very local Calvinia area endemic, although I am unsure of the current status of this taxon. It is in the second edition of Pennington, and in Carcasson’s African Butterflies, but not in Woodhall. Meanwhile Callan showed everyone Layard’s Tit-babblers.

Moving on, the afternoon was punctuated by a series of short stops that yielded; Moraea fenestrata with windows between the petal claws; the broomrape Hyobanche glabrata; another Lachenalia! (zebrina?) ; Euphorbia decussata; and the cactus like Euphorbia decepta. A Cape Penduline Tit nest was spotted in an acacia by Callan, who then explained its fascinating internal structure, with a false entrance and chamber to distract predators. Karoo Chat, Tractrac

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Chat, Karoo Lark, and Red-capped Lark were seen and the emperor dragonfly Anax imperator was on the wing.

Late afternoon produced a series of fine mammal encounters. First of all was a colony of Brant’s Whistling Rats, right beside the road, and we watched them regularly appearing from the burrows and heard too their distinctive whistles. Next were two Bat-eared Foxes, again moving away and checking regularly behind them. Highlight for me was the African Wild Cat, seen first running along a channel, and then perhaps a second animal running across the road, causing alarm among the passerines, which included Spike-heeled Larks. Springbuck was here too.

Now climbing up to the Gannaga Pass the flora became very interesting with the gladiolus-like Babiana scariosa, Asparagus retrofractus, Rhus burchelli, and the very small monocot Xenoscapa fistulosa. Small Grey Mongoose was seen.

We arrived at the superbly situated and very isolated Gannaga Lodge just before dusk and settled into the very good rooms, although Callan and I had the rather more basic converted stable rooms. This was a great place, and dinner was excellent lamb expertly prepared by our host complete in his chef’s uniform.

Day 10 Saturday 12th September Gannaga Pass

Ground Woodpecker and Grey-backed Francolin were both around the Lodge in the morning, and Callan saw Smith’s Red Rock Hare. Nearby we saw White-throated Canary, and a pale phase Booted Eagle. Not far from the hotel were Holothrix villosa and Bulbine torta; the white or pale blue and yellow Babiana virginiana, a local endemic; Albuca spiralis; and a number of Wurmbea variabilis. Large-billed Lark and Cape Clapper Lark were among the birds. Trimen’s Brown was on the wing, having a very attractive underside hindwing with the veins highlighted in white.

The next stop gave fine views under cloudless skies. The satyrid Karoo Widow flew over the slopes and the lycaenid Karoo Daisy Copper was seen. Rock Hyraxes were active among the boulders.

A coffee stop on the descent of the pass had a troop of Baboons on a distant hillside, and the yellow flowered and lemon scented Stachys aurea. Veltheimia capensis was in fruit again. A brief attempt to call in Cinnamon-breasted Warbler was unsuccessful, but a pair of Fairy Flycatchers was seen very well.

Back down on the plains the day was hot, and the landscape dry. A stop was prompted by the impressive Hoodia bainii, just gone over, although Richard managed to find a lone flower. Callan picked up on a small group of the nomadic Black-eared Sparrow-larks and a stop gave us reasonable views of this scarce bird. Remarkably they require the presence of a certain trapdoor spider for nesting material and Callan located the trapdoors too. Also here was another sarcocaulon, the pinkish flowered Monsonia salmonifolium. Aussie Jill found some Namaqua Sandgrouse feathers, and we saw more colonies of Brant’s Whistling Rats.

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Lunch was eaten where a ruined building affording just enough shade.

Another roadside yielded the red flowered Hermannia grandiflora; Monsonia crassicaule again; Bulbine frutescens; Crassula pyramidalis; and Karoo Eremomela. An interesting red tinged small orchid here awaits identification Nearby a koppie had a striking Crassula with spikes of pink flowers, and Massonia ?grandiflora. Black Harrier was seen well.

Another pass brought us near to Ceres and into quite different habitat and landscapes. A stop was prompted by a roadside with much of the red flowered Gladiolus quadrangularis , a very local endemic with characteristic four-angled leaves. As we neared Ceres there was a large burnt area that looked extremely promising, and Callan and I had high hopes for our return to this area in the morning.

In Ceres we arranged ourselves into a very comfortable guesthous in a pleasant part of town. This being Saturday it was to the Spur again, with me once again armed with the orchid book!!

Day 11 Sunday 13th September Ceres and to Honeywood Farm

We knew today was going to be good, but Callan and I were a bit ovewhelmed at just how good the burn sites near Ceres proved to be. We were especially hoping to find the Spider Orchid, Bartholina burmanniana, with superb finely divided flowers. It turned out to be common here. Another highlight was Wurmbea spicata, also in numbers. The yellow form of Moraea gawleri was numerous, and Moraea flaccida was here too. The beautiful low Gladiolus ceresianus was a local speciality. Other orchids were Disperis villosa, Pterygodium catholicum, Schizodium cornutum, Satyrium erectum, Satyrium candidum, and Holothrix villosa. Among the many other species were Nemesia barbata, Cyphia spp., Romulea flava, Romulea rosea, Euphorbia tuberosa, and Spiloxene ovata. There were so many plants here that everywhere one looked there were new species. A large tiger beetle was admired.

The next stop nearby had the short yellow flowered Moraea fugacissima on the roadside, and many more fine examples of species from the first site. Nearby a coffee stop by a flower filled meadow had again mostly species we had already seen, but in fine numbers. New was Moraea macronyx and the lovely Romulea tortuosa. A troop of Baboons moved across the nearby slopes.

The lunch stop produced more new species. The tulp here was Moraea longistyla, and Babiana lineolata was rather common. The pink Ixia was Ixia scillaris, and there was even Ferraria ?divaricata. Moraea lugubris was seen again, and a sheltered bank had Holothrix aspera, Holothrix villosa, and Disperis villosa, three diminutive orchids. As we drove away from this site we had fine close views of a female Southern Black Korhaan, and by the lake was African Spoonbill.

It was early afternoon and we were still in Ceres! So we really had to get some distance covered. However, we just had to stop in the Breede River Valley when we spotted a marshy area full of the orange spikes of Satyrium coriifolium, the first we’d been able to see close to. Also here was Gladiolus alatus, and Aristea ?africana. With the Hex River Mountains to our left we continued our journey, in one area seeing the local endemic bright red mesem Drosanthemum speciosa on the roadsides. After a fuel and supplies stop there was a Verreaux’s Eagle over the road. As we neared Honeywood Farm a displaying Denham’s Bustard, not far from the vehicle,

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was a fine spectacle. Driving into the farm we saw African Hoopoe take off from the lawn. We were obviously in very different habitat here, the Grootvadersbosch forest stretching over the adjacent hills, and Klaas’s Cuckoo was calling.

Our journey that had started yesterday morning at Gannaga Pass, and taken us through the Tanqua Karoo, the Cape Folded Mountains, and here to the Afromontane forest of Grootvadersbosch had traversed a remarkable range of habitats, with the starting point and destination being so strikingly different.

The accommodation at Honeywood was spread among different buildings, all very spacious and comfortable. Richard and Jill shared a whole house (!) with Callan and myself (we had a bathroom each), and a lovely black cat.

Dinner was very good, shared with our hosts John and Miranda, and their dogs! The moth Thyretes hippotus, of a very distinctive shape, was common around the house lights.

Day 12 Monday 14th September Grootvadersbosch & Tradouw’s Pass

We started the day with a spot of birding around the farm. There were Swee Waxbills on the lawns; Greater Double-collared Sunbirds much in evidence; White-rumped Swifts and Greater- striped Swallows in the air; Dusky and Fiscal Flycatchers; and tame Cape Robin Chats. There was almost nothing in the way of flowers however so we soon decided to move on. On the very short drive to Grootvadersbosch was the great surprise of a troop of Vervet Monkeys in the pines. Callan had never seen them quite this far west, and this really must be the extreme south western limit of their range.

We had managed to get permission to actually drive into the reserve, through the forest and to the fynbos on the upper slopes, which would have been very time consuming to access otherwise. Our first stop had the stunning carmine flowered leguminous shrub Hypocalyptus coluteoides and the common pink heath here that coloured the hillsides was Erica cubica. Other ericas identified were Erica hispidula and Erica versicolor. There was a fine selection of restios including Elegia mucronata, and typical fynbos genera such as Brunia and Penaea were prominent. A fine leaved purple flowered legume was Psoralea pinnata or a closely related species. Burchellia bubalina and Laurophilus capensis were among the trees, and in the forest was Plectranthus fruticosus. Noises in the bushes had us expecting various wild animals, but it was always Norman!

The next stop had fine flowering Mimetes cucullatus and a beautiful pink flowered Adenandra. Gladiolus rogersii was a good find, and Grubbia rosmarinifolia represented a new endemic family for us. The everlasting Edmondia pinifolia was in bud, and Rhus chirindensis was yet another member of that genus.

There were fine views over the fynbos, the forested valley below, and Honeywood Farm not far away. Jill had a burnet moth on her coat, a species of Callosymploca, of which some one hundred occur in the region! I went in search of Victorin’s Warbler, alerted to their call by Callan, and had fine close views of a pair.

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Neddicky was seen as Callan drove us down into the valley, and the forest edge beside a beautiful stream, a very secluded spot in which to eat lunch. There was a wealth of ferns here including Cape Tree Fern, African Spleenwort, five species of Blechnum, and a species of filmy fern. A pleasing find was a plant of the epiphytic orchid Polystachya ottoniana in leaf. After lunch a stop was called for by the rather improbable appearance of a crab on the road. We now headed out of the reserve and towards Tradouw’s Pass, to the west of Grootvadersbosch, seeing Babiana ?fourcadei, three African Olive Pigeons, and an Egyptian Mongoose along the way. Soon we were in excellent fynbos, with Leucadendron eucalyptifolium colouring the hillsides yellow. At one stop a lone Gladiolus carneus was found, and Protea repens, Struthiola argentea, Crassula atropurpurea, and Polygala fruticosa were all identified. Once over the pass we were in a different region, the Little Karoo, and immediately the roadside flora was different, with many mysteries! We did however identify Erica plukenetii and Moraea gawleri.

Back over the pass was a Ground Woodpecker on the wall, and Cape Rock Thrush. Leonotis leonurus and Ixia micrandra were found.

That evening whilst working in our house I lit a fire to make it all more homely and warm us up. Not deterred by a lack of matches it was a roaring success, and much appreciated by the cat!

Day 13 Tuesday 15th September Grootvadersbosch to De Hoop

It was farewell to all at Honeywood, not least the black cat! The group watched African Hoopoe on the lawn as they ate breakfast. Driving back out along the track Callan again spotted the displaying Denham’s Bustard, this time really a white speck a couple of hillsides away. We had great views in the ‘scope.

The next stop was prompted by a field full of Watsonia laccata. Here were also Moraea angusta, Wachendorfia paniculata, Albuca aurea and the thistle Berkheya armata. A tall white Ixia was unidentified. On the wing were Silver-bottom Brown, Pseudonympha magus and the blue Eicochrysops messapus. A Koppie Foam Grasshopper, Dictyophorus spumans, a great red and black beast, caused much interest.

Having reached the N2 for a short stretch we stopped at a servive station for supplies, and the petting zoo and small aviary here were greatly appreciated. Now on a side road towards Malgas we saw Blue Cranes, Yellow Mongoose, and a probable Scrub Hare before making a coffee stop near a stream, at which the highlight was a soaring group of fifteen Cape Vultures, a species that has suffered a drastic reduction in numbers over the past decades.

Norman found the stunning Cherry Spot Moth, a Noctuid, ovipositing on Albuca, an interesting foodplant. Next was an unexpected pont crossing powered by two men, across the Breede River, the only one of its kind left in South Africa, but common still further north on the continent. Ours was the only vehicle at first but once half way across the arrival of others meant the ferry men almost returned to collect them, until fortunately there were too many of them to fit on the ferry so we continued our journey to the other bank.

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Our next stop was at a roadside where Callan had found the superb Asclepiad Orbea in the past. He located it again, not in flower but the long pods being impressive in themselves. Here too was another Pineapple Lily. Not far after this we encountered a flock of at least 190 Blue Cranes in a field, a remarkable sight.

Another watsonia prompted a stop, this one Watsonia aletroides. Here too were Gladiolus tristis, Ixia micrandra and Babiana patula. We now reached the coastal limestone hills that characterise this area, and stopped for lunch. Protea obtusifolia and Leucadendron meridianum were in good flower, whilst the yellow flowered Euryops linearis was co-dominant. The diminutive Moraea ciliata flowered along the track. Among the limestone specialities were Aspalathus incurvifolia, Agathosma serpyllacea, Acmadenia mundiana, Podalyria myrtillifolia and Wahlenbergia calcarea. There were some fine composites including Gazania pectinata, Syncarpha argyropsis, and a dark blue ?Felicia.

Now entering De Hoop Nature Reserve there was more fine limestone fynbos. Hermannia trifoliata, Erica mariae, Erica coccinea, Leucospermum truncatum, Leucadendron muirii, Pelargonium betulinum, Berkheya coriacea, Thesium fragile, a Gnidia sp., and Passerina ?galpinii were all here.

A large herd of Eland grazed on the flats, and a small group of Speckled Mousebirds flew across the track. A stop at a burnt area of the flats produced the large orchid Satyrium carneum in leaf, and the smaller Pterygodium volucris in flower. The large sprawling milkwort here was Polygala peduncularis and there was a species of Anisodontea, a mallow.

It was but a short drive to The De Hoop Collection, a beautiful group of Cape Dutch style bungalows and other buildings, the rooms of the hotel here having been beautifully restored. Bontebok and Cape Mountain Zebra grazed nearby, and Cape Francolins were fearless on the lawns. We settled into the comfortable rooms and caught up on some notes etc. before enjoying a very good meal in the impressive restaurant.

Day 14 Wednesday 16th September De Hoop, Bredasdorp, Stanford

The morning was fine. Near the hotel a first stop was prompted by a very large Leopard Tortoise that we got out to admire, but the Lachenalia contaminata here didn’t excite the same amount of interest! Many ungulates were on the plains, among them Eland, Bontebok, and Cape Mountain Zebra again, but Rhebok was new for us, six grazing in the distance. Ostrich was here too, and a male Pin-tailed Whydah flew past.

Just down the road we had a remarkable Baboon experience. We encountered a troop crossing the road, the dominant male carrying part of a carcass, apparently a limb. This was an amazing and little seen thing. At least one other individual was carrying part of the kill too. The dominant male jealously guarded his prize, stopping now and again to tear at the meat. The kill appeared to be and was most likely a small antelope such as a Grysbok. We stayed with the troop for some time, very fortunate to have witnessed such behaviour.

On to the coastal dunes we walked a short way and had another wonderful spectacle. Many Southern Right Whales near to shore. From left to right there were between thirty and forty of these great mammals, and the views we had were superb. Turning to smaller things the dune

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flora included Acmadenia obtusta, Rhus crenata, Phylica ericoides, and the gentian Chironia with red berries. Thesidium humile and a species of Viscum were both parasites. The leaves of Massonia pustulata were certainly very pustulate.

The next stop was prompted by a spectacular Lachenalia, the tubular red flowered Lachenalia bulbifera. There were a few Gladiolus bullatus, as well as Babiana ambigua, and a dung beetle. Back in the fynbos we made a coffee stop and saw the white flowered Erica bruniifolia, and Hyobanche sanguinea. Denham’s Bustard flew past. Now outside the reserve we made our way towards the town of Bredasdorp. One field we passed was yellow with the composite Dymondia margaretae, and we saw five more Denham’s Bustards.

Lunch at an attractive café in Bredasdorp was excellent. Not far from Cape Agulhas this is presumably the southernmost town in Africa. A few practicalities such as mobile phone and post office sorted, we continued our journey west. Gladiolus tristis and Watsonia aletroides became common on the roadsides, and then the first of many Gladiolus liliaceus. This fine and fascinating species has brown flowers which turn mauve and become strongly scented at dusk to attract moth pollinators. We also found another species of Microloma, Microloma tenuifolium. Disa bracteata was a new orchid, and there was Baeometra uniflora, not seen since the first day at the observatory.

A burnt slope had many flowers that were now familiar to us, such as Watsonia aletroides and Bulbinella caudafelis, as well as the European Scabiosa columbaria, native here too. We even saw the aforementioned Gladiolus changing colour well before dusk, presumably due to the dull and cool weather.

The last stop was very near the hotel where a burnt slope had a good selection of everlasting composites such as Phaenocoma prolifera. A highlight here was another broomrape, with large purple flowers, Harveya purpurea. A spiderhead, Serruria ?adscendens was common. The farm lodge at Stanford had very good rooms in another fine setting, and we enjoyed a carefully prepared farewell dinner with speeches of thanks to the leaders for what had been a great tour.

Days 15 & 16 Thursday 17th September and Friday 18th September Hermanus, Betty’s Bay, Cape Town and Departure

We loaded up the vehicle, this time without all my things as I would be returning to the Stanford Valley later this evening. Once under way, the first thing of interest was a Verreaux’s Eagle soaring overhead, followed by a roadside with yet another species of watsonia, Watsonia spectabilis.

The weather was far from good for our last day in the field. In Hermanus we filled up at a petrol station, entertained by the rich singing voice of the attendant. Then it was to breakfast at a shoreline café in the centre of town, with the purpose of watching whales whilst we ate. This we certainly did, and had fine views of several Southern Right Whales, tails and heads now and then breaking the surface.

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A seal basking upside down for some time, motionless in the water and flipper raised, caused some discussion. As we left we saw two Rock Hyraxes very close on the cliffs and then a Peregrine spooked all the other birds.

We had a little time to spare so we made our way up to a burnt slope above Hermanus. Here was the very large flowered Aristea spiralis, the striking red flowered Erica cerinthoides, Adenandra viscida, Crassula fascicularis, Polygala bracteolata, Silene pilosellifolia, and Roepera sessilifolia. We were still finding new plants! The pink flowered and straggly Protea compacta became a feature of the fynbos a little further west. After brief stops for African Fish Eagle and then the orchid Satyrium odorum on a roadside, we stopped at a recently burnt slope very close to some houses in Betty’s Bay. Here were Xiphotheca reflexa, Rafnia capensis, Indigofera glomerata, Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron, and the woody iris Nivenia stokoei in leaf.

We arrived at Harold Porter Botanic Garden in heavy rain, and really with only time for lunch in the café, and a visit to the bookshop, where of course I at least bought a few more volumes! After that it was a purposeful drive back to Cape Town along the very impressive coastline until we reached the N2. Arriving in Pinelands mid-afternoon, Callan took us to his home, where the group used separate rooms to change, repack, and prepare for the flight. We also enjoyed tea and coffee and a selection of cakes left for us by Marje. A search in the garden failed to find any Cape Dwarf Chameleons today. Once the van was reloaded we took Aussie Gill back to Howard’s End, we really had come full circle, and then headed for the airport.

Arrival was in good time and we said our brief sad farewells after a superb tour. I also said farewell to Callan and collected my hire car, getting away in good time and arriving back at Stanford at about 8 o’clock. I even had time to continue the rather big task of the trip report.

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South Africa Systematic Lists

The Itinerary

Day 1. Thursday 3rd September. Departure from UK. Day 2. Friday 4th September. Arrival. Pinelands. Observatory. Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden. Day 3. Saturday 5th September. Boulder’s Beach. Cape Point. Day 4. Sunday 6th September. Mamre. Waylands. Darling. Tienie Versveld. Langebaan. Day 5. Monday 7th September. West Coast National Park, including Postberg. Day 6. Tuesday 8th September. Velddrif, Berg River. Clanwilliam. Van Rhyn’s Pass. Knersvlakte. Nieuwoudtville. Day 7. Wednesday 9th September. Nieuwoudtville including Quiver Tree Forest. Day 8. Thursday 10th September. Nieuwoudtville. Papkuilsfontein waterfall. Hantam botanic garden. Wild flower reserve. Day 9. Friday 11th September. Calvinia. Tanqua Karoo. Gannaga Pass. Day 10. Saturday 12th September. Gannaga Pass. Tanqua Karoo. Ceres. Day 11. Sunday 13th September. Ceres area. Breede River Valley. Swellendam. Honeywood Farm Day 12. Monday 14th September. Grootvadersbosch. Tradouw’s Pass into Little Karoo. Day 13. Tuesday 15th September. Honeywood Farm to De Hoop via Malgas. Day 14. Wednesday 16th September. De Hoop. Bredasdorp. To Stanford. Day 15. Thursday 17th September. Stanford to Hermanus. Betty’s Bay. Harold Porter Botanic Garden. Cape Town. Departure. Day 16. Friday 18th September. Arrival UK.

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Systematic List Number 1 Plants

This is the first attempt at a systematic list for the plants for this new tour. It was created from scratch, no minor task!

For families likely to be unfamiliar to European botanists I have given a few defining characteristics. As an aide memoire I have usually given a few species characters too, which with locality information may help to identify photographs. Of course comments under each species are of necessity brief, and a character given for one species does not mean it is not shown by others in the list! The list should be used in conjunction with the relevant books. Many books were used in the field, and later in compiling the list. Perhaps most comprehensively useful was ‘Field Guide To Fynbos’ by John Manning. ‘Cape Plants. A Conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa’ by Goldblatt and Manning and ‘Plant Genera of the South-western Cape’ by Trinders-Smith were both invaluable. The regional flower guides produced by the Botanical Society of South Africa varied greatly in species coverage and usefulness in the field! For petaloid monocots ‘The Color Encyclopedia (sic) of Cape Bulbs’ by Manning, Goldblatt and Snijman, is excellent and is comprehensive for most genera. ‘Wild Orchids of Southern Africa’ by Stewart et al. was used for that family. Where available many monographs were also used, such as ‘Ericas of South Africa’ by Schumann et al., ‘Gladiolus in Southern Africa’ by Goldblatt and Manning, and ‘The Moraeas of Southern Africa’ by Goldblatt.

The bewildering variety and richness of the Cape Flora, with many very large and complex genera, meant in no way could we identify everything we saw. Certain families were covered much better than others. The petaloid monocots were well studied, although certainly several remain unidentified. Vast families such as the Aizoaceae are only seriously possible by an expert on that family. I am very grateful to Richard Jones for sending me a CD of all his photos from the tour. With time I’m sure I can add further names to this list with identifications of some of the mystery photos. Future tours will see this list expand steadily, as time allows more and more species to be identified. A very respectable 800 or so species were identified on this first tour. The alphabetic arrangement and classification follow ‘Cape Plants. A Conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa’ by Peter Goldblatt and John Manning, Missouri Botanical Garden, 2000.

Pteridophytes N.B. All ferns identified by Callan Cohen.

Anemiaceae Mohria caffrorum Kirstenbosch, and road cuttings near De Hoop.

Aspleniaceae Asplenium aethiopicum African Spleenwort. Grootvadersbosch.

Blechnaceae Blechnum attenuatum Grootvadersbosch This name is not in Cape Plants. Synonomy? Blechnum australe Southern Deer Fern. Grootvadersbosch. Blechnum capense Cape Deer Fern. Grootvadersbosch and Kirstenbosch. Blechnum punctulatum Grootvadersbosch and Kirstenbosch.

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Blechnum tabulare Mountain Deer Fern. Grootvadersbosch. Cyathaceae Cyathea capensis Cape Tree Fern. Grootvadersbosch.

Dennstaedtiaceae Histiopteris incisa Grootvadersbosch and Kirstenbosch. Hypolepis sparsisora Grootvadersbosch. Pteridium aquilinum Bracken. Widespread.

Dryopteridaceae Rumohra adiantiformis Grootvadersbosch.

Gleicheniaceae Gleichenia polypodioides Coral Fern. Cape Point and Grootvadersbosch.

Hymenophyllaceae Hymenophyllum sp. Filmy fern sp. Grootvadersbosch.

Nephrolepidaceae Nephrolepis exaltata Boston Fern. Naturalised at the Cape Town Observatory.

Osmundaceae Todea barbara Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, and Grootvadersbosch.

Polypodiaceae Pleopeltis macrocarpa Grootvadersbosch. Polypodium vulgare Common Polypody. Grootvadersbosch.

Pteridaceae Cheilanthes capensis Cape Lip Fern. Ceres, Gannaga, Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Cheilanthes depauperata Gannaga Pass. Cheilanthes hastata Widespread in open areas. Cheilanthes induta Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Pellaea pteroides Myrtle Fern. Kirstenbosch. Pteris dentata Grootvadersbosch.

Schizaeaceae Schizaea pectinata Curly Grass Fern. Cape Point.

Gymnosperms

Cupressaceae Widdringtonia nodiflora Mountain Cypress. Fernkloof (PGC), Kirstenbosch, etc.

Pinaceae Pinus pinaster Alien. Widely naturalised. Pinus radiata Alien. In plantations but not naturalised.

Podocarpaceae Afrocarpus falcatus Outeniqua Yellowwood. Grootvadersbosch. Podocarpus elongatus Leaves narrower than P.latifolius. Kirstenbosch.

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Podocarpus latifolius Grootvadersbosch. Angiosperms Palaeodicotyledons

Lauraceae Cassytha ciliolata False Dodder. Yellowish parasitic vine. Widespread.

Piperaceae Peperomia tetraphylla Epiphytic in Grootvadersbosch. Leaves in whorls of 4 with flowers in narrow terminal whitish spikes.

Monocotyledons

Agapanthaceae Agapanthus africanus Gone over at Betty’s Bay burn site.

Alliaceae Tulbaghia capensis Allium scented. Flowers purple. Darling area. Tulbaghia dregeana Allium scented. Flowers in nodding heads, cream with yellow fleshy ring in the throat. Hantam botanic garden.

Amaryllidaceae N.B. most are autumn flowering. Ammocharis longifolia Noted in leaf? Boophone haemanthoides Leaves in a spreading fan. Leaves at Nieuwoudtville and Gannaga Pass. Brunsvigia bosmaniae Leaves broad and leathery. Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Brunsvigia spp. Leaves of one or more species widespread. 5 occur in the area. Crinum variabile Leaves, waterside vegetation, Nieuwoudtville. Crossyne flava Leaves 4 to 6, prostrate, narrow, leathery with coarse bristly margins. Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Crossyne guttata Leaves in Darling area, Nieuwoudtville, etc. Gethyllis campanulata Leaves many, narrow and wiry. Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Haemanthus coccineus Leaves at Gannaga Pass. Haemanthus sanguineus Leaves 2, prostrate and leathery. Cape Point.

Anthericaceae Chlorophytum triflorum Flowers white, reddish on reverse. West Coast NP. Chlorophytum undulatum Flowers white with dark keels, 15 to 18mm across. Nieuwoudtville. Chlorophytum spp. Others were probably overlooked, although only 3 other species in range and possibly in flower at this time.

Aponogetonaceae Aponogeton angustifolius Aquatic. Lanceolate leaves. Tienie Versveld etc. Aponogeton distachyos Aquatic. Broader leaves. Widespread in ponds.

Araceae Zantedeschia aethiopica Calla Lily. Widespread and very common.

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Asparagaceae Asparagus aethiopicus Recorded? Asparagus asparagoides Mamre. Asparagus capensis Darling area. West Coast NP. Asparagus ovatus West Coast NP. Asparagus retrofractus Gannaga Pass. Asparagus rubicundus Kirstenbosch and West Coast NP. Asparagus scandens Kirstenbosch. Asparagus suaveolens Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Asparagus spp. Other species probably overlooked.

Asphodelaceae Aloe arborescens Grootvadersbosch, and between there and De Hoop. Aloe dichotoma Kerkeboom. Quiver Tree Forest. Aloe mitriformis Leaves short, margins have prickles. Flowers scarlet in drooping heads.Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Aloe variegata Leaves with white mottling. Flowers red, drooping. Karoo stop en route to Nieuwoudtville. Aloe sp. Karoo. Branched, lvs spine edged, anthers exserted. Aloe sp. Gannaga. Long spiked inflorescence. Bulbine seen were all yellow flowered, with densely bearded filaments. Bulbine alooides Leaves at Nieuwoudtville, broad with hairy margins. Flowers March to May. Bulbine annua Annual, leaves many in basal rosette, long pedicels. West Coast NP. Bulbine frutescens Shrublet. Nieuwoudtville to Calvinia roadside and Karoo. Bulbine ?haworthioides Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Species name? Bulbine lagopus Geophyte to 40 cm, formong tufts. Near De Hoop. Bulbine praemorsa Succulent leaves. Tienie Versveld and Nieuwoudtville. Bulbine torta Leaves coiled, flowers in short racemes. Karoo. Bulbine spp. Several were unidentified, including one at Ceres. Bulbinella have long-lived flowers, usually in a conical raceme, and smooth filaments. Bulbinella caudafelis To 80cm. White flowers with pink tinge in narrow spikes. Karoo and west of Bredasdorp. Bulbinella eburniflora To 75cm. Small creamy white flowers, with musty odour. Nieuwoudtville. Bulbinella elegans To 60cm. Flowers small in conical racemes, yellow or white tinged pink. Nieuwoudtville. Bulbinella latifolia latifolia Spikes of yellow flowers. Probably present, Nieuwoudtville. Bulbinella latifolia doloritica Spikes of deep orange red flowers. Some still in bloom at Hantam, Nieuwoudtville Bulbinella nutans To 1m. Yellow conical racemes of flowers. Locally numerous at Nieuwoudtville, e.g. around the guest farm. Bulbinella triquetra To 35 cm. Flowers in subcorymbose to narrowly conical raceme. Darling area etc. Kniphofia uvaria Red Hot Poker. Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve etc. Trachyandra have white flowers. Trachyandra falcata Robust with leathery sickle-shaped leaves and dense racemes of White flowers. Nieuwoudtville. Trachyandra hirsutiflora Flowers in a hairy unbranched raceme. This species?, west coast of the peninsula.

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Trachyandra muricata Flowers in branched panicles, nodding. West Coast NP. Trachyandra revoluta Perennial to 90 cm, flowers in divaricate panicle, nodding with Recurved tepals. Cape Point. Trachyandra spp. Quite a number were unidentified.

Colchicaceae Androcymbium (Colchicum) burchellii Bracts white. Quiver Tree Forest. Androcymbium crispum Leaves crisped and bristly. Karoo near Calvinia. Androcymbium eucomoides Bracts green. Cape Point. Androcymbium pulchrum Bracts reddish. Hantam, Nieuwoudtville. (=A. latifolium). Androcymbium volutare Leaves narrow and coiled. Karoo near Calvinia. Baeometra uniflora Orange flowers. Observatory and roadside west of Bredasdorp. Onixotis stricta Aquatic. Spikes of pinkish white flowers. Nieuwoudtville, near First lunch site. Ornithoglossum vulgare Dark maroon tepals, nodding. Quiver Tree Forest. Wurmbea spicata West Coast NP. Common at Ceres. Wurmbea variabilis Gannaga, Karoo, locally common.

Commelinaceae Commelina africana Flowers yellow. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC).

Convallariaceae Eriospermum capense Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Eriospermum sp. Leaves at Ceres.

Cyperaceae Sadly there was little time to devote to sedges. Cyperus spp. Unidentified. Ficinia filiformis De Hoop. Ficinia spp. Others unidentified. Tetraria thermalis Cape Point and Betty’s Bay.

Haemodoraceae Wachendorfia brachyandra Apricot flowers. Recorded? Wachendorfia multiflora Flowers dull yellow to brown. Kirstenbosch and Darling area. Wachendorfia paniculata Flowers apricot. Locally very common, e.g. Darling area, meadow Grootvadersbosch to De Hoop, etc. Wachendorfia thyrsiflora Golden yellow flowers in a spike. Kirstenbosch. As a note of interest became much commoner further east, at Tsitsikamma.

Hyacinthaceae Albuca are Ornithogalum like and sometimes included in that genus. They differ in erect inner tepals, with at least the inner filaments pinched below. Albuca aurea Flowers erect, yellow with green keels. In the Watsonia laccata field near Grootvadersbosch. Albuca cooperi Yellow flowers with green keels. Inner tepals hinged at tip. Waylands, Nieuwoudtville, etc. Albuca flaccida To 1m. Flowers yellow. Inner tepals with hinged fleshy flap. West Coast NP and probably the observatory. Synonym Albuca canadensis.

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Albuca fragrans To 1m, flowers in drooping racemes, yellow with green keels. West Coast NP. Albuca juncifolia 15 to 30 cm, flowers yellow with green keels, drooping. Observatory. Albuca maxima To 150 cm, white flowers with green keels, nodding, inner tepals with hinged fleshy flap. Widespread and locally numerous. Albuca namaquensis Leaves hairy. Flowers nodding, dull yellow with greenish keels. Quiver Tree Forest. Albuca spiralis Leaves spirally twisted, glandular hairy, flowers green, outer tepals with cream to yellow margins. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Gannaga. Albuca is a complex genus and several others were certainly present, future tours will certainly unearth others. Drimia exuviata Leaves erect, leathery, and greyish. Flowers rotate, white with green keels.West Coast NP lunch site. Drimia multifolia To 20 cm, coiled filiform leaves. Hantam, Nieuwoudtville. (Tenichroa multifolia). Eucomis regia Pineapple Lily. Leaves prostrate. Flowers in a greenish leafy spike. 1 at Nieuwoudtville waterfall, and a few nearing De Hoop. Lachenalia bulbifera Striking nodding red flowers. Several in one site at De Hoop. Lachenalia contaminata Leaves several, flowers white with brown markings. Near the De Hoop Collection, Leopard Tortoise site. Lachenalia elegans Leaves with maroon spots, no pedicels, variable in colour, anthers not protruding. Nieuwoudtville. Lachenalia juncifolia Purple marked lvs and stems, long pedicels, anthers exserted. De Hoop. Lachenalia longibracteata Leaves 1or 2, plain or spotted, each flower with a long bract. Darling area. Lachenalia mutabilis 1 leaf with undulate margins. Short pedicels, urn-shaped. Brown tips to flowers, anthers slightly protruding. Nieuwoudtville. Lachenalia pallida Leaves 1 or 2, flowers cream to dark yellow with brown or green markings.Tienie Versveld. Lachenalia pustulata Anthers exserted, leaves pustulate or not, flower colour variable. Babiana ringens stop. Lachenalia unifolia This species at Oudepost? Lachenalia zebrina Leaves and lower stems strongly patterned in purple. Karoo. Lachenalia was one of the most complex and poorly identified genera of the tour! Massonia has a sessile inflorescence between leaves that are appressed to the ground. Massonia depressa Leaves often spotted. Nieuwoudtville gone over, also Karoo gone over. Massonia echinata Small. Little Karoo at Tradouw’s Pass. Massonia grandiflora Probably this species in flower at the koppie before Ceres. Massonia pustulata Leaves strongly pustulate. Several in fruit in the dunes at De Hoop. Ornithogalum concordianum Coiled leaves. Flowers yellow. Erect? Probably this species in the Tanqua Karoo. Ornithogalum hispidum 10 to 40 cm, bracts small, flowers white. Cape Point, and very small plants not in flower at Nieuwoudtville. Ornithogalum maculatum Short, flowers orange or yellow, outer tepals often with a dark tip. West Coast NP and Nieuwoudtville.

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Ornithogalum multiflorum Very small examples, orange flowers, West Coast NP last stop. Ornithogalum nannodes Leaves of this species at Nieuwoudtville. Very small plant. Ornithogalum suaveolens Flowers yellow with green keels. Nieuwoudtville. Ornithogalum thyrsoides Showy white flowers. Darling area, e.g. TV. Ornithogalum spp. Others not identified. Polyxena maughanii To 5 cm, 2 leaves. In fruit at Nieuwoudtville. Veltheimia capensis Robust with impressive inflated fruits. In fruit at Hantam, Nieuwoudtville,and Gannaga Pass. Whiteheadia bifolia Pagoda Lily. Leaves prostrate, white flowers in a dense conical spike. Several at Nieuwoudtville waterfall.

Hypoxidaceae Empodium sp. Autumn Star. Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Spiloxene aquatica White flowers, in pools. Nieuwoudtville. Spiloxene canaliculata Flowers yellow or orange with dark centre. Tienie Versveld. Spiloxene capensis Flowers yellow or white, centre usually iridescent blue or green. Scattered records, e.g. south of Gordon’s Bay (PGC), observatory, Ceres. Spiloxene flaccida Yellow flowers, more than 1 per scape. Cape Point? Spiloxene ovata Flowers yellow or white, 1 per scape. Cape Point, and near Ceres. Spiloxene serrata Flowers white or yellow, 1 per scape. Nieuwoudtville.

Iridaceae Aristea have actinomorphic blue flowers. Aristea spiralis Very large flowers. A few at Hermanus burn. Aristea africana Probably this species in Breede River Valley. Babiana has pleated leaves. Stems, leaves, or bracts hairy. Flowers usually blue to violet. Babiana ambigua Flowers blue to mauve with white to cream markings. Cape Point, Tienie Versveld, De Hoop. Babiana angustifolia Dark blue flowers, inverted, ‘lower’ tepals with black markings. Damp areas at Tienie Versveld. Babiana ecklonii Stem erect and well developed. Flowers violet with dark blue and cream markings. Roadside stop before Clanwilliam. Babiana flabellifolia Very short. Flowers violet with cream markings. Dolerite at Hantam,Nieuwoudtville. Babiana fourcadei Flowers mauve with yellow and violet markings. Plants near Honeywood keyed out as this species but somewhat to the west of known range. Babiana framesii Flowers dark blue to purple with white markings, tube curved. Nieuwoudtville. Babiana lineolata To 25cm and often branched. Pale blue with yellow markings. Ceres lunch site. Babiana minuta Gone over at Nieuwoudtville. Babiana nana Flowers blue or purple with white markings. Babiana ringens site. Babiana patula Short. Flowers mauve to blue with yellow markings. Very strongly fragrant.Roadside stop near De Hoop. Babiana ringens Main spike axis sterile. Flowers red at ground level. Several on roadside near Mamre. Babiana rubrocyanea Flowers actinomorphic, blue with red centre. Common at Waylands.

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Babiana sambucina Flowers mauve to violet with white markings, tube straight. Nieuwoudtville. Babiana scariosa Stem erect and branched. Flowers mauve and yellow. Resembles a Gladiolus. Gannaga Pass. Babiana stricta Flowers weakly zygomorphic, blue, white or yellow. Satyrium coriifolium site in Breede River Valley, and West of Bredasdorp. Babiana tubulosa Flowers white to cream with red markings. Postberg. Babiana vanzyliae Flowers yellow. Rather common at Nieuwoudtville. Babiana virginiana Flowers white, or blue and yellow. Common at one site near the Lodge at Gannaga Pass. A local endemic of the Roggeveld Escarpment. Babiana spp. A few species were possibly overlooked. Bobartia gladiata Rush Iris. Gone over at Cape Point. Chasmanthe floribunda Still just in flower in West Coast NP. Dietes iridioides Common in leaf at Grootvadersbosch. Ferraria, Spider Irises, have dull coloured flowers with crinkled margins and fringed style crests. Ferraria crispa Flowers brown. West Coast NP. Ferraria divaricata Flowers yellowish to blue with dark spots and margins. Nieuwoudtville. Also near Ceres? Ferraria uncinata Flowers yellow to purple. Clanwilliam. Freesia alba This or similar at the observatory. Introduced? Geissorhiza has leaves usually with a midrib and thickened margins, flowers usually actinomorphic. Geissorhiza aspera Spike of blue flowers. Common at Cape Town Observatory, and also at Waylands. Geissorhiza divaricata Flowers small, white to pale mauve, dark mauve on reverse. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Geissorhiza heterostyla Leaf margin strongly thickened. Flowers blue to purple, stamens with one shorter filament. Nieuwoudtville. Geissorhiza imbricata Flowers white to yellow. Waylands. Geissorhiza inaequalis Leaf margin lightly thickened.Flowers pale blue, stamens with one shorter filament. Nieuwoudtville. Geissorhiza monanthos Flowers dark blue with pale centre edged with a dark ring. Waylands. Geissorhiza ovata Flowers white, deep pink on reverse. Hermanus burn. Geissorhiza radians Flowers deep blue violet, with red centre edged with white. Common at Waylands. Geissorhiza splendidissima Flowers blue with black centre. Nieuwoudtville. Geissorhiza sulphurascens Flowers white to cream. Nieuwoudtville. Geissorhiza spp. Others were unidentified. Gladiolus has leaves usually with a definate midrib, inflorescence a spike of usually zygomorphic flowers. Gladiolus alatus Flowers large, orange with yellow on lower tepals. Darling and Ceres areas. Gladiolus bullatus Blue bell shaped flowers with yellow band on lower tepals. 3 on De Hoop flats. Gladiolus carinatus Flowers blue and yellow. Babiana ringens site. Gladiolus carneus Flower white with strong pink markings. 1 at Tradouw’s Pass. Gladiolus ceresianus Short. Flowers dull purplish with erect dorsal tepal. This was the Species on Ceres burn slopes. Gladiolus debilis Flowers white with red markings. Cape Point, going over. Gladiolus hirsutus Flowers pink. Fernkloof (PGC).

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Gladiolus liliaceus Flowers large, brown. Turn mauve and become intensely fragrant in evening. Common between Bredasdorp and Stanford. Gladiolus quadrangularis Leaves x-shaped in cross section. Flowers red. Common on one roadside north of Ceres. Gladiolus rogersii Flowers blue with yellow markings on lower tepals. 2 at Grootvadersbosch. Gladiolus scullyi Flowers dull yellow to light brown. Gannaga etc. Gladiolus tristis Flowers cream with brown shading. De Hoop Watsonia aletroides roadside,and common on roadsides Bredasdorp to Stanford. Gladiolus venustus Flowers purple with yellow markings on lower tepals. Nieuwoudtville and Ceres etc. Gladiolus watermeyeri Flowers large, pearly grey with dark veins, lower tepals green. 1 at Nieuwoudtville, lunch on first day. Hesperantha flowers usually actinomorphic, often opening late afternoon. Hesperantha bachmannii Flowers white and nodding. Nieuwoudtville. Hesperantha cucullata Flowers white, red outside. Nieuwoudtville. Hesperantha falcata Flowers white or yellow, outer tepals red on outside. Cape Point Watsonia coccinea site. Hesperantha pauciflora Flowers pink. Nieuwoudtville. Hesperantha pilosa Leaves hairy, flowers white. Possibly this species at Cape Point Watsonia coccinea site. Hesperantha radiata Flowers white, nodding, outer tepals red on outside. Nieuwoudtville. Hesperantha vaginata Flowers large, cup-shaped, yellow with brown markings. Nieuwoudtville,numerous in one area of Hantam botanic garden, and in wild flower reserve. Ixia has actinomorphic flowers, with pale or rust coloured bracts, membranous or dry, on wiry stems. Ixia dubia Orange to yellow flowers with dark centre, bracts translucent pink. Waylands and Tienie Versveld. Ixia maculata Flowers orange to yellow with dark star-like centre. Waylands. Ixia micrandra Flowers pink with filiform tube. Tredouw’s Pass, De Hoop Watsonia aletroides roadside stop, etc. Ixia rapunculoides Blue funnel shaped flowers. Common around Nieuwoudtville. Ixia scillaris Flowers pink with filiform tube. Ceres lunch site. Ixia spp. Several were unidentified. Lapeirousia jacquinii Short, leaves ribbed, flowers zygomorphic, purple with whitish streaks on lower tepals. Darling area, Nieuwoudtville etc. Lapeirousia oreogena Short, leaves ribbed, flowers actinomorphic, violet with cream and black markings in centre. A few flowers and many leaves at Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve. Melaspherula ramosa Fairy Bells. Numerous cream flowers on delicate much branched atems. In sheltered situations at Boulders, West Coast NP, Nieuwoudtville, etc. Micranthus junceus Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Moraea have either iris-like flowers with unequal tepals, or with all tepals more or less equal. Moraea angusta Stem nodes sticky. Tepals unequal, yellow. Waylands and Watsonia laccata meadow, Grootvadersbosch to De Hoop. Moraea anomala Tepals unequal, yellow with darker yellow nectar guides. Clanwilliam botanic garden car park!

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Moraea aristata Flowers white with dark blue to emerald nectar guides, the outer tepals much larger. This beautiful species was locally common at the Cape Town observatory, it’s only remaining station. Moraea bellendenii Outer tepals much large than inner, yellow. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC). Moraea bifida Very similar to Moraea miniata but with a single leaf. Abundant At Nieuwoudtville. Moraea ciliata Very short with blue iris like flowers. Clanwilliam botanic garden paths, and De Hoop lunch site. Moraea collina Stem flexed outwards above leaf sheath. Yellow flowers, subequal tepals. Kirstenbosch. Moraea fenestrata Tepals subequal, salmon, with tepal claws narrowed at the base forming a windowed floral cup. A few at one stop in the Tanqua Karoo before Gannaga Pass. Moraea flaccida Single leaf. Flowers salmon with yellow centre, or entirely yellow, tepals subequal. Waylands, West Coast, and Ceres. Moraea fugacissima Stemless, yellow flowers, tepals subequal. 1 by the road at the second Ceres burn stop. Moraea fugax Tepals unequal. Locally common. Waylands (pale blue), West Coast NP (dark blue), etc. Moraea gawleri Small iris like flowers. Waylands (brick red), abundant at Ceres (yellow),Tradouw’s Pass (yellow), and scattered elsewhere. Moraea lewisiae Leaves at Nieuwoudtville. Moraea longistyla Leaf single, tepals subequal, yellow or salmon. Lunch site near Ceres. Moraea lugubris Short, leaves 2, Flowers deep blue with yellow nectar guides, iris like.Locally common at Cape Point, 1 at Ceres lunch site. Moraea macronyx Stemless, unequal tepals, white and yellow flowers. 1 near Ceres at the third burn stop. Moraea miniata Tulp. Leaves 2 or 3. Flowers salmon or yellow. Widespread and Locally numerous, e.g. Cape Town observatory, Nieuwoudtville, Calvinia etc.etc. Moraea neglecta Tepals unequal, yellow with darker stippling on outer tepals. Fernkloof (PGC), Cape Point, Ceres. Moraea odorata Nieuwoudtville, Hantam. Moraea pritzeliana Coiled leaves, not in flower. Nieuwoudtville. Moraea tricolor Short. Variable flower colour, tepals unequal. Waylands. Moraea tripetala Inner tepals reduced to a short tooth. Flowers blue to violet. Widespread, variable, and locally numerous, e.g. Waylands, Tienie Versveld, Nieuwoudtville (abundant) and Ceres. Moraea vallisbelli Short, single leaf, tepals subequal, flowers yellow or pink with darkly outlined yellow nectar guides. Locally common at Nieuwoudtville. Moraea vegeta Tepals unequal and of a distinctive dull purple brown. In one group at the observatory. Moraea villosa Very showy with three large purple outer tepals with dark markings. 1 in fynbos at Kirstenbosch. Moraea virgata Yellow flowers. CP roadsides, PGC. Nivenia stokoei Bush Iris. Gone over at Betty’s Bay burn.

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Romulea are often acaulescent, with actinomorphic flowers. A large genus, many are impossible to identify without examining corm characters. Romulea cruciata Magenta with dark blotches around yellow centre. This species at Waylands? Romulea flava Yellow flowers. Numerous at Ceres. Romulea hirta Pale yellow flowers, sometimes with chestnut blotches at edge of cup. Nieuwoudtville. Romulea leipoldtii Flowers cream with yellow cup. Recorded? Romulea monadelpha Flowers red with black and silvery markings in cup. Nieuwoudtville, dolorite at Hantam. Romulea montana Flowers yellow, darker in the throat. Nieuwoudtville. Romulea rosea Flowers pink to magenta. Ceres. Romulea sabulosa Flowers dark red, with black blotches in green cup. Nieuwoudtville. Romulea tabularis Flowers blue with yellow cup. Tienie Versveld. Romulea tortuosa Flowers yellow with darker markings in the throat. Ceres third burn site. Romulea spp. Many others were not identified, including several very small Flowered species. Sparaxis have dry and papery or crinkled and solid bracts, streaked with darker flecks, and flowers on firm fleshy stems. Sparaxis bulbifera Flowers subactinomorphic, creamish. Wetter parts of Waylands. Sparaxis elegans Flowers actinomorphic, salmon with purple and yellow centre. A beautiful species. Nieuwoudtville, locally common, e.g. porcupine quill stop. Sparaxis grandiflora Flowers subactinomorphic, yellow. Lawns at observatory in Cape Town. Sparaxis pillansii Another beautiful actinomorphic species but only in leaf at Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve. Sparaxis tricolor Flowers actinomorphic, orange scarlet, with yellow centre edged black. A beautiful species. Locally common at Nieuwoudtville, e.g. first lunch site. Watsonia have spikes of two-ranked numerous pink, orange or red flowers. Watsonia aletroides Narrow tubular red flowers. De Hoop roadside, west of Bredasdorp roadsides etc. Watsonia coccinea Pink flowers. Burn site near Cape Point. Watsonia laccata Flowers pink. Common in one field between Grootvadersbosch and De Hoop. Watsonia spectabilis Flowers large and scarlet. Roadsides Stanford to Hermanus. Witsenia maura Bokmakieriestert. Woody shrub, spreading. Cape Point, not in flower. Only a few specimens are known. Xenoscapa fistulosa Fairy Pipes. Very small plant with zygomorphic white flowers. A few at Gannaga Pass and Ceres lunch site.

Juncaginaceae Triglochin bulbosa Tienie Versveld and Breede River Valley.

Lanariaceae Lanaria lanata Leaves and old fruiting heads at Hermanus burn.

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Orchidaceae Bartholina burmaniana Spider Orchid. Lip much divided into narrow linear lobes. Locally common on Ceres burn slopes. Corycium crispum Leaf margins crisped. Flowers yellow with green lip appendage. Growing wild in Clanwilliam botanic garden. Corycium ingeanum Nieuwoudtville. This species is not treated in Stewart et al. ‘Wild Orchids of Southern Africa’. Very similar to C.orobanchoides. Corycium orobanchoides Flowers yellow green with purple petal apices. Locally common, e.g. Cape Point, Darling area, West Coast NP. Disa bracteata Flowers in dense raceme, green with maroon tinted sepals, spur pendent. 2 on roadside west of Bredasdorp. = Monadenia bracteata. Disa obliqua Pink flowers. Cape Point. = Schizodium obliquum. Disperis bolusiana Single yellowish green or white flower. c.3 at Ceres. Disperis capensis Single flower, green and magenta, sepals tailed, lip limb curled downwards. c.10 at Cape Point. Disperis villosa 1 to 4 yellowish green flowers. Darling area, West Coast NP, Ceres, etc. Holothrix aspera Plant hairy. Petals white. Ceres. Holothrix secunda In leaf at Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Holothrix villosa Plant hairy. Flowers green. A few at Ceres. Liparis capensis Gone over at Cape Point, Watsonia coccinea site. Monadenia atrorubens Flowers beetroot red. Cape Point, Watsonia coccinea site. = Disa atrorubens. Monadenia rufescens Flowers lime green with purple petals. Cape Point, Watsonia coccinea site.. = Disa rufescens. Polystachya ottoniana Epiphyte. In leaf at Grootvadersbosch lunch site. Pterygodium catholicum Rather widespread. Near Darling, Ceres, west of Bredasdorp, etc. Pterygodium hallii Flowers ‘upside-down’. A few at Nieuwoudtville. Pterygodium pentherianum A few at Nieuwoudtville. Pterygodium volucris 3 or so on De Hoop sandy plains. Satyrium bicorne Flowers dull yellow tinged purplish brown. Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, West Coast NP, etc. Satyrium candidum Flowers white, faintly tinged pink. Probably 1 of this species at Ceres. Satyrium carneum Robust plant. In leaf on De Hoop flats. Satyrium coriifolium Flowers orange. Roadside north of Fishhoek, and in Breede River Valley. Satyrium erectum Flowers pink. Abundant on one roadside at Nieuwoudtville. Also at Ceres. Satyrium odorum Flowers green tinged dull purple brown. Betty’s Bay roadside on the last day, where several. Schizodium cornutum Pinkish white flowers with narrow sepals. Several at Ceres.

Poaceae This family received little attention! Briza maxima Briza minor Hyparrhenia hirta Lagurus ovatus

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Merxmuellera cf stricta Poa annua Pennisetum setaceum Pentaschistus curvirostris

Prioniaceae Prionium serratum Oliphants River at Clanwilliam.

Restionaceae Many species of restio were present, but there was little time in which to work on them. Elegia capensis Grootvadersbosch Elegia filiacea Cape Point. Elegia mucronata Grootvadersbosch Hypodiscus sp. Grootvadersbosch Staberoha sp. Betty’s Bay burn. Thamnochortus insignis Dunes at De Hoop. This species? Willdenowia incurvata West Coast NP. This species?

Tecophilaeaceae Cyanella alba Flowers solitary on wiry pedicels, white, outer tepals flushed maroon on reverse. Nieuwoudtville Cyanella hyacinthoides In leaf at Nieuwoudtville. Cyanella lutea Flowers in elongate racemes, yellow with brown veins. Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve. Cyanella orchidiformis Flowers in elongate racemes, mauve with purple centre. Knersvlakte.

Eudicotyledons Aizoaceae Many more species of this large and complex family were seen than are listed here. Even identifying many to generic level is the province of an expert on the family. Over 1,000 species occur in the Karoo, the most speciose radiation of any plant family anywhere in the world. Acrosanthes teretifolia Waylands. Adenogramma glomerata Nieuwoudtville etc. Aizoon paniculatum Sprawling, with small magenta flowers. Waylands. Argyroderma delaeti Karoo. Aridaria ?sp. Quiver Tree Forest. Carpanthea pomeridiana Yellow flowers. Waylands. Carpobrotus edulis Hottentot Fig. Cape Point, West Coast NP, locally common. Conicosia pugioniformis Near Mamre. Conophytum comptonii In leaf at Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Conophytum sp. Karoo. Dorotheanthus bellidiformis Livingstone Daisy. Waylands. Drosanthemum speciosum Roadsides near Robertson. Eurystigma clavatum Karoo. Galenia fruticosa Karoo. Galenia sarcophylla Nieuwoudtville, Hantam. Galenia africana Nieuwoudtville. Leipoldtia schultzei Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Malephora crocea Karoo? Mesembryanthemum guerichianum Karoo, species?

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Pharnaceum aurantium Nieuwoudtville. Prenia sp. Quiver Tree Forest. Ruschia spinosa Karoo, common. Pink. Tetragonia fruticosa Cape Point, near Mamre. Tetragonia nigrescens Near Mamre. Tetragonia portulacoides Nieuwoudtville. Tetragonia rosea Magenta flowers. Clanwilliam.

Amaranthaceae (Includes Chenopodiaceae) Atriplex lindleyi Karoo. Suaeda fruticosa Berg River at Velddrif. Several weedy chenopods were seen, and several halophytes in salt marshes, e.g. Salsola spp. and Sarcocornia spp.

Anacardiaceae Laurophyllus capensis Densely leafy evergreen shrub. Dioecious, panicles of yellowish flowers. Grootvadersbosch. Rhus burchelli Gannaga Pass. Rhus chirindensis Grootvadersbosch. Rhus crenata De Hoop dunes. Rhus glauca Cape Town Observatory, De Hoop, etc. Rhus laevigata Near Mamre. Rhus lucida Cape Twon Observatory and Kirstenbosch. Rhus tomentosa Kirstenbosch. Rhus undulata Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve.

Apiaceae Very few umbellifers were seen. Arctopus echinatus Bristly leaves appressed to the ground, with central flowers/fruits surrounded by very spiny bracts. Darling area, West Coast NP, Nieuwoudtville, etc. Annesorhiza altiscapa Tall slender umbellifer. Nieuwoudtville. Torilis arvensis Alien. Gannaga Pass.

Apocynaceae (Includes Asclepiadaceae) Carissa bispinosa Num-num. Grootvadersbosch. Cynanchum africanum Brown twisted petals and a white corona. Babiana ringems site. Cynanchum obtusifolium Climber with dull green flowers and a white corona. Kirstenbosch. Gomphocarpus fruticosus Shrub with nodding clusters of cream flowers. Fruits swollen with fleshy projections. Grootvadersbosch. Hoodia bainii Karoo. Microloma sagittatum Climber with tubular pink to red flowers. Pointed petals. Pollinated by sunbirds. Darling, West Coast NP, etc. Microloma tenuifolium Climber with tubular orange to red flowers. Rounded petals. Pollinated by sunbirds. West of Bredasdorp. Stapelia/Orbea??? In fruit. Roadside near De Hoop.

Aquifoliaceae Ilex mitis Kirstenbosch.

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Asteraceae This is a vast family in the region and many more species than are listed here were present but unidentified. Arctotheca calendula Cape Weed. Widespread. Arctotis acaulis Nieuwoudtville, Hantam and wild flower reserve. Arctotis breviscapa Near Mamre. Arctotis fastuosa Quiver Tree Forest. Arctotis revoluta Nieuwoudtville. Berkheya armata Watsonia laccata field between Grootvadersbosch and De Hoop. Berkheya coriacea De Hoop roadside. Berkheya fruticosa Nieuwoudtville. Berkheya glabrata Nieuwoudtville, Hantam. Berkheya onobromoides Recorded? Chrysocoma ciliata Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Corymbium africanum Cape Point. Cotula coronopifolia Tienie Versveld. Cotula microglossa Nieuwoudtville. Cotula nudicaulis Nieuwoudtville. Cotula turbinata Native weed, widespread. Cullumia setosa Cape Point. Cullumia squarrosa Cape Point. Didelta carnosa Recorded? Didelta spinosa Scattered in north-west. Dimorphotheca nudicaulis Cape Point. Dimorphotheca pluvialis Near Mamre. Dymondia margaretae Field full near De Hoop. Stemless, low, with yellow flowers. Edmondia pinifolia An ‘everlasting’. In bud at Grootvadersbosch. Edmondia sesamoides This species on slope near Stanford? Elytropappus rhinocerotis Renosterbos. Dominant in, and giving its name to, renosterveld. Eriocephalus africanus Wild Rosemary. Cape Point etc. Eriocephalus racemosus West Coast NP. Eriocephalus spinescens Karoo. Euryops linearis De Hoop limestone. Euryops speciosissimus Cedarberg. Euryops tenuissimus Nieuwoudtville. Felicia australis Widespread annual, e.g. Nieuwoudtville. Felicia filifolia Nieuwoudtville. Felicia heterophylla Waylands. Felicia hirsuta Karoo. Felicia hirta Clanwilliam. Felicia namaquana Karoo. Felicia tenella West Coast NP. Gazania krebsiana Karoo. Gazania lichtensteinii Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Gazania pectinata De Hoop. Gazania rigida Nieuwoudtville. Gorteria diffusa Beetle Daisy. Nieuwoudtville. Gorteria personata Darling area, Nieuwoudtville etc. Gymnodiscus capillaris Small yellow flowered annual. Cape Point. Hypochoeris radicata Alien. Scattered records, e.g. observatory lawns. Helichrysum dasyanthum Grey woolly with yellow flowers. De Hoop.

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Helichrysum revolutum Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve. Metalasia fastigiata Clanwilliam. Metalasia muricata Locally common at De Hoop. Oedera capensis Fernkloof (PGC). Oedera squarrosa Lunch site near Ceres. Oncosiphon suffruticosum Karoo and Nieuwoudtville. Osmitopsis asteriscoides Cape Point. Osteospermum clandestina Near Mamre. Osteospermum incana Mamre?, Nieuwoudtville, and Karoo. = Chrysanthemoides incana. Osteospermum monilifera Widespread and common. = Chrysanthemoides monilifera Osteospermum pinnatum Quiver Tree Forest. Osteospermum sinuata Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Othonna coronopifolia West Coast NP. Othonna erythrochaeta Nieuwoudtville, in seed. Othonna quercifolia Quiver Tree Forest. Phaenocoma prolifera An ‘everlasting’. Fernkloof (PGC) and slope near Stanford. Polyarrhena reflexa Kirstenbosch and Fernkloof (PGC). Pteronia glauca Gannaga Pass. Synonomy? This name is not in Cape Plants. Rhychopsidium pumilum Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Senecio arenarius Cape Point etc. Senecio cakilefolius Karoo. Senecio elegans Cape Point. Senecio erosus Nieuwoudtville. Senecio littoreus West Coast NP. Senecio panduratus Nieuwoudtville, in fruit. Stoebe sp. Tradouw’s Pass. Syncarpha argyropsis De Hoop. Syncarpha speciocissima Fernkloof (PGC). Syncarpha vestita Kirstenbosch and Cape Point. Ursinia anthemoides Darling area and Nieuwoudtville. Ursinia cakilifolia Nieuwoudtville. Ursinia paleacea De Hoop roadsides. Ursinia pilifera Nieuwoudtville.

Bignoniaceae Tecoma capensis Cape Honeysuckle. Trumpet shaped orange flowers. Native Somewhat further east but naturalised occasionally in our area.

Boraginaceae Amsinckia retrorsa Alien. The only species listed in Cape Plants but surely more than one species present. Anchusa capensis Typical alkanet with blue flowers. Nieuwoudtville, Papkuilsfontein. Codon royenii Roughly hairy shrublet. Large cream flowers with purple stripes. Quiver Tree Forest. Echium plantagineum Purple Viper’s Bugloss. Alien. Locally numerous. Lobostemon are small shrubs with usually hairy leaves and funnel shaped blue to pink flowers. Lobostemon cuneifolius De Hoop flats and Stanford. This is not the correct name as not in Cape Plants. Lobostemon fruticosus Flowers blue to pink, hairy outside. Waylands, where common.

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Lobostemon laevigatus Reddish branches, leaves leathery with rough white margins. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Lobostemon montanus Leaves silvery hairy, blue flowers hairy outside. Cape Point. Myosotis arvensis Field Forget-me-not. Alien. Observatory. Trichodesma africanum Quiver Tree Forest, 1 plant.

Brassicaceae Heliophila africana Annual with blue flowers. Observatory, Cape Town. Heliophila alata Willowy perennial with blue white-centred flowers. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Heliophila coronopifolia Annual with blue flowers. Darling area etc. Heliophila subulata Grootvadersbosch to De Hoop. Heliophila spp. Several other species were seen but not identified. Some 60 species occur.

Bruniaceae Shrubs, mostly ericoid. Leaves spirally arranged, needle-like, with a minute dry black tip. Flowers small, often cream or white. Sepals and petals 5. Near-endemic to Cape Fynbos. Berzelia abrotanoides Flower heads c.10mm diameter. Kirstenbosch. Berzelia lanuginosa Flower heads c.5mm diameter. Fernkloof etc. Berzelia spp. Others not identified. Brunia noduliflora Probably this species at Cape Point, and elsewhere? Brunia spp. Only 6 spp. occur. Others certainly present. Nebelia paleacea Recorded! Staavia radiata Cape Point. Other species of Bruniaceae were unidentified.

Campanulaceae Cyphia are erect or twining herbs with white to purple flowers, equally five lobed or two lipped, and split down the side. Cyphia bulbosa Erect, Kirstenbosch. Cyphia crenata Twining with white to mauve flowers. Babiana ringens site and West Coast NP. Cyphia volubilis Twining with showy white to purple flowers. Kirstenbosch and Cape Point. Cryphia spp. A few others were not identified. Lobelia coronopifolia Tufted shrublet, to 30cm, with large flowers. Fernkloof, Cape Point etc. Lobelia pinifolia Erect shrublet, to 50cm. Scattered records. Lobelia spp A few others were not identified. Wahlenbergia calcarea Flowers white with darker reverse. De Hoop limestone. Wahlenbergia prostrata This species in the Karoo?

Caryophyllaceae Cerastium capense Apparently the mouse-ear was a native species. Dianthus sp. In leaf at Nieuwoudtville, Hantam dolorite. Silene gallica Alien. Observatory etc. A locally common weed. Silene pilosellifolia Hermanus burn. Silene undulata West Coast NP. Silene sp. Small purple flowers. West Coast NP. Silene spp. A few others unidentified.

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Kohlrauschia velutina Alien. Cape Point and Betty’s Bay. Stellaria media Alien. Scattered records.

Celastraceae Gymnosporia senegalensis Kirstenbosch. Maytenus acuminata Fernkloof (PGC) and Kirstenbosch. Maytenus oleioides Kirstenbosch and Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Putterlickia pyracantha West Coast NP.

Convolvulariaceae Convolvulus capensis Cape Bindweed. Wild in Clanwilliam botanic garden.

Cornaceae Curtisia dentata Fernkloof (PGC).

Crassulaceae Cotyledon orbiculata Large succulent leaves, clusters of nodding tubular red flowers. Scattered records, e.g. Cape Point, Gannaga Pass etc. Crassula alpestris Reddish, leaves traingular and opposite. Dense clusters of white flowers. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Crassula atropurpurea Red fleshy leaves. In bud at Tradouw’s Pass. Crassula ?comptonii Nieuwoudtville waterfall rocks. Crassula fascicularis Clusters of tubular cream flowers. CP Hermanus burn slope. Crassula pellucida Starry white flowers. Possibly this species at Cape Point. Crassula muscosa Scale like leaves, small yellowish flowers in upper axils. Nieuwoudtville waterfall etc. Crassula natans Red patches in wet depressions. Nieuwoudtville etc. Crassula nudicaulis Reddish, leaves in basal rosette, Tiny white flowers in spike-like inflorescence. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Crassula pyramidalis Karoo ruined building stop before Ceres. Crassula quadrangularis Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Crassula umbella In leaf at Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Crassula sp. Striking pink flower spikes. Koppie north of Ceres. Crassula spp. A few other species were unidentified. Tylecodon paniculatus Distinctly shaped with tree-like fleshy trunk. In leaf. Near Nieuwoudtville etc. Tylecodon wallichii In leaf. Nieuwoudtville, Karoo.

Cunoniaceae Cunonia capensis Butterspoon Tree. Kirstenbosch. Other species of the genus in New Caledonia. Platylophus trifoliatus Tree. Tradouw’s Pass.

Dipsacaceae Scabiosa africana Shrublet to 1m. Roadsides near Cape Point. Scabiosa columbaria Only on hillside west of Bredasdorp. Native here as well as in Europe.

Droseraceae Drosera cistiflora Narrow leaves up stem. Large flowers. Waylands where a variety of colours. Betty’s Bay burn.

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Drosera hilaris Kirstenbosch. Drosera pauciflora Stemless with large flowers. Leaves at Cape Point. Flowers at Waylands. Drosera trinervia Rosettes of reddish leaves. Kirstenbosch, Fernkloof, Cape Point – in flower.

Ebenaceae Diospyros glabra Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Diospyros whyteana Kirstenbosch. Euclea racemosa De Hoop.

Ericaceae Erica bruniifolia Drooping heads of white flowers. De Hoop coffee stop. Erica cerinthoides Fire Heath. Tight clusters of tubular red flowers. Hermanus burn. Erica coccinea De Hoop limestone, yellow flowered form. Large tubular flowers with protruding anthers. Erica coriifolia Urn-shaped pink flowers. Fernkloof (PGC) and Cape Point. Erica cubica The common pink flowered species at Grootvadersbosch, colouring the hillside. Erica hirtiflora Numerous small hairy ovoid pink flowers. Kirstenbosch. Erica hispidula Small urn to bell shaped flowers, white, pink, or red. Grootvadersbosch. Erica imbricata Small calycine flowers, white or pink with exserted anthers. Cape Point. Erica mariae Large dark red tubular flowers. De Hoop limestone. Erica perspicua Prince-of-Wales Heath. Pink flowers with white tips. Betty’s Bay to Hermanus. Erica plukenetii Red tubular flowers with protruding anthers. Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, Tradouw’s Pass. Erica sessiliflora Large tubular light green flowers. Fernkloof (PGC). Erica versicolor Grootvadersbosch and Tradouw’s Pass.

Euphorbiaceae Clutia pulchella Kirstenbosch. Euphorbia burmanii Shrublet with leaves soon falling to leave green twiggy stems. West Coast NP. Euphorbia caput-medusae Medusa’s Head. Shrublet with rosette of club-shaped branches. West Coast NP. Euphorbia decepta 1 site in the Karoo. Euphorbia decussata Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Euphorbia erythrina De Hoop. Euphorbia helioscopia Alien. Observatory Euphorbia mauritanica Shrub with yellow petal-like glands. Locally common, e.g. West Coast National Park. Euphorbia silenifolia Similar to E.tuberosa but leaves narrower. Burnt slope at Betty’s Bay. Euphorbia tuberosa Stemless with long narrow leaves. Burn site near Ceres. Euphorbia sp. Spiny cushion at Gannaga Pass.

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Fabaceae Acacia karoo Locally numerous as in Karoo. The following alien Acacias, all from Australia, are widespread:- Acacia cyclops Acacia longifolia Acacia mearnsii Acacia melanoxylon Acacia pycnantha Acacia saligna Aspalathus hispida Flowers pale yellow to white. Waylands Flower Reserve. Aspalathus incurvifolia Narrow leafy spikes with yellow flowers. De Hoop limestone, e.g. lunch site. Aspalathus ternata Sandvelt east of Velddrif. Aspalathus spp. A number were not identified. A very large genus. Bolusafra bituminosa Tar Pea. Bitumen scented, with yellow flowers. Kirstenbosch. Dipogon lignosus Cape Sweet Pea. Large trifoliate leaves and racemes of pink flowers. West Coast, Grootvadersbosch, etc. Dolichos decumbens Creeping with heads of strongly sweet-scented purple flowers. Nieuwoudtville. Hypocalyptus coluteiodes Shrub with striking racemes of magenta flowers. Grootvadersbosch. Indigofera are herbs or shrubs with pink flowers, the keel petals with a sac or spur. Indigofera glomerata Betty’s Bay burn. Shrublet with racemes of purple flowers. Indigofera heterophylla Prostrate with bright pink flowers. Nieuwoudtville. Indigofera procumbens Trailing with erect racemes of orange to purple flowers. Tienie Versveld. Lebeckia plukenetiana Spikes of yellow flowers. Tienie Versveld. Lessertia frutescens Sutherlandia. A striking small shrub with red flowers and large swolled papery pods. Widespread and locally common. Lotononis hirsuta Sprawling softly hairy, with yellow flowers with brown flecks on standard. Nieuwoudtville, Hantam and wild flower reserve. Lotononis umbellata Prostrate with clusters of yellow flowers. Kirschtenbosch, as we joined the track at the top of the path in the fynbos. Podalyria, Cape Sweetpeas, are silvery hairy shrubs, with simple leaves and pink purple or white flowers. Podalyria argentea Cape Point. Podalyria calyptrata Small tree to 5m. widespread in the south of the area. Podalyria myrtillifolia De Hoop limestone. Podalyria sericea Shrublet to 1m. West Coast. Prosopis glandulosa Naturalised and numerous in the Karoo. Psoralea pinnata Tree with narrowly pinnate leaves and purple flowers. Fernkloof (PGC) and this or a similar species at Grootvadersbosch. Rafnia, Ink Peas, are hairless and bluish, with simple leaves. Rafnia capensis ssp.pedicillata Hairless with terminal heads of yellow flowers. Betty’s Bay burn. Rafnia ovata South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC). Vicia benghalensis Alien. Widespread and locally common, e.g. observatory. Virgilia oroboides A pink flowered tree. Kirschtenbosch, Grootvadersbosch. Wiborgia, Pennypods, are shrubs with yellow flowers, and woody pods that are rounded and winged. Wiborgia monoptera Pale yellow flowers. This species in fruit at Nieuwoudtville? Wiborgia tetraptera Flowers whitish flushed purple. Nieuwoudtville.

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Xiphotheca reflexa Silver Pea. Shrublet with silvery leaves and yellow flowers at branch ends. A number of legumes were unidentified.

Fumariaceae Cysticapnos vesicaria Climbing annual with small pink flowers and inflated fruits. Darling area, West Coast NP, etc. Fumaria muralis Alien. Widespread. This is the only naturalised species listed in Cape Plants but it appeared that more than one was present. Trigonocapnos lichtensteinii Twining annual with long racemes of pink flowers. Nieuwoudtville waterfall.

Gentianaceae Chironia sp. In fruit, red berries. De Hoop dunes. Sebaea aurea De Hoop lunch site? Or a different species as most had 5 yellow petals not 4. Sebaea exacoides Flowers yellow or white with orange streaks in throat. Scattered records, e.g. West Coast NP.

Geraniaceae Erodium cicutarium Common Stork’s-bill. Alien. Observatory etc. Widely naturalised. Geranium incanum Kirstenbosch. Monsonia = Sarcocaulon Monsonia crassicaule Spiny succulent with large yellow flowers and long typical stork’s-bill fruits. Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Monsonia salmonifolia Pink Candle Bush. Spiny shrub with pink flowers. Tanqua Karoo NP. Monsonia speciosa Not spiny. Flowers white to pink. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC). Pelargonium anethifolium Finely divided umbellifer like leaves, umbels of yellowish green flowers. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Pelargonium articulatum In leaf at Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve. Pelargonium betulinum Shrub. Leaves somewhat leathery. White to pink flowers. De Hoop limestone. Pelargonium cucullatum Large leaved shrub. Kirstenbosch not in flower. Betty’s Bay to Gordon’s Bay, in flower. Pelargonium myrrhifolium Leaves divided into narrow lobes. Pink flowers with darker markings. Kirstenbosch, West Coast National Park. Pelargonium triste Basal tuft of leaves. Pale yellowish flowers with darker markings on long peduncle. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC), Darling area, Hermanus, etc. Pelargonium fulgidum Scarlet flowers. Common in West Coast NP. Pelargonium hirtum Flowers dark pink. West Coast NP. Pelargonium magenteum Magenta-purple flowers. Probably this species Gannaga and Karoo. Pelargonium scabrum Shrub. Deeply lobed lemon scented leaves. White to pink flowers. Clanwilliam. Pelargonium spp. Several were not identified.

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Grubbiaceae Shrubs. Inflorescence a small axillary cone-like cluster. Flowers minute, reddish, and star shaped. Sepals 4, petals absent. Ovary inferior. Endemic to Cape Fynbos. Grubbia rosmarinifolia Locally common at Grootvadersbosch.

Kiggelariaceae Kiggelaria africana Wild Peach. Kirstenbosch.

Lamiaceae Ballota africana Whorls of purple flowers. West Coast NP. Leonotis leonurus Whorls of orange tubular flowers. Tradouw’s Pass etc. Plectranthus fruticosus Probably this species at Grootvadersbosch. Salvia africana-caerulea Blue flowered grey leaved shrub. Darling area. Salvia africana-lutea Golden-brown flowered grey leaved shrub. West Coast NP, Darling area De Hoop. Salvia dentata Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Salvia disermas Mauve flowers. Roadsides at Nieuwoudtville? Salvia lanceolata Dull pinkish flowers. Babiana ringens site. Stachys aethiopica White to pink flowers. West Coast NP. Stachys arvensis Alien. Obseravtory. Stachys aurea Yellow flowers. Gannaga Pass. Stachys rugosa Grey shrub, pink flowers, foetid. Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve.

Loranthaceae Septulina glauca Stem parasite with tubular flowers greyish green flsuhed red. On Lycium?

Malvaceae Anisodontea scabrosa Pink flowers. De Hoop flats. Hermannia are shrublets or perennials with small yellow, red or pink flowers with spirally twisted petals and globular to bell-shaped calyces. Hermannia grandiflora Karoo. Hermannia hyssopifolia Cream to pale yellow flowers. Kirstenbosch. Hermannia johanssenii Grey shrublet with nodding deep yellow flowers. Nieuwoudtville and Karoo. Hermannia pinnata Scented orange flowers. Roadside Babiana ringens site. Hermannia saccifera Yellow flowers. Tradouw’s Pass. Hermannia trifoliata Red flowers on erect branches. De Hoop. Hermannia trifurca To 1.5m. Mauve flowers. Sandvelt east of Velddrif. Hermannia verdoorniae Shrublet with nodding pink flowers. Nieuwoudtville, Hantam. Hermannia spp. Several others not identified. A large and complex genus. Hibiscus trionum Alien. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC).

Meliaceae Nymania capensis Chinese Lanterns.

Melianthaceae Trees or shrubs. Racemes of green, brown or red flowers. Sepals 5, petals 4 or 5. Melianthus comosus Flat leaves, racemes with one flower at each node. Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve.

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Melianthus elongatus Leaf margins rolled under, racemes of 2 to 4 flowers at each node.West Coast NP. Melianthus major Large greyish leaves and long stalked racemes of maroon flowers. Scattered records, locally common.

Molluginaceae Adenogramma glomerata Annual with with small axillary clusters of white flowers. Nieuwoudtville etc. Limeum africanum Small green and white flowers. Mamre, West Coast NP etc. Pharnaceum aurantium Shrublet, white flowers on long purplish white-glaucous peduncles. Nieuwoudtville

Montiniaceae Shrubs or small trees. Flowers white, regular, star shaped. Sepals and petals 4. Montinia caryophyllacea Glaucous shrub with terminal white flowers. Kirstenbosch and Cape Point.

Moraceae Ficus cordata Namaqua Fig. Nieuwoudtville area.

Myricaceae Morella quercifolia De Hoop. = Myrica quercifolia.

Myoporaceae Myoporum tenuifolium Cape Town.

Myrsinaceae Myrsine africana Cape Myrtle. Kirstenbosch. Rapanea melanophloeos Cape Beech. Kirstenbosch and Grootvadersbosch.

Neuradaceae Prostrate hairy annuals. Flowers yellow and cup shaped. Sepals and petals 5. Grielum grandiflorum Flowers yellow with a green ‘eye’. West Coast NP, where flowers closed due to poor weather. Grielum humifusum Flowers yellow with white central area. Clanwilliam area.

Oleaceae Olea europaea ssp.africana Wild Olive. Scattered records, e.g. Kirstenbosch.

Oliniaceae Olinia ventosa Hard Pear. Tradouw’s Pass.

Orobanchaceae Harveya purpurea Broadly funnel shaped pink flowers direct from the ground. A few on slope near Stanford. Harveya squamosa Spike of tubular orange/yellow flowers. A few in West Coast NP, and a few on roadside north of Clanwilliam. Hyobanche glabrata Sparsely hairy red flowered root parasite. 4 at one site in Tanqua Karoo.

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Hyobanche sanguinea Densely hairy crimson flowered root parasite. Locally common at Cape Point, West Coast NP, near Ceres, and several other sites. Orobanche minor Alien. Observatory and Kirstenbosch. Orobanche ramosa Alien. East of Velddrif.

Oxalidaceae Oxalis ambigua Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Oxalis flava Leaflets narrow. In leaf at Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Oxalis luteola Yellow flowers, leaves trifoliate. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC), Cape Point. Oxalis obtusa Flower colour variable, often salmon. Wedge or heart shaped leaflets. Widespread, Cape Point, Nieuwoudtville etc. Oxalis pes-caprae Yellow flowers, several on peduncle. Widespread and locally common. Oxalis purpurea Purple flowered form widespread and common. Oxalis versicolor White flowers with purple margins. Cape Point and Breede River Valley. Oxalis spp. Several others seen but unidentified.

Papaveraceae Argemone ochroleuca Mexican Poppy. Alien. Scattered.

Penaeaceae Shrubs, mostly hairless. Leaves opposite in 4 ranks. Flowers yellow or pink. Sepals 4, brightly coloured and petal like. Petals absent. Ovary superior. Endemic to Cape Fynbos. Penaea cneorum Small yellowish flowers. Fernkloof (PGC), Grootvadersbosch. Penaea mucronata Small yellow to red flowers. Kirstenbosch, Cape Point. Saltera sarcocolla Flowers glossy pink. Harold Porter BG, Fernkloof (PGC), Cape Point,Betty’s Bay burn.

Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain. Alien. Widespread.

Plumbaginaceae Limonium perigrinum Flowers magenta. West Coast NP, a few. Limonium sinuatum Purple and white flowers. Nieuwoudtville.

Polygalaceae Muraltia are shrubs, often ericoid, with small usually pink flowers. 110 fynbos species. Muraltia heisteria Kirstenbosch etc. Muraltia ericoides Cape Point. Muraltia harveyana West Coast NP. Muraltia spp. Several others seen but unidentified. Nylandtia spinosa Thorny shrub with small pink flowers and fleshy fruits. Langebaan to Nieuwoudtville etc., locally common. Now included in Muraltia. Polygala bracteolata Kirstenbosch and Hermanus burn. Polygala garcinii Shrublet with needle-like leaves. Waylands. Polygala myrtifolia Shrub with purple flowers. Common and widespread. Polygala recognita Cape Point.

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Polygala fruticosa Shrub with opposite heart shaped leaves. Track at Tradouw’s Pass. Polygala peduncularis Large flowers on long peduncles. De Hoop. Polygala umbellata Shrublet with umble-like clusters of purple flowers. De Hoop. Polygala spp. Several others seen but unidentified.

Polygonaceae Polygonum aviculare Knotgrass. Alien. Rumex cordatus Scattered records.

Portulacaceae Anacampseros sp. Nieuwoudtville waterfall.

Primulaceae Anagallis arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel. Alien. Widespread. Only the blue form seen.

Proteaceae Trees or shrubs. Sometimes dioecious. Inflorescence often with colourful bracts. Sepals 4, petals absent. Ovary superior. Fruit a woody nutlet, often aggregated into a cone. Brabejum stellatifolium Wild Almond. A tree. Kirstenbosch. Diastella divaricata Silky Puff. Shrublet with pink flowerheads. Cape Point, e.g. Hyobanche sanguinea site. Leucadendron have unisexual flowers, the female in cones formed by woody bracts, and the male in dense inflorescences. Leucadendron argenteum Silver Tree. Kirstenbosch. Leucadendron eucalyptifolium Involucral leaves long and yellow in both sexes. Locally common at Tradouw’s Pass. Leucadendron laureolum Involucral leaves large and yellow giving a striking yellow appearance to the plant. Cape Point, e.g. Puff Adder stop. Leucadendron loranthifolium Blue-green leaves. Cederberg. Leucadendron meridianum De Hoop limestone. Leucadendron muirii De Hoop limestone. Leucadendron salignum Male involucral leaves narrow and yellow, female larger and ivory or red. Widespread. Fernkloof (PGC), Cape Point, Nieuwoudtville etc. Leucadendron xanthocomus Involucral leaves yellow. Fernkloof (PGC) and Cape Point. Leucospermum, Pincushions, are shrubs or treeswith medium to large clustered flowerheads, usually yellow or red. Leucospermum conocarpodendron Shrub to 5m. Bright yellow flowers. Cape Point. Leucospermum cordifolium Large orange to scarlet flowers. Fernkloof (PGC) and Stanford area. Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron Creeping with yellow flowers. Cape Point, Mamre, Betty’s Bay burn. Leucospermum rodolentum Grey leaves and bright yellow flowers. Roadsides in sandvelt east of Velddrif. Leucospermum truncatum Yellow flowers fade to orange. De Hoop limestone. Mimetes, Pagoda Bushes, are shrubs or trees with flowers in spikes at branch tips with coloured bracts or inflorescence leaves. Mimetes cucullatus Grootvadersbosch and Betty’s Bay burn. Mimetes fimbriifolius Rocky slopes Cape Point, restricted to the Cape Peninsula.

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Mimetes hirtus In peaty marshes very locally at Cape Point. Protea are shrubs or small trees, with flowers in terminal heads, surrounded by large colourful bracts. Protea compacta Bot River Protea. Tall and lanky, pink bracts. Between Hermanus and Betty’s Bay. Protea coronata Bright green involucral bracts, tips curved inwards and with a white beard. Kirstenbosch. Protea cynaroides King Protea. Large cup-shaped flowers with pink bracts. Harold Porter BG (PGC), also somewhere on last few days of tour! Protea glabra Chestnut Sugarbush. Involucral bracts brownish. Cederberg. Protea laurifolia Cream to pink bracts, outer with horny margins, inner bearded. Nieuwoudtville and Ceres. Protea longifolia Fernkloof (PGC) Protea nitida Waboom. Foliage and bracts silvery. Kirstenbosch, Betty’s Bay area, etc. Protea obtusifolia Narrow flowerheads, cream to red involucral bracts. De Hoop limestone. Protea repens Sugarbush. Narrow flowerheads with cream to red bracts, covered with a sticky gum. Cape Point, over. Tradouw’s Pass. Stanford to Betty’s Bay. Protea scolymocephala Involucral bracts cream or pale green. Cape Point, from the vehicle! Serruria, Spiderheads, have leaves divided into very narrow segments, and often pink or silvery clustered flower heads. Serruria adscendens Kleinmond spiderhead. Possibly this species on burnt slope near Stanford Valley. Serruria villosa Silky leaves and yellow flowerhead. Cape Point. Serruria glomerata Cape Point.

Ranunculaceae Knowltonia vesicatoria Yellowish flowers. Kirstenbosch etc. To become Anemone vesicatoria.

Resedaceae Reseda lutea Yellow Mignonette. Alien. Roadsides near De Hoop.

Rhamnaceae Phylica ericoides De Hoop dunes. Phylica oleaefolia This name is in my notebook but I’m not sure where from!! Phylica pubescens Kirstenbosch and near Betty’s Bay. Phylica spp. 2 at Nieuwoudtville waterfall, 1 at Grootvadersbosch, etc. Trichocephalus stipularis Cape Point.

Rosaceae Cliffortia arborea or arborescens? A very rare and local tree. 1at Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Cliffortia ruscifolia Kirstenbosch, and Cederberg. Rubus sp. Kirstenbosch. Possibly a native species.

Rubiaceae Burchellia bubalina Tree. Grootvadersbosch. Canthium inerme Cape Date. Kirstenbosch. Galium tomentosum Nieuwoudtville.

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Rutaceae Trees or shrubs. Often aromatic. Frequently ericoid. Leaves dotted with oil glands. Flowers mostly white to pink. Sepals and petals 5 (rarely 4). Ovary superior. Acmadenia mundiana Shrub to 1m. Leaves up to 11 x 5mm Common on De Hoop limestone. Acmadenia obtusata Shrublet to 30 cm. Leaves 11 x 1.5mm. De Hoop dunes. Adenandra uniflora Solitary pinkish white flowers with darker medial stripe. Cape Point. Adenandra viscida Flowers in heads of 2 to 10, and sticky. Hermanus burn. Agathosma ciliaris Flowers in terminal clusters, white or mauve. Cape Point. Agathosma imbricata Ericoid shrub with dense clusters of white, pink, or purple flowers. West Coast NP. Agathosma serpyllacea De Hoop limestone. Coleonema ?juniperinum Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Diosma sp. Cape Point. Diosma sp. De Hoop. Euchaetis meridionalis Ericoid shrublet with ascending folded leaves and clusters of white or pink flowers. De Hoop.

Santalaceae Osyris compressa Kirstenbosch. Nieuwoudtville. Thesidium fragile Hemiparasite. Perianth lobes and stamens 4. De Hoop dunes. Thesium are hemiparasites with perianth lobes and stamens 5. Thesium capitatum To 30 cm. Flowers minute and whitish in dense terminal heads. Cape Point. Thesium fragile De Hoop limestone. Thesium lineatum Quiver Tree Forest. Thesium spinosum Spiny. West Coast NP. Thesium strictum Broom-like, to 2m. Kirstenbosch. Thesium viridifolium To 50 cm. Flowers white in dense heads. Cape Point. Thesium sp. very branched Grootvadersbosch. Thesium spp. Several others not identified.

Sapindaceae Dodonaea angustifolia Small tree. Nieuwoudtville waterfall.

Sapotaceae Sideroxylon inerme Milkwood. De Hoop.

Scrophulariaceae Alonsoa unilabiata Karoo koppie, Nieuwoudtville waterfall, Calvinia. Aptosimum indivisum Shrublet with blue and violet flowers. Quiver Tree Forest. Aptosimum procumbens Proatrate shrublet with blue and violet flowers. Karoo. Chaenostoma uncinatum Glandular shrub. Pink flowers. West Coast NP lunch site. Diascia have mostly purple flowers with bright yellow windows, lower petal with pouches or spurs. Diascia cardiosepala Flowers solitary, mauve with purple centre. Nieuwoudtville. Diascia diffusa West Coast NP. Diascia elongata Kirstenbosch. Diascia nana Karoo south of Calvinia. Diascia veronicoides Dark purple flowers in racemes. Nieuwoudtville.

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Diascia sp. Called this in Nieuwoudtville book. 2 long spurs. Nieuwoudtville waterfall. Halleria lucida Tree Fuchsia. Small tree with orange flowers. Kirstenbosch and Grootvadersbosch. Hebenstretia have sessile flowers in dense spikes, white usually with orange fleck at the base of petals. Hebenstretia parviflora Annual. Nieuwoudtville. Hebenstretia repens Annual. Mamre Hebenstretia robusta Shrublet. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC). Darling area. Hemimeris have bright yellow flowers with darker spots, lower lip with pouches or spurs. Hemimeris centrodes Flowers with 2 long spurs. Nieuwoudtville. Hemimeris sabulosa Darling area, West Coast NP. Jamesbrittenia fruticosa Quiver Tree Forest. Lyperia tristis Glandular annual with starry yellow flowers. Babiana ringens site. Manulea altissima Foetid perennial, tall, heads of white flowers, Sandveld east of Velddrif. and in Clanwilliam botanic garden. Manulea cheiranthus Annual with brown thread like petals. South of Gordon’s Bay (PGC). Cape Point NP. Manulea rubra Perennial with reddish brown narrow-petalled flowers. Babiana Ringens site. Microdon dubius Long spikes of yellow flowers. Kirstenbosch. Nemesia have strongly 2-lipped flowers, rather snapdragon like. Nemesia affinis Annual , variable flower colour. Scattered records. Nemesia anisocarpa Annual with yellow lower lip, upper lip white with broader lobes than N.cheiranthus. Nieuwoudtville. Nemesia barbata Lower lip blue to blackish. Very beautiful. Darling, Ceres etc. Nemesia cheiranthus Annual with yellow lower lip with long white upper petals. Nieuwoudtville Nemesia fruticans This species west of Calvinia? Nemesia leipoldtii Flowers large, white with yellow patch. Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve and Karoo. Nemesia versicolor Cape Point, Darling area, West Coast NP. Oftia africana Shrub with toothed leaves and regular 5-lobed white flowers. Kirstenbosch, West Coast NP etc. Phyllopodium cephalophorum Annual with crowded heads of mauve flowers in branched clusters. Cedarberg near Clanwilliam. Polycarena aurea Flowers in clusters, white with yellow upper petal. Nieuwoudtville Waterfall and Karoo. Polycarena lilacina Glandular annual with white to mauve flowers with basal yellow patch on upper petals. Sandvelt east of Velddrif. Pseudoselago spuria Clusters of funnel shaped mauve flowers with 2 upper petals. Mamre. Selago sp. Nieuwoudtville. Zaluzianskya parviflora West Coast NP. Zaluzianskya villosa ‘Drumstick’ of white to mauve 5 lobed flowers, with deeply notched petals. West Coast NP sands. Zaluzianskya violacea Quiver Tree Forest. Verbascum sp. Mullein sp. Verbascum thapsus ? Roadsides south of Gordon’s Bay etc.

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Quite a number of Scrophulariceae, especially in the Manuleae, were unidentified. I’ll bring the monograph next time!

Solanaceae Lycium ferocissimum Thorny shrub with leathery leaves and white to mauve flowers. West Coast NP, and scattered elsehwere. Nicotiana glauca Alien. Shrub with yellow tubular flowers. Karoo etc. Solanum giftbergense Prickly shrub with purple flowers. Sandvelt east of Velddrif. Solanum nigrum Near Honeywood. Solanum tomentosum Prickly shrub with felted leaves and purple flowers. Karoo.

Stilbaceae Trees or shrubs, often ericoid. Inflorescence a spike or axillary clusters. Flowers small, often pink, cream or white. Funnel shaped or tubular. Sepals and petals 5. Ovary superior. Retzia capensis Shrublet with long narrow leaves and tubular orange flowers with black tips. Harold Porter BG not in flower (PGC). Stilbe ericoides Ericoid shrublet. Multi-stemmed. Whorls of 4 leaves. Globular spikes of Pink flowers. Recorded?

Thymelaeaceae Small trees or shrubs, often ericoid. Inflorescence a spike or head. Flowers white, yellow or pinkish, tubular, sepals 4 or 5, petals replaced by 4, 8, or 12 scale-like appendages. Ovary superior. Gnidia juniperifolia Cape Point. Gnidia pinifolia Cape Point. Gnidia sp. Yellow flowers. De Hoop. Passerina ?sp. Kirstenbosch. Passerina galpinii ?? De Hoop limestone. Struthiola argentea Tradouw’s Pass. Struthiola ciliata Kirstenbosch. Struthiola confusa Fernkloof (PGC). Struthiola dodecandra Cape Point. Struthiola sp. Several other species seen.

Viscaceae Viscum sp. Common on Acacia karoo. Viscum continuum, V.obscurum, and V.rotundifolium are possibilities. Viscum sp. Kirstenbosch. Parasitic on?

Zygophyllaceae Roepera flexuosa Shrublet, yellow flowers with reddish markings. De Hoop flats and Cape Point. Roepera foetida Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve, and Karoo. Roepera morgsana Shrub, fleshy leaves, large fruits with 4 wings. West Coast NP. Roepera retrofracta Karoo koppie. Roepera sessilifolia Hermanus burn. Roepera spp. Several others unidentified, including one at Cape Point, and a pink flowered species at De Hoop.

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Systematic List Number 2 Birds

Common Ostrich Struthio camelus West Coast NP, De Hoop etc. Not truly wild populations. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Widespread. Grey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africana West Coast NP, Gannaga Lodge. Cape Spurfowl Pternistis capensis Widespread and common. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Heard occasionally A pair seen in Karoo, before Nieuwoudtville. White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata Cape Town Observatory. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Widespread, e.g. Darling area, Nieuwoudtville, Grootvadersbosch, and De Hoop. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Widespread and common. South African Shelduck Tadorna cana Postberg, Nieuwoudtville, and Karoo. Cape Teal Anas capensis Cape Town Observatory. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Widespread. Cape Shoveler Anas smithii Cape Town Observatory and Tienie Versveld. Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha Tienie Versveld. African Penguin Spheniscus demersus The colony at Boulder’s Beach was approached very closely. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Nieuwoudtville, De Hoop. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Ceres. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Rietvlei. Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor An immature at Berg River in Velddrif. Black Stork Ciconia nigra 1 at Papkuilsfontein. African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Widespread. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash Common and widespread, Cape Town area, Grootvadersboasch, De Hoop. African Spoonbill Platalea alba Berg River and near Ceres. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Widespread. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala Widespread in small numbers. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Berg River and De Hoop. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Berg River. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Cape Town Observatory, Rietvlei, and Berg River. Cape Gannet Morus capensis Off the Cape Peninsula. PGC only? Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus Scattered records, e.g. Cape Town Observatory, Grootvadersbosch. White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus Boulder’s Beach. Cape Cormorant Leucocarbo capensis Numerous at Boulder’s Beach, etc. African Darter Anhinga rufa Cape Town Observatory, Berg River, Ceres. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus Scattered records e.g. Nieuwoudtville and Ceres. Black Kite Milvus migrans Scattered along roads, e.g. R27. African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer From R 27, and near Stanford. Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres 6 in the air en route to De Hoop.

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Black Harrier Circus maurus West Coast NP, Nieuwoudtville, Tanqua Karoo. Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus A few in the Karoo. Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus Kirstenbosch. Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Common on roadsides. Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii Tradow’s Pass, near Swellendam, and near Stanford. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus From the N7, and near Worcester. Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus Widespread. Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides Papkuilsfontein and the Karoo. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Hermanus cliffs. Ludwig’s Bustard Neotis ludwigii Nieuwoudtville (4) and the Karoo (2). Denham’s Bustard Neotis denhami Grootvadersbosch and De Hoop area. Southern Black Korhaan Afrotis afra Darling area, Hantam, and Ceres. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Cape Town Observatory. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata Berg River, Ceres, etc. Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus Darling area, West coast, De Hoop area. Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis After dinner one evening in Langebaan. African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini Boulders. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Berg River. Pied Avocet Recurirostra avosetta Berg River and Karoo. Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus Widespread. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Postberg. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Berg River. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris Nieuwoudtville. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Berg River. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularis Numerous at Berg River. Common Redshank Tringa totanus 1 at Berg River. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Berg River. Little Stint Calidris minuta Berg River. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Berg River. Hartlaub’s Gull Chroicocephalus hartlaubii Locally common, Cape Town to West Coast. Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus Cape Town to West Coast. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Berg River. Swift Tern Thalasseus bergii Boulders and Berg River. Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Common Pigeon Columba livia Towns. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea Widespread. African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix A few in Grootvadersbosch area. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Cape Town, Grootvadersbosch etc. Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola Widespread. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Widespread. Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistra Heard at Tradouw’s Pass. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas Grootvadersbosch. Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus Postberg and De Lande. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Karoo and Swellendam. African Black Swift Apus barbatus Near De Hoop. Little Swift Apus affinis From the N7. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Grootvadersbosch area.

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Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus De Hoop area. White-backed Mousebird Colius colius West Coast NP and Karoo. Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus West coast. Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 1 at Nieuwoudtville. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Berg River. African Hoopoe Upupa africana Honeywood Farm. Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas Quiver Tree Forest. Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor Heard at Honeywood Farm. Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata Heard at De Hoop. Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus Gannaga and Tradouw’s Pass. Also heard at Van Rhyns Pass. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens Heard at Nieuwoudtville. Cape Batis Batis capensis Kirstenbosch (PGC). Heard at Grootvadersbosch. Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus Heard at De Hoop. Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus West Coast, Karoo, De Hoop. Southern Tchagra Tchagra tchagra En route to De Hoop (CC): Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus Kirstenbosch and De Hoop. Common Fiscal Lanius collaris Widespread. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis Grootvadersbosch. House Crow Corvus splendens A few around Cape Town. Cape Crow Corvus capensis Widespread. Pied Crow Corvus albus Widespread. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, Nieuwoudtville, and De Hoop. Fairy Warbler Stenoscira scita Papkuilsfontein and Gannaga. Grey Tit Parus afer Nieuwoudtville. Cape Penduline Tit Anthoscopus minutus Heard in West Coast NP, nest in Karoo. Cape Clapper Lark Mirafra apiata Nieuwoudtville, Gannaga, and De Hoop. Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens Heard near Velddrif, and Karoo. Cape Long-billed Lark Certhilauda curvirostris Heard at Postberg. Agulhas Long-billed Lark Certhilauda brevirostris Heard at De Hoop. Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata Karoo. Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea Karoo and De Hoop. Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris West coast, Nieuwoudtville, Karoo, and De Hoop. Black-eared Sparrow-lark Eremopterix australis A small group in the Tanqua Karoo. Grey-backed Sparrow-lark Eremopterix verticalis Karoo, De Hoop, etc. Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis Widespread. Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus Kirstenbosch and Grootvadersbosch. Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera Tradouw’s Pass. Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola Olifant’s River. Banded Martin Riparia cincta Near Velddrif. White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis Darling area, Grootvadersbosch, De Hoop, etc. Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata Near Velddrif. Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica De Hoop (CC). Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula Widespread. Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata Nieuwoudtville, Grootvadersbosch, De Hoop. Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris Cape Town Observatory.

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Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla Langebaan and Karoo. Levaillant’s Cisticola Cisticola tinniens Boulders and Velddrif. Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapill Grootvadersbosch. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Heard at Tienie Versveld. Seen at De Hoop. Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix Tienie Versveld. Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis Nieuwoudtville. Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa Widespread. Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata Karoo before Nieuwoudtville (PGC). Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica Heard. Cinnamon-breasted Warbler Euryptila subcinnamomea Heard at Gannaga Pass. Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis A pair in the Karoo. Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer Cape Point and Grootvadersbosch. Victorin’s Warbler Cryptillas victorini Grootvadersbosch. Chestnut-vented Warbler Sylvia subcaerulea Heard. Layard’s Warbler Sylvia layardi Karoo. Cape White-eye Zosterops capensis Cape Town area and Grootvadersbosch. Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, and De Hoop. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Widespread. Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor Widespread. Cape Glossy Starling Lamprotornis nitens 2 Karoo before Nieuwoudtville. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio Kirtsenbosch, Cape Point, Nieuwoudtville, De Hoop etc. Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup Karoo. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus Kirtsenbosch and Grootvadersbosch etc. Karoo Thrush Turdus smithii Nieuwoudtville. Cape Robin-chat Cossypha caffra Kirstenbosch, Grootvadersbosch and De Hoop. Karoo Scrub-robin Eryhtropygia coryphaeus West Coast NP, Nieuwoudtville, and Karoo. African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus West coast and De Hoop. Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata Darling area, West coast, Nieuwoudtville, and De Hoop. Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola Nieuwoudtville area and Gannaga. Sickle-winged Chat Cercomela sinuata Nieuwoudtville. Karoo Chat Cercomela schlegelii Karoo. Tractrac Chat Cercomela tractrac Karoo. Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris Nieuwoudtville, De Lande. Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris Tradouw’s Pass. Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens West Coast NP, Nieuwoudtville, Grootvadersbosch, and De Hoop. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta Kirstenbosch and Grootvadersbosch. Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea Cape Point and Grootvadersbosch. Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina Grootvadersbosch. Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa Widespread, e.g. Cape Point, Babiana ringens site, Quiver Tree Forest. Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus Widespread. Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer Grootvadersbosch. Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus Quiver Tree Forest.

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House Sparrow Passer domesticus Widespread. Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus Widespread. Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis Widespread. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus Cape Town Observatory, Karoo, De Hoop, etc. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix West coast, Nieuwoudtville, De Hoop, etc. Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis Widespread. Swee Waxbill Estrilda melanotis Widespread. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Boulders, and Nieuwoudtville. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura A male at De Hoop. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis Widespread, e.g. Boulders, De Hoop. Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis Waylands and Tienie Versveld. African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus West Coast NP, De Hoop. Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis 1 at Nieuwoudtville wild flower reserve. Heard near Grootvadersbosch. Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys Cape Point and Grootvadersbosch. Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Cape Town Observatory and Kirstenbosch. Cape Canary Serinus canicollis Kirstenbosch, Nieuwoudtville, and Grootvadersbosch. White-throated Canary Serinus albogularis Ceres. Forest Canary Crithagra scotops Kirstenbosch and Grootvadersbosch. Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris West Coast NP, Karoo, De Hoop, etc. Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata Kirstenbosch and Grootvadersbosch. Streaky-headed Seedeater Crithagra gularis Grootvadersbosch. Black-headed Canary Crithagra alario Several in the Karoo. Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo. Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis Widespread.

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Systematic List Number 3 Mammals

The nomenclature and systematic order follow ‘Smither’s Mammals of Southern Africa. A Field Guide’, edited by Peter Apps, 2000 edition.

Brant’s Whistling Rat Parotomys brantsii At least three colonies in the Karoo, wih several animals seen very closely. Striped Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio Diurnal. Scattered records including Kirstenbosch, Cape Point, and West Coast NP. Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Naturalised in southwest Western Cape Province and seen in Pinelands. Cape Dune Molerat Bathyurgus suillus Mounds locally numerous. Mounds produced by other molerat species present too. Porcupine Hystrix africaaustralis Sign frequent, including quills, diggings, unearthed roots, and a large burrow at Nieuwoudtville wildflower reserve. Cape Hare Lepus capensis Karoo. Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis Hantam and ? Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit Pronolagus rupestris Gannaga Lodge (CC). Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis Scattered records, e.g. Gannaga Pass and Hermanus. Cape Mountain Zebra Equus zebra zebra Several in Postberg and De Hoop. Red Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus West Coast NP, where translocated. Bontebok Damaliscus dorcas dorcas Postberg and De Hoop, Also Cape Point (PGC). Widely translocated within the species’ natural range. Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis Postberg and the Karoo. Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 3 near Calvinia. Steenbok Raphicerus campestris Rather common, e.g. West Coast NP and the Karoo. Grey Rhebok Pelea capreolus 7 at De Hoop. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepticeros 1 at Postberg, where not native. Eland Taurotragus oryx Large herds at Cape Point, Postberg, and De Hoop. Translocated populations. Caracal Felis caracal 1 seen superbly well at West Coast NP by PGC before the start of the tour. African Wild Cat Felis lybica Probably two animals in the Tanqua Karoo. Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis 3 at Nieuwoudtville, and 2 in the Tanqua Karoo. Striped Polecat Ictonyx striatus Several road casualties seen. Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata De Hoop and Nieuwoudtville. Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon 1 near Honeywood Farm. Small Grey Mongoose Galerella pulverulenta Scattered records including Kirstenbosch, Nieuwoudtville, and Grootvadersbosch. Chacma Baboon Papio cynocephalus ursinus Cape Point, Ceres, De Hoop etc. At the latter the fascinating experience of

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watching animals with remains of a mammal kill. Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops A troop at Grootvadersbosch was a remarkably south-westerly record. Aardvark Orycteropus afer Much sign such as burrows, and diggings into termite nests. Cape Fur Seal Arctocepahlus pusillus Singles at Boulders and Hermanus. Southern Right Whale Eubalaena australis Perhaps 30 to 40 at De Hoop, and a few at Hermanus. Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 2 from Cape Point was a good record.

Systematic List Number 4 Amphibians & Reptiles

Angulate Tortoise Chersina angulata Cape Point and West Coast NP. Leopard Tortoise Stigmochelys (Geochelone) pardalis A large individual at De Hoop. Cape Dwarf Chameleon Bradypodion pumilum In Callan’s garden before the group arrived. Southern Rock Agama Agama atra Cape Point. Black Girdled Lizard Cordylus cordylus niger Cape Point. Western Rock Skink Mabuya sulcata Quiver Tree Forest. Puff Adder Bitis arietans 1 at Cape Point. Plain Rain Frog Breviceps fuscus Heard at Grootvadersbosch. Sand Rain Frog Breviceps rosei Heard at West Coast NP. Cape River Frog Afrana fuscigula 1 at Kirstenbosch. Striped Grass Frog Ptychadena porosissima Cape Point. Clicking Stream Frog Strongylopus grayii Cape Town Observatory. Cape Chirping Frog Arthroleptella lightfooti Heard at Kirstenbosch and Cape Point. Bronze Caco Cacosternum nanum Heard at Grootvadersbosch.

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Systematic List Number 5 Butterflies

I carried the unwieldy standard work ‘Pennington’s Butterflies of Southern Africa’ second edition 1994, edited by Pringle et al., with me in the field, until I discovered the excellent and much more portable ‘Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa’, by Steve Woodhall, Struik 2005. I have included foodplant (FP) details. At this time of year few butterflies were on the wing, and more or less every individual seen was identified and is listed below.

Papilionidae Papilio demodocus Citrus Swallowtail 1 at Clanwilliam Botanic Garden. FP: citrus, Toddalia asiatica, Calodendrum capense, Zanthoxyllum capense, Foeniculum vulgare, etc. etc.

Pieridae Pieris brassicae Large White Commonly naturalised in and around CT, where first seen in 1994. FP: crucifers Pontia helice Meadow White Locally common in Karoo and Nieuwoudtville area. FP: Heliophila spp. and other crucifers. Mylothris agathina Common Dotted Border 2 + at Boulders. FP: Tapinanthus oleifolius, Ximenia caffra, Osyris lanceolata, Colpoon compressum etc. Colias electo African Clouded Yellow A few around Niuewoudtville. FP: Medicago sativa, Trifolium spp., Vicia spp., Robinia pseudacacia

Lycaenidae Theclinae Leptomyrina lara Cape Black-eye A few at Quiver Tree Forest, and Gannaga. FP: Cotyledon orbiculata and Kalanchoe lugardii Cigaritis namaquus Namaqua Bar 1 at Quiver Tree Forest was a good record. FP: Zygophyllum sp? Phasis clavum Namaqua Arrowhead A few at Nieuwoudtville waterfall, and pass lunch site near Calvinia. FP: Rhus spp. Poecilmitis lysander hantamsbergae Calvinia, a few. Very local endemic. This taxon is not treated in Woodhall, but is in Pennington. Chrysoritis chrysantas Karoo Daisy Copper Probably this species photographed by RJ at Gannaga Pass

Lycaeninae Cacyreus dicksoni Dickson’s Geranium Bronze Hantam, Nieuwoudtville. FP: Geranium spp. and Pelargonium spp. Tarucus thespis Fynbos Blue Cape Point (PGC) and Nieuwoudtville waterfall. FP: Phylica imberbis, Saxifraga spp. 57 © Greentours Limited. Visit www.greentours.co.uk for further details. Telephone 01298 83563

Eicochrysops messapus Cupreous Blue Watsonia meadow, Grootvadersbosch to De Hoop. FP: Thesium spp. Zizula hylax Gaika Blue Cape Town Observatory. FP: Ruellia spp., Justicia spp., Oxalis corniculata etc.

Nymphalidae Danainae Danaus chrysippus African Monarch 1 at Cape Town Observatory. FP: Asclepiadaceae.

Satyrinae Tarsocera fulvina Karoo Widow Gannaga Pass. FP: Grasses. Melampius huebneri Boland Brown Widespread in small numbers, Waylands, Tienie Versveld etc. FP: Grasses. Pseudonympha trimenii Trimen’s Brown Hantam, and near Gannaga Lodge. FP: Grasses, including Merxmuellera stricta. Pseudonympha magus Silver-bottom Brown Grootvadersbosch to De Hoop. FP: Grasses.

Heliconiinae Acraea horta Garden Acraea A few at Kirstenbosch. FP: Kiggelaria africana and Passiflora spp.

Nymphalinae Cynthia cardui Painted Lady Widespread in small numbers. FP: Asteraceae etc.

Hesperiidae Metisella metis Gold Spotted Sylph Callan’s garden, Pinelands. FP: Grasses.

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