Volume 4 • December 2007

News from the CREW

hat an incredible year W2007 has been for the REW, the Custodians of CREW programme! Both the C Rare and Endangered summer and winter rainfall Wildflowers, is a programme areas have experienced good that involves volunteers from rains with no shortage of inter- the public in the monitoring esting flowering during and conservation of South Spring. There has been a palpa- Africa’s threatened . ble shift in the way the project CREW aims to capacitate a is operating – it seems to have network of volunteers from gained a momentum that is a range of socio-economic unstoppable. There are a whole backgrounds to monitor Vatiswa Zikishe (CREW CFR as- host of new groups operating and conserve South Afri- sistant), Shela Patrickson (CREW ca’s threatened spe- in KZN, in Mpumalanga, in the co-oridnator for spring 2007) and cies. The programme links and in Namaqualand. Marvin Wagenaar (new Mamre We are receiving excellent CREW biodiversity facilitator) in the volunteers with their local data from a range of volunteer veld in the Garcia State Forest. conservation agencies and groups with so many exciting particularly with local land discoveries and important mon- stewardship initiatives to en- itoring of critically endangered sistant in Vatiswa sure the conservation of key populations many of which are Zikishe, who came highly rec- sites for threatened plant detailed in the groups’ articles ommended from the Outramps species. in this issue. in George. Vatiswa is like a beam of sunshine for our pro- We have a number of new staff gramme, she is highly efficient in the CREW programme. Isabel and has reorganised CREW’s Johnson officially took on the field trip sampling and speci- position of CREW KZN manager men processing system. Rupert in May 2007. She and Desiree Koopman, who volunteered with Marimuthoo (CREW KZN co- CREW for 4 years, has now ordinator) who started with joined our team and he is focus- CREW in March have made a ing specifically on supporting great start to getting CREW Cape Nature with the epic task set–up and working in KZN. We of conserving the Fynbos flora. also have a new CREW as- Rupert has been incredibly busy

 Over the past 6 months there depend on volunteer participa- have been some significant tion and have web-based virtual changes made to the CREW museums where digital photos programme’s orientation within can be submitted with GPS SANBI. During July Wendy coordinates to contribute to Foden, head of the Threatened knowledge of species distribu- Species Programme, resigned. tions. As CREW volunteers As a result I have taken on the tend to access many unexplored responsibility for all threatened areas while looking for special plant issues for the country. plants we would like to ask if you This means that our team now would consider also contributing consists of both CREW person- to these other programmes. In nel and Red List scientists. this edition there are articles CREW has become a primary from the Butterfly, Reptile and component of a broader threat- Arachnid projects to provide you ened plant programme that with further information.on their focuses on the following areas: activities and how to submit your contributions. Phetole Manyama CREW Red List 1. Conducting Red list assess- officer standing with Protea comp- ments for all of South Afri- The South African Red List is al- tonii a near threatened species in ca’s indigenous plant species most complete……..you may be Itala Nature Reserve. 2. Monitoring the status of experiencing déjà vu - have I not threatened plant populations been saying this for the past surveying rare plants on the in the wild via the Custodians year? Well the size of the task Cape Nature lowland reserves of Rare and Endangered Wild- was vastly underestimated but and conservation Stewardship civil society volunteer we are really nearly done now sites. Pethole Manyama, who programme with only a few Succulent Karoo comes from Modjadji in Limpopo, and Limpopo species receiv- 3. Providing threatened plant has joined CREW as a red list ing final checks. The statistics locality data to land use officer. Pethole will be helping become ever more alarming, we decision makers to minimise start CREW groups in Limpopo now have over 2087 threatened further loss of threatened next year. species in up from plant populations 623 in 1997 a 235% increase! A big congratulations to Ismail, 4. Informing provincial, national All these species require moni- our CREW CFR manager — he and international policy devel- toring as do the 1354 Data has recently been selected opment for the conservation Deficient species. South Africa for the Botanical Society flora of threatened plant species is quite unique in the very high conservation award. This recog- 5. Input into plant recovery numbers of threatened plants nition is well deserved after the programmes conducted by we have – once we submit our 5 years of dedication he has put SANBI’s Botanical Gardens red list to the international into the CREW programme. We and by Provincial conserva- team (based in Cambridge) are all very proud of you, Ismail! tion agencies we will double the number of threatened plants listed glo- CREW’s support to Stew- bally. All of you as volunteers The threatened plant pro- ardship work throughout the are helping us by providing gramme runs in parallel to country has really taken off with much needed information on SANBI’s threatened species both the KZN team and the the status of threatened plant programme that focuses on CFR team each supporting a populations; contributing to set of top priority sites identi- co-ordinating the atlasing and conserving this sizable array of fied for stewardship contracts red listing of groups threatened species something by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and especially those that have not we could most certainly not do Cape Nature. The partnership previously been studied. Cur- without your help! between SANBI’s CREW project rently SANBI is working in and the provincial conservation collaboration with the Animal We hope you all enjoy a well de- agencies stewardship pro- Demography Unit based at the served Christmas break. Many grammes is proving very fruitful as well thanks for all the incredible work with the stewardship projects as with a range of other or- you have done this year! relying heavily on CREW to ganisations and societies on identify high priority conserva- a Reptile atlas, an Arachnid Domitilla Raimondo tion areas where local endemic atlas, a Butterfly atlas and a Threatened Plant Programme  threatened species occur. Bird Atlas. All of these projects Manager CREW CFR update for Spring 2007

he CREW CFR team is we would only ever see it - Tslowly starting to wind down ing in an ex situ environment. A after an absolutely wonderful week later I got a call from one season in the field. This year of our newest volunteers, Koos our field trips were very suc- Claassens to say that he has cessful, visited some incredibly found mathewsii. We special places and found awe- immediately made arrangements some plants. to go back to to see this elusive species. The first We managed to conduct 22 site we visited was right on the C-team field trips this season edge of town and there were Acrolophia barbata from Natures Valley and I would like to thank the approximately 3000 plants. The CREW CFR team for working so next site was even more incred- hard to ensure that we moni- ible. We made an estimation In June we attended the Society tor as many species as possi- of about 70 000 plants, one for Conservation Biology (SCB) ble. We had an amazing trip to could even see the bright yellow conference in Port Elizabeth. Cederberg to monitor Serruria patches from the road. This This gave us an opportunity to flava. We stayed in gets my vote as the best field present our work to an interna- in wonderful little cottages, trip I have ever been on. tional conservation community one of which was named ‘Love and showcase the incredible and Grace’. The Saturday was Other amazing discoveries this contributions our project and spent sampling the fynbos on year has been Tilla’s discovery the CREW volunteers have made the road to Eselbank. This is the of Cullumia selago (last seen in to conservation. only area where Serruria flava 1970, thought possibly to be is known from. We were very extinct) and Metalasia bodkinii CREW led another successful excited to see the first plant (last seen in 1932) from the trip at Fynbos Forum this year. in flower. Sadly the rooibos tea Caledon Swartberg. The CREW We visited Rondeberg Private industry is growing rapidly and team also recently went to Nature owned by Mark and Serruria flava is becoming even Natures Valley and found Ac- Carol Duckitt. Rondeberg is a more threatened due to the rolophia barbata. This is one of really amazing site and while expansion of Rooibos tea planta- the rarest of the orchids and making preparations for the field tions. The next day we headed orchid enthusiast, Bill Liltved, trip we did a count of many spe- off to the area to find has been searching for this spe- cials that have been recorded Sparaxis roxburghii and Geis- cies for 15 years. Jan Vlok also from this farm. A staggering 71 sorhiza louisabolusiae. We did confirmed that he has not seen threatened plants occur on this manage to find the Sparaxis but this species for a long time and farm and it really is the treas- it was already in . It was all the localities he knew had ure chest of the West Coast. fantastic to be out in the fynbos disappeared. and it brought back fond memo- Finally we would like to welcome ries of my Protea Atlas field The CREW team has also been Caitlin back after her two month trips with Tony Rebelo. assisting Cape Nature and sick leave break; she is back in Sanparks in there Overberg Fine the office and feeling great. We This has been a special year Scale Planning Project. CREW also have a new addition to the for CREW. After searching for sampled some key fragments CFR team, Vathiswa Zikishe. Lachenalia matthewsii in the that were classified as either She is originally from George Vredenburg area for 4 years Endangered or Vulnerable to and use to work at the Outeni- we finally got to see the spe- determine what special spe- qua Nature Reserve. Vathiswa cies. After our planned weekend cies occur in those sites and if joined the team in September outing to Vredenburg I was their status should be upgraded as the CREW project assistant very sad that we did not find to ensure that are selected as we are really delighted to have it for yet another year. I was priority areas in the conserva- her as part of the team. Sadly absolutely convinced that the tion plan that will be developed we had to say goodbye to Shela species was extinct and that for the area. Patrickson who was filling in for  Caitlin while she was away. We would like to thank Shela for the amazing work she did over the last four months working with CREW. I hope that she will still stay involved with the CREW programme.

Thanks to all the hardworking CREW volunteers. I think all the groups have had a really good year and I look forward to see- ing everyone at the next CREW workshop. We have decided on a venue and the 2008 workshop will be held in the West Coast National Park at Geelbek. We will send details of the workshop soon.

Ismail Ebrahim CREW CFR Manager Figure 1 Lachenalia mathewsii. Rediscovered after four years of searching

Gladiolus pubigerus

Cameron McMaster, Napier.

Fire is a natural phenomenon in the grasslands of the summer rainfall areas and all grassland species are adapted to regular spring flowers. In fact many species are dependant on regular fires to flower, set seed and germinate in the brief window of opportunity after a grass fire. A rare and fascinating Gladiolus is one such spe- cies. On 7 September 2000 a devastating fire swept the eastern spur Gladiolus pubigerus photographed at of the Amatola mountains above Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape, Patchwood on 4 November 2003 destroying hundreds of hectares of pine plantation. While the loss of the timber was a tragedy, the hundreds of hectares of mountain grassland adjacent to the plantations that had been protected from fire for many years was also burned, triggering a profusion of spring flowers. On 25 October, nearly six weeks after the fire, I set out after the early mist had cleared to explore Kologha Ridge near Dohne Peak. Near the summit of the ridge my heart skipped a beat when I saw at my feet, a number of small gladioli that in 30 years of exploring these wonder- ful mountains, I had not seen before. An interesting feature was the strongly scented yellow-green inflores- cence cocked at right angles to the stem. We subsequently identified it as Gladiolus pubigerus, a species having only been recorded twice before in the Eastern Cape in the 1800s. A quest to unlock the secrets of this rare plant was to be an important part of my botanising for the next few years. Why had we not noticed it before and why had it not been recorded regularly in the Eastern Cape? Con- fined to the montane grassland, it is uncommon and not widespread, occurring in small isolated populations here and there. Plants have only two and rarely three leaves. The lower one is basal, sheathing the lower half of the flowering stem, giving the plant a very grasslike appearance. Its flowers are inconspicuous and can easily be overlooked. Finally, it appears to be dependant on fire to flower. Repeated visits to all the sites where we first found it did not reveal any further flowering plants in years that there was no fire. Over the years this species has been found in a number of spots – it usually occurs as small clumps of just a few plants. In October this year while out with the CREW Hogsback group we found a population of around 20 plants at Rooikop ridge close to Hogsback, subsequently one of the CREW volunteers Elena Joubert has found another population. It is only through extensive surveying that we now have a more accurate idea of this special species distribution and abundance.  Hogsback CREW at the Durban Plant Fair Suvarna Parbhoo, Hugh Glen & CREW Group Phetole Manyama Harold Nicholls he Annual Indigenous CREW volunteer TPlant Fair, organized by the Botanical Society’s Kwa- he Hogsback CREW group Zulu-Natal coastal branch was formed approximately T was held on 1-2 September two years ago and has 8 active 2007. The Custodians of Rare members and around 20 who and Endangered Wildflowers come on occasional outings (CREW) project was exhibited. especially if the group has a The CREW stand provided visiting botanist leading the information brochures to outing. encourage the almost 2000 The Hogsback CREW project visitors to partake in activities has four main objectives; that promote plant conserva- 1. To digitally map all the grass- tion. A fascinating part of the lands, wetlands and forest exhibit was a few of KZN’s areas around Hogsback- Disa lugens, an endangered or- rarer plants, brought live for chid species, the biggest popula- 2. To identify, photograph and the delight of the visitors. The tion of this species occurs in the record on a database all the Clivia miniata and Cyrtanthus flowers that bloom in the Hogsback region.Photograph: Ken Harvey obliquus charmed everyone above areas. This data should with the beauty of their flow- enable CREW to identify the ers. Connoisseurs and stu- threatened and endangered dents of the ultimately rare species were thrilled to see a real, live 3. To provide eco-tourists to Raspalia trigyna on the CREW Hogsback with information on stand – probably the only which flowers are likely to be chance many of us will ever in bloom throughout the year have to see something this and where they can be found. rare and special 4. To develop conservation plans for all the above areas to Various environmental or- ensure that this botanical ganizations were represented. wonder is well maintained The Lepidopterists’ Society, and preserved. a partner of the Threatened The progress to date is as fol- Species Programme, provided lows;- Tritonia disticha. Photograph: Ken Harvey publicity to the South African • 11 grassland , 3 wetland and Butterfly Conservation As- 6 forest areas have been useful to tourists. sessment (SABCA) project identified and mapped • A draft conservation plan that was launched late last • Approximately 100 different for one grassland has been year by SANBI. The SABCA species have been identified prepared. Approval of this team also persuaded the or- in one or more of the above plan by the land owner is still ganizers to have the theme for areas required. this year as Butterfly Plants. • Three endangered species BirdLife promoted SANBI’s have so far been identified newly launched South African • An Access database is cur- Bird Atlas Project II (SABAP II). rently being set up. Approxi- mately 500 records have It was evident that the plant so far been entered in this fair did not only give plant database. enthusiasts a chance to find • The use of the database to that elusive plant or just to promote eco-tourism can get some inspiration for their only commence once the gardens but also taught them database has sufficient in- the importance of plant con- formation entered to make it servation.  CREW in KZN – the first six months

fter the trials and tribula- Ations of setting up office in a non-SANBI organization at Queen Elizabeth Park, the head quarters of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (fortunately during the quiet winter months), flowering season and threatened plant hunts have kept us frantically busy. We have traveled from Mtentu to Wakkerstroom and many places in between and met some fantastic people and seen some amazing plants.

One of the most exciting facets of our work is supporting the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Stew- ardship Programme led by the dynamic Kevin McCann. Starting with eight pilot sites, the pro- Crew folk looking at a Hilton daisy on top of Blinkwater. Note the commer- gramme is now being inundated cial timber transformation in the background. by requests from landowners to Our first PMB CREW outing have conservation sites on their was a really rewarding morning properties. The role of CREW on Saturday 22nd September is to accompany the steward- when over 20 folk arrived at the ship facilitators to the sites and Cleland grassland and set to assist with site assessments counting Brachystelma franksiae and to provide information on susp. franksiae (Apocynaceae). what threatened plant species This is a PMB Red Data List are likely to occur, as well as special, with only one outly- to compile species lists where ing record from Escourt. The possible. We have so far visited plant is seriously threatened seven of their sites. One of the by the seemingly never-ending pilot sites is Roselands near demand for new land for hous- CREW and Rob Scott Shaw at Richmond which has really high ing developments in this rapidly Ithala monitoring Syzigium legatti conservation value with an area expanding city. Aided by good of pristine mistbelt grassland photos of the plant from Peter two other Red List specials (and with oribi, blue swallows and Wragg ( a young botanist from there are probably a lot more Hilton Daisies! We have started UKZN), even the non-botanists species which will appear when collecting for a species list and were soon shouting that they the rains finally arrive).This plan to map the Hilton daisy had spotted one. We GPS’d monitoring work is a really valu- population later this month. each sighting and have now able contribution as we can now got a good idea of the popula- write to the Msindusi Municipal- We are also working with volun- tion size and distribution. The ity (who are custodians of the teers and have a well-known and population appears to be fairly area) and tell them quantitative- long standing group in Pondo- healthy with over 200 indi- ly how important this fragment land (led by the very knowledge- viduals marked. Nothing is yet of grassland is for conservation! able Tony Abbott), and the fan- known about pollination of this tastic botanical skills of David plant, but hopefully a student or We have been really encouraged Styles in the greater Durban CREW volunteer will be willing to by the interest shown by the area. CREW volunteer groups spend a few hours monitoring KZN folk, and by their willing- have started in Greytown (Sue it? Peter compiled a species list ness to get involved in updating Swan), Pietermaritzburg and as we went along and recorded our knowledge of the province’s  Boston. over 70 species with possibly threatened plants. Thanks to the following for help- ing us to get going - Rob Scott- Shaw from the EKZNW biodi- Joining the CREW: versity section, the UKZN Bews Herbarium (NU) and the SANBI Reflections on a tumul- Herbarium in Durban (NH). It has also been a lifesaver having the SANBI KZN National Botani- tuous spring season cal Garden’s facilities and advice close at hand. Rupert Koopman fter a pretty long and CREW CapeNature Botanist Afruitful association with Isabel Johnson the CREW project as a volun- CREW KZN Manager teer and more recently as self named CREWpie, I formally joined the Cape Town team in April with the designation Cape Nature / SANBI Contract Botanist. The position is funded by the Fund. The brief was essentially the same – find and monitor rare and endangered plants but with several twists. I would primarily be assisting CapeNature with matters botanical – on re- serve rares monitoring, inputs Brachystelma petraeum, a vulnera- into landuse decision making, ble endemic from Byrne, recollected stewardship site assessments by CREW in October. and more.

The supreme irony was that this spring season, I spent far less time with the Cape Town CREW team than when I was a volun- teer! However, this was amel- A new population of the Criti- iorated by the fact that I was cally Endangered Babiana nocti- able to immerse myself in all flora, previously only known from things botanical, covering many 1 population. miles, getting to interesting Riverlands vegetation community new places and revisiting some mapping with Cape Nature and of the old familiar places. SANBI collegues

 I spent most of April getting orientated and then hit the road: I spent quite a chunk of the next two months in the Malmesbury, Darling, Slanghoek, Atlantis, Mamre, Vredenburg (amongst others!) areas providing inputs into potential stewardship sites with my Cape Nature colleagues.

For me, the spring season kicked off in mid-July with the national CREW spanbou/planning meet- ing held in Kamieskroon at the Succulent Karoo Knowledge Centre. The annual Namaqualand floral kaleidoscope was already in full swing, with carpets of orange Ursinias greeting us at the Skilpad entrance of the Namaqualand National Park (NNP). The sheer size of the consolidated NNP is (especially by lowlands standards) mind-boggling as it now stretches from Kamieskroon near the all the way to the coast at Hondeklipbaai. I was fortunate enough to spend two more weeks up in Namaqualand map- ping fynbos on the coastal plain and was totally entranced by the vast undeveloped tracts of land and spectacular landscapes.

From this point on, spring dissolves into a blur of fieldtrips and meetings but I’ll try and provide a month by month selected highlights package.

August Tilla and I accompanied Clifford Dorse, of the ’s Biodiversity Management branch, to an amazing remnant of fynbos right next to the Vissershok dumpsite. The site is, of course, threat- ened by development as it is adjacent to a brick factory and the substrate is heavy lateritic soils, which makes great bricks. Intervention is planned and we will definitely be running future CREW trips to the area as it is riddled with rares. Cliff also showed us the Friends of Blouberg’s sand fynbos patch, which had been totally covered by Port Jackson but after three years of clearing was recovering bril- liantly. This gives hope for similarly heavily infested natural veld in the area north of Cape Town and south of Malmesbury.

On the same day, Tilla and I explored the Kalbaskraal remnant. I had visited it in May and found it heavily invaded by dense Port Jackson. On crashing though the thickets, I found thousands of the Critically Endangered Leucadendron thymifolium happily (for now) co-existing with the enemy. On the second visit, we were glad to discover several large pockets of relatively alien clear veld in good condition. This site is known for many rares and we will be monitoring it closely.

September I spent a week in Namaqualand, and the rest of the month catching up with the Cape spring which was now in full swing! CREW agreed to help Cape Nature conduct fieldwork in the Overberg area to provide input into the Overberg Fine Scale Plan. Vathiswa joined the team in September and she, Tilla and I spent 3 days in the Botrivier/Karwyderskraal area searching for rares.

October Another one of my projects is to produce a fine scale map of the awesome Riverlands Nature Reserve which is close to Kalbaskraal and just south of Malmesbury. I got to spend several days doing plots in a very diverse and large fynbos remnant. What a pleasure! Round about this time was also a good time to witness the power of the CREW volunteers in action. Karen Marais and the Friends of have been unearthing several very interesting species and playing an active role in the conservation of key sites in their area, as well as helping me monitor the privately owned Briers Louw / Eensaam- heid Reserve on a monthly basis. Adriaan Hanekom arranged a meeting with the Mayor of Caledon and relevant stakeholders to find a solution to the Shaws Pass conundrum. And our new volunteers on the West Coast have been very active.

It has been a whirlwind 8 months but I have really enjoyed it and working closely with all the CREW  team and volunteers has just enhanced the experience. CREW team building meeting in Kamieskroon

embers of SANBI’s CREW Mproject recently met for the CREW’s annual team build- ing workshop to strategize and highlight some of the current and future goals of the project. The main aim of this workshop was to strengthen the social and working relationships amongst CREW members, and to share ideas on monitoring and conserving threatened plants. The workshop was held at a small town called Kamieskroon in the North- ern Cape. Upon our arrival at Kamieskroon we were graced with the spectacular scenery of flowering plants that the small The CREW team enjoying the carpets of Namaqualand daisies on the gran- town had to offer. The four-day ite slopes of the Kamiesberg. workshop started on a high note where active participation was encouraged by the facilita- tor Bettina Koelle in order to maximize the concept of people working together cooperatively. This taught me a great lesson that increasing efforts through training and team building workshops helps people to work together more effectively in accomplishing shared goals in the presence or absence of colleagues. The workshop did not only focus on monitoring and conserving plants spe- cies but also touched on social issues that might affect us either at the workplace or any- where in life. Bettina highlight- ed some of those predicaments Identifying mesems is tough! Tilla Raimondo and Desiree Marimuthoo try to and discussed ways in dealing identify the mesem Caitlin Von Witt is pointing out. with them without negatively affecting work productivity or other co-workers. Some of the succulent plant was an amazing experience to The workshop was con- families that we managed to see be part of the workshop and it cluded with a field trip to the were the Aloes, many species in was really fascinating for me to Namaqualand Game Reserve and the family Mesembryanthemace- see more than one biome (Suc- surrounding areas. The scenery ae (Vygies) and Asteraceae culent Karoo, Fynbos biome and was truly unusual with patches (Daisies) but most importantly Nama Karoo biome) at a single of succulent vegetation scat- interesting species from the location. tered between heaps of bare Euphobiaceae. I’m currently granite boulders. The landscape doing a genetic study on one of provided one of the most spec- their species for my masters so Phetole Manyama tacular displays of wild flowers. this was interesting for me. It (Red list officer)  Two new CREW groups in Namaqualand

wo new CREW groups have ing the ID guides and the Klein- Tstarted in September and see group is trying to arrange a November based at Springbok website, only for CREW mem- with 18 members and Kleinsee bers, where they can place pics with 21 members. that we will try to identify. Most The first group will be investi- of the specials are of course gating the Sprinbok surrounding succulents that are not only dif- of the Granitic-gneiss complex, ficult to press, but also known the unique Nama geological from such few sites, that one system of Spektakelberg and would not like to collect them. the Steinkopf surroundings with many species only known This brings the number of al- from type localities here. The ready established CREW groups group also wanted to include in Namaqualand to three, with Bushmanland where some of a small group from Soebatsfon- Fenestraria rhopalophylla ssp auran- tiaca, a coastal species with the the CREW members have farms tein consisting of 6 elderly com- and they believe it to be special. most southerly known distribution munity members that started at Kleinsee. Contrary to what I thought, last year. The next group to be these people are so keen to started before December will be start even if it is out of the the Kamiesberg group. with a new Lachenalia species flower season, that follow-up described from recently and a meetings have been arranged The Kleinsee Primary School has possible new Gorteria species. where the procedures will be also indicated that they would The reserve also has a number discussed and a few of the spe- join in the Schools International of very local endemic species. cial plant identification “pass- Plant Monitoring Day and they ports” will be shown. Some have will be doing it in their small Annelise le Roux volunteered to help with compil- local Molyneux Nature Reserve CREW volunteer Plant Monitoring Day 2007– expanding in the CFR

lant Monitoring Day (PMD) were involved-namely Nieu- were thus a bit younger than Pis an annual innovative edu- woudtville in the Northern Cape, the suggested grades 7 to 9. cational exercise aimed at mak- Mamré and Darling on the West Their first site was Uitkamp ing students and their teachers Coast, Green Futures College Wetlands in D’Urbanvale. On aware of the rich diversity of near Gansbaai, Harmony Flats Monday the 3rd of September a plants in their local surround- in Strand and St Francis Bay in group of 14 students from the ings. Participants employ the Eastern Cape. The event nearby Blue Mountains Primary different sampling techniques proved to be a great success School took part. The second using simple plant identification and PMD was incorporated school was The Valley Primary kits and monitoring equipment into the CREW programme as School, situated on Altydge- in order to identify and record one of the core environmental dacht. A group of 16 learners core plant species at selected educational activities. This year was taken to the Altydgedacht sites. The sites are carefully PMD took place at the existing Heritage Site on Friday the 7th chosen, not only for their value six sites as well as at two new of September. to conservation, but also for sites. The new areas chosen their proximity to local schools were Tygerberg and Swellendam. In Swellendam PMD took place as well as their reserve status at Bontebok Park on a cold 7th or equivalent, the latter being The ever enthusiastic Tygerberg September. There were 22 an important factor in order CREW were so excited about children, 12 from Swellendam to ensure their sustainability in the activity that they decided secondary school and 10 from the future. to take two schools out into Bontebok primary school. the field this year. Both were 2006 marked the trial run of primary schools on farms, only At each site students were 10 Plant Monitoring Day. Six areas going up to Grade 6. The kids accompanied by their teachers and CREW representatives. At Bontebok Park the newly ap- pointed People and Conserva- tion officer assisted, as well as the rangers and student rang- ers. Before commencing the monitoring activity, students were briefed as to the context and aims of the conservation educational exercise, the impor- tance of scientific method as well as the types of plants to be monitored. After the briefing, students were provided with a monitoring kit which included: a plant ID booklet and instruction manual especially prepared for the site; 50 m tapes, string, pegs and flags to mark out the plot; quadrats, environmental Placing a quadrat is not always easy in shrubby vegetation. monitoring instruments (GPS, thermometer) and data collec- tion forms and pencils. Once on site, with the help of teach- ers and CREW representa- tives, students set up the 50 x 50m plots and 10 x 10 m plots within these. Air and soil surface temperatures were recorded, fixed point photog- raphy taken and GPS readings for the centre of the 50mx50m plot and the centre of each 10mx10m plot recorded. Stu- dents then worked in groups, with each group working in one of the smaller plots. Here they monitored dominant species in 5 randomly selected quadrats, us- ing random numbers provided in Vathiswa, the new CREW project assistant, helping the students in Mamre the booklet. Following this, they with the random sampling. performed a ‘chicken parade’ that involved walking through the site in rows and systemati- Comments from the Fourcade part each year, the activity cally counting the special (rare Botanical Group were entertain- should spread rapidly through- and/or endangered) species. ing as always. Unfortunately out the CFR. 2008 will mark one of the little boys felt nau- the first year of its national At the end of the fun-filled seous towards the end of the expansion. Long live PMD! morning a question and answer activity because of the smell of session, as well as a brief recap the garlic buchu. Another little CREW would like to thank all of the whole exercise was car- boy seemed to have improved their volunteers involved in PMD ried out. Students with the his counting skills and even for their efforts to make the Tygerberg group were fortunate helped find the metal dropper day a success. Your hard work to enjoy a lunch sponsored by using the GPS. Quite an im- is much appreciated and your the Friends of Tygerberg (at provement considering last year knowledge and guidance will Altydgedacht) and the Uitkamp his counting left a little to be surely aid the students involved Action Group (at Uitkamp). desired (1, 18, 5, 9). in developing a keen interest in The overall response from the biodiversity conservation. students was very positive, Generally feedback has been with many of them asking if they very positive and encouraging. Caitlin von Witt could come again next year! With a few new areas taking CREW CFR co-ordinator 11 Living in Harmony: Children help survey for endangered fauna and flora on plant monitoring day

“Daar’s nog ‘n skoen- African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Table lapper; waar’s die Gee- Mountain Fund (WWF-SA) and PeeEss?” the Botanical Society of South Africa, associated with Cape Action for People and the Envi- “Kyk hierdie mooi blom! ronment (C.A.P.E). The project’s Is hy ge-introduced?” aim is to encourage sound sus- tainable management practices An exciting reptile find, the Parrot- for urban conservation areas beak Tortoise, or Common Padloper. “Hier’s ‘n SLANG!!” so as to benefit surrounding communities, particularly where he air buzzed with excite- incomes are low and living condi- Tment, as 60 Grade 9 learn- tions poor. ers from Rusthof High School explored the wonders of Har- The morning’s activities began mony Flats Nature Reserve with talks by Rupert Koopman on 6 September during Arbor (CREW, Custodians of Rare and Week. Endangered Wildflowers Proj- ect), Silvia and Marienne about Harmony is a tiny green gem the fascinating fauna and flora hidden on the in of the area and on the impor- Strand. The 9-ha plot is sur- tance of conserving the reserve. rounded by extremely poor Then it was off to the field, and communities and rampant urban sprawl. It supports a unique the hunt for flowers, butterflies The common African Monarch. mixture of threatened veg- and reptiles was on. etation, of which there is less than 7% left in the world. The Two species of butterflies were combination of observed at the reserve, one discovery of a Spotted Skaap- and Lowland Fynbos, known as the common African Monarch, steker. Despite its intimidating Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos, is and the other a Silver-bottom name, this handsome snake is home to an astonishing variety Brown. It is hoped that further not dangerous to humans and of plants including the Critically surveys will uncover more and mostly feeds on rodents, liz- Endangered Ixia versicolor. special butterfly species, con- ards, and other snakes. sidering the special plants that Some confusion was caused by Two members of the Animal De- occur in the area. a glimpse of a small stubby leg- mography Unit were as excited less reptile which disappeared by their morning at Harmony An encouraging reptile find quickly under grass tufts before Flats as were the Rusthof kids. was a Parrot-beak Tortoise, or it could be closely inspected. Drs Silvia Mecenero and Mari- Common Padloper. This little Later finds of similar beasts enne de Villiers co-ordinate tortoise, named for its strongly indicated that this was prob- SABCA (the Southern African hooked beak, averages only ably a Common Slug Eater (or Butterfly Conservation Assess- 70–90 mm in length when fully Tabakrolletjie, for its habit of ment) and SARCA (the Southern grown. It once shared Harmony rolling into a tight ball when African Reptile Conservation Flats with the Geometric Tor- threatened), a harmless lit- Assessment) respectively. They toise, but while the more hardy tle snake that eats snails and met up at the reserve with a padlopers were able to survive slugs. team from Cape Flats Nature, the frequent unnatural fires a partnership between the City that plagued the reserve, the According to Sir Francis Bacon, of Cape Town’s Biodiversity Geometrics were not. Much “Knowledge and human power 12 Management Branch, the South excitement resulted from the are synonymous, since the igno- rance of the cause frustrates the effect.” We hope that through the morning of excit- ing discoveries at Harmony, the learners of Rusthof absorbed an understanding of the unique- ness of the small nature re- serve on their doorstep, and the importance of the conservation of ecosystems as a whole. This may, in some small way, em- power them to live “in harmony” with their environment.

Rusthof grade 9s at Harmony flats Nature Reserve on Plant monitoring day.

Now CREW vol- Virtual firsts: the Reptile and unteers can also Butterfly on-line Museums contribute to conservation of Marienne de Villiers & Silvia knowledge of the distribution Butterflies and Mecenero in South Africa, Lesotho and Reptiles! Swaziland of the species within CT’s Animal Demography these two extremely diverse UUnit is spreading its wings animal groups. By compiling - its interests are no longer an up-to-date Atlas and Red confined solely to birds. SANBI Data Book for each group, the and the ADU launched SARCA projects will provide conserva- (http://www.reptiles.sanbi.org), tion agencies with a clear defini- the Southern African Reptile tion of conservation priorities Conservation Assessment, in and will thereby facilitate an 2005. This year SABCA (http:// improvement in the conserva- butterflies.adu.org.za), a sis- tion status of species. ter-project for butterflies, was launched also by SANBI and the An important facet of both ADU. Butterflies and reptiles projects is public participa- are both under-appreciated tion. Reptiles in particular are components of South Africa’s in dire need of a public face-lift natural heritage. There are – an improved understanding close to 500 species of reptiles and appreciation for this much in Southern Africa, compared maligned group is essential for to 680 species of resident effective conservation. SABCA Cape Dwarf Chameleon. breeding birds. In South Africa and SARCA not only work at Photographer: Marienne de Villiers alone, there are 671 butterfly educating members of the species. public about butterflies and reptiles, but also rope in the za). Detailed instructions on Despite this richness, but- public to help collect distribu- how to participate are on the terflies and reptiles tend to tional data. Anyone with email project websites. As CREW vol- be overlooked in conservation and a camera can take part, by unteers spend much time in the plans, partly because available sending in photos of and field with GPS looking for rare information is very incomplete accompanying geo-reference plants we are hoping that you and not easy to access. SABCA data to the projects (sarca@ may be interested in helping us and SARCA aim at improving our adu.org.za and [email protected]. collect data on butterflies and 13 reptiles too. Back at the ADU, data technicians capture the data which are then uploaded onto the Virtual Museums on the project websites, where the photographic records are freely available for anyone to view. The reptile museum, now three years old, currently houses 3300 records. The butterfly atlas, comparatively young, houses about 180 records. We need your photographic records! Whether from your garden or from a remote place in the country, all records are valuable to us. Contact: www.reptiles.sanbi.org www.butterflies.adu.org.za Gold-banded Forrester. Photographer: Jenny Norman South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) – how CREW volunteers can help

outh Africa has a rich Sarachnid fauna with about 4 In 1997 at the Spider Research Pretoria. This unit is the largest 913 known species, which rep- Centre of the Biosystematics centre of arachnid research in resents 6% of the global arach- Unit of ARC-Plant Protection the country, having more than nid diversity. Currently, 75% of Research Institute “The South fifty years of experience working these arachnids are endemic African National Survey of with arachnids. to South Africa. However, our Arachnida” (SANSA) was initi- knowledge of the arachnids is ated to meet the requirements The project consists of five initi- still sketchy in terms of their of the Convention on Biological atives addressing aspects such , ecology and distribu- Diversity (CBD). SANSA is an as accessing existing data, gap tion with large areas still not umbrella project dedicated to analysis, surveys, identification sampled. unify and strengthen biodiver- of existing data, awareness, sity research on Arachnology in capacity building and compiling Arachnids are a group of eight- South Africa. products. The aims of SANSA legged animals and second only are: to insects in abundance and A second phase of SANSA • to discover, describe and diversity among the terres- was launched in September to make an inventory of the trial animals. The class Arach- 2006. This four-year inventory arachnid fauna of South nida comprises 12 living and 5 and conservation assessment Africa extinct orders, of which nine project is a partnership project occur in South Africa. They are between the Agricultural Re- • to organise this information Acari (mites and ticks), Am- search Council (ARC), and the in a database and to make blypygi (whip spiders), Araneae South African National Biodi- the data available to science (spiders), Opiliones (harvest- versity Institute (SANBI). The and society men), Palpigradi (micro whip- Spider Research Centre of the • to use information for sus- scorpions), Pseudoscorpiones ARC-Plant Protection Research tainable use and conserva- (false scorpions), Schizomida Institute is to coordinate this tion planning (schizomids), Scorpiones (scor- second phase of SANSA. Most • to develop products that pions) and the Solifugae (wind of the identification and da- meet the need of the com- 14 spiders). tabasing will be undertaken in munity: Reginald emptying spider traps August 2005. Photographer: Richard Gallon. New baboon spider described from Kruger National Park, Ceratogyrus paulseni. Photographer: Richard Gallon.

• to make people aware submit these along with some Collecting: If you do not have through education and train- basic information by email to a camera but would still like to ing SANSA. The specimens will be participate we can provide you • to build capacity and infra- identified and you’ll receive the with collecting material. On structure. information as soon as possi- receiving these collected speci- ble. The images and data will be mens we will identify them for At the moment more than 30 added to our “virtual museum you and provide a list of names. surveys are underway in all the collection”, which is available The material will be incorporated provinces in collaboration with online for everybody to share. into the database of the South other researchers and institu- Unfortunately many spiders are African National Collection of tions in South Africa. CREW small and we need the specimen Arachnida. If you are interested volunteers are also invited to to do a species identification. in collecting please let Suvarna participate in this national effort However, some larger species Parbhoo know (Parbhoo@sanbi. to document the arachnids of could be identified and a family org) and she will get you the South Africa. and genus name will already go a collecting materials from the long way towards informing and ARC. Photographs: We invite you making people aware of our rich to take digital photographs of arachnid fauna (see www.arc. Participating in collecting arachnids in nature (and your agric.za see SANSA quick link, trips: If you are interested in houses and garden) and to virtual museum) participating in collecting trips please contact us. Volunteers collecting in Mkuzi Nature Reserve. Photographer: Richard Gallon. Collecting areas: If you have a farm or are a reserve man- ager and would like to know the diversity of the arachnid fauna of your farm or reserve you are welcome to contact us as well.

Interested people are welcome tcontact us or visit the web- site. A newsletter is also dis- tributed every three months.

Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman Project manager SANSA [email protected] 15 The Mpumalanga Plant Specialist Group (PSG) CREW work in 2007

he Mpumalanga Plant TSpecialist Group (PSG) was started over 10 years ago, and consists of a group of amateur botanists from all over Mpu- malanga. The members of this group have developed a good knowledge of the provinces’ flora, but tended to perhaps concentrate too much on the woody vegetation. In February 2007, the PSG met with the Tilla and the national CREW team and the PSG decided to shift its focus towards the CREW objectives. So as from February, most of the PSG out- ings (not all of the talks though) have been to areas where the group has tried to relocate or monitor threatened species.

The three main areas of involve- ment from the group will be in: Dioscorea sp nov, a recently discovered restricted endemic that is severely monitoring of very threatened threatened by harvesting of its caudex for Muthi. Photograph by Karin van der plant populations; trying to Walt. relocate Data Deficient plant taxa; and recording the dis- PSG CREW members formed a Critically Endangered medicinal tribution of other threatened line and swept the serpentine plant. Dioscorea sp nov (hope- plant taxa for the Mpumalanga area looking for more plants. A fully to be described soon as D. Tourism & Parks Agency and for total of 43 plants were count- ebutsiniorum) was first discov- SANBI. Monthly outings for the ed. The following day we visited ered in the medicinal plant trade year were then proposed and another lesser known patch and a traditional healer took the PSG have had several CREW of higher-altitude serpentine Gerhard Strydom to where the outings since then. between Carolina and Badp- plants were growing in the wild. laas. Here we found the Vulner- Sadly it is only known from one Our first big outing was in able Gladiolus appendiculatus very small area where about February 2008 to a rocky ridge (Mariepskop form). In Mpuma- 250 plants occur in situ. Half just outside Lydenburg to look langa we recognize 3 distinct of these have been seriously for the Critically Endangered taxa within the G. appendicula- harvested for muthi so the in Adenia wilmsii. I had once found tus complex. situ future of these plants is 3 plants on this ridge about not looking great at all. The PSG 8 years previously. The plants In June we were brave and tried CREW decided that this is a were cryptic but together the to relocate Delosperma zeed- population that would require PSG CREW members were able erbergii, last collected in 1933 monitoring and management, to locate 16 plants in an area of along the Spekboom River just so we all climbed up a large 1 x 0.2 km. outside Lydenburg. It is only mountain where we measured known from this one old locality. and recorded various aspects of Our second outing was in May Sadly we were unable to locate this plant that can assist with to a patch of serpentine near this plant and it still remains interpreting the regeneration Badplaas to look for Aloe reitzii as Data Deficient (see details patterns and harvesting impact. var. vernalis. A small disjunct of this outing in box written by The following day we headed population occurs here although Lize Agenbag) off to a serpentine ridge near some uncertainty still exists Barberton where we walked and as to whether it is subspecies In August PSG CREW set up GPS’d the occurrence of me- 16 vernalis or subspecies reitzii. The a monitoring programme for a dicinal (Merwilla plumbea) and threatened plant taxa (Rhus pygmaea and Ozoroa barberton- ensis). These were added to the MTPA database and will be used in modelling and conservation planning initiatives.

PSG CREW are enjoying the added purpose to the regular botanical excursions. The first few outings are very much a success, but they are depend- Each Dioscorea plant has been ant on the support that is so individually tagged, measured and enthusiastically given by Tilla, the amount of the caudex lost to Liza and Suvarna. They are all harvesting estimated, monitoring trying to join us on our outings will be repeated on an annual basis. and having them there with us, Photograph: Domitilla Raimondo. makes us work that little bit harder too! And they are provid- ing us with loads of background Their support is very much ap- PSG members pitching in to help research to make the search for preciated. monitor Dioscorea sp nov. Photo- these Data Deficient or threat- graph by Domitilla Raimondo. ened taxa that much easier! Mervyn Lotter

Not finding Delosperma zeederbergii

Relocating rare and poorly known species from old herbarium specimens can be an interesting venture into the history of an area. Combining historical knowledge with some ecological sense can be a great guide to where to start looking, but still it is not always that easy! So did members of Mpumalanga’s Plant Specialist Group discover when, directed by the notes on E.E. Galpin’s type specimen “kranz, Spekboom River, near Lydenburg, altitude 1500 metres” they set off to look for Delosperma zeederbergii, which was last collected in 1933. E.E. Galpin (1858-1941) was a banker, amateur botanist and prolific collector with more than 100 species named after him. After his retirement in 1917 Galpin settled on a farm near Nylsvlei, but despite his failing eyesight continued his collecting expeditions, especially after his son taught him at the age of 69 to drive a car! Galpin’s collecting strategy was to always thoroughly search a chosen site and collect every species present, which resulted in him discovering many new and rare species, including Delosperma zeederbergii. The search started along the Spekboom River just outside Lydenburg, where an old bridge built in the 1920’s crosses the river near the road to Ohrigstad. Everyone was distracted for a while by some interesting botanis- ing, but it became clear that no suitable rocky cliff habitat occurs along this stretch of the river. The search expedition moved upstream to the farm Doornhoek where there was some nice looking ‘kranzes’, but still no sign of Delosperma. We started considering Galpin’s altitude more seriously, which indicated that we should move even further upstream towards the high escarpment peaks above Lydenburg. A dirt road out towards some farms east of Lydenburg leads up along steep cliffs high above the Spekboom River. This area appeared much drier, and the presence of many other succulents among the rocky cliff edges was looking very promising. A chance meeting with a passing farmer revealed that the road we were following is about a hundred years old, and was built for the now abandoned Finsbury Mine. This gave us even more confi- dence that we are on the right track, as this road was probably a well used passageway during Galpin’s time, and he might have collected D. zeederbergii on cliffs somewhere along this road. The search was resumed with new enthusiasm, but with no success, and as shadows were getting longer we had to admit defeat (for now). We are, however not giving up, and will be back to look again for D. zeederbergii next year. We are quite certain that the Finsbury road is the right area to look, but we must improve a bit on our timing as we were looking slightly later than when the flowering type specimen was collected. Better understanding a few other clues may also help us to solve this mystery. For example, why is it named Delosperma zeederbergii? Might it be named after one of the Zeederberg brothers, who owned a transport company which operated in the area during the late 1800’s? CH Zeederberg & Co transport was quite famous at the time for their coaches drawn by teams of zebras. Was it perhaps collected on a farm owned by one of the Zeederbergs? Investigations of old maps of the district and other archives may provide clues to further narrow down the search area. Watch this space for more updates on the unravelling of this mystery... Lize Agenbag Red List officer 17 CREW The Thursday group in Umvoti Group (KZN Midlands) Pondoland Our Thursday walks have taken a new turn with our partici- pation in the CREW project. With our environment at the mercy of politicians whose desires and objectives lie only in the immediate term and developers whose only goal is money in spite of any environmental damage caused, anything which assists the managers of our biodiversity is well worth the effort. In short, The endangered species Gerbera it is the question of know- aurantiaca (the Hilton Daisy). ing what you have, where it is and how it is doing order to better manage environmental systems.

We are joining with Der- rek Ruiters of KZN Wildlife Lotononis bachmanniana, a rare species limited to the north- to assess the Mbumbasi eastern parts of the Transkei Nature Reserve. This is a & the south-eastern parts of long neglected piece of land Natal. behind Margate which is now receiving atten- tion; the project fits in well with CREW’s objectives. Apart from this we have under- Fanninia caloglossa — a species taken a transect of restricted to mistbelt grasslands. the so-called “Rennies” property, the remain- We are a small group working der of a farm next to with the CREW KZN office under Port Edward which is the guidance of Isabel Johnson. awaiting a developer’s The area we work in has several attention. Of the whole, rare species, perhaps the most perhaps only a quar- notable of them being Gerbera ter should receive the aurantiaca (the Hilton Daisy) and blessing of the authori- Fanninia caloglossa but there ties when an application Kniphofia coddiana, a near threat- are many more including some is made, for the balance ened Pondoland endemic resticted rare Orchidaceae and Watso- consists of wetlands to coastal grasslands on the nias. The area is dominated by and hygrophilous grass- Msikaba sandstone formations. commercial timber plantations lands. The transect of and sugar cane but there are about 200m clearly revealed the character of the area. This several important Mist-belt was our first independent operation and no doubt experi- grasslands areas which include ence and advice will improve our efforts the Blinkwater Nature Reserve and the Lake Merthley grass- Other areas have been highlighted for our lands, now proclaimed a flower attention and we shall enjoy making further reserve, as well as wetland contributions to the CREW objectives. areas such as the Umvoti Vlei. Tony Abbott Sue Swan CREW Volunteer 18 CREW Volunteer Tygerberg CREW

oy, have we had a busy favorites must have been finding Byear!! This is the first year Babiana secunda. Although we that we have had field trips al- did not find it at a previously most every week. Friday morn- recorded site in our area, we ings have become our group’s found two new localities for this amazing late-flowering little field day! We started off going Babiana in one season! (Maybe out every second Friday, but I should mention that one of that soon changed to weekly these populations is unfortu- outings. We have also spread nately in a Renosterveld rem- our wings a bit, moving out nant on a golf course… in an of suburbia and visiting more area where they want to build farms and what a difference an irrigation dam!!!). Critically Endangered Babiana this has made. Especially to our secunda found in group’s morale (working within We have also had a very suc- the suburbs of Cape Town can cessful Lampranthus season. Three of us also attended make the most optimistic per- Lampranthus peacockiae, L Wendy Hitchcock’s Plant ID son depressed…)! Our weekly filicaulis, L glaucus, L reptans, L course. This was a wonderful wonderings have certainly leptaleon, L dilutus, L debilis, L experience and has certainly caused a rather steep learn- scaber, L explanatus… some of helped us look at more detail. ing curve within the group and which we have recorded before, Dissecting plants and using I can only say “well done guys but many were firsts for us! keys to try and identify plants and gals, you are all champs!” Another highlight was recording has become a lot easier. Espe- Podalyria microphylla,also listed cially Hedi has been great at We were surprisingly lucky with as CR at three localities in our dissecting, drawing and figuring out specimens! the weather too: there were area. The most unspectacular very few Fridays that we had (in looks!!) special this season to spend indoors. Those were With the summer season fast must have been Cliffortia acockii. approaching, we will spend less spent working on the Tygerberg It nevertheless had my adrenalin Nature Reserve’s (TNR) photo time in the field and processing pumping! collection and mounting speci- all our specimens and all sorts mens for the Tygerberg Herbari- of bits and pieces that got left um, housed at the reserve. Plant Monitoring Day was a behind, while we were having fun first for us this year and we in the field! might have bitten off too big a We have had monthly field trips chunk doing two schools at two Thanks to the CREW team at to the Perdekop section of the sites on two different days. Kirstenbosch for your continued Bracken Nature Reserve, help- support and enthusiasm!! ing them compile a more com- But it was great fun and the kids certainly enjoyed them- plete species list for the area. Karen Marais selves, although the data is not Briers Louw Nature Reserve CREW volunteer close to Paarl has also been on of much use I think. Next year our agenda several times, help- we will hopefully have learnt ing Rupert finding specials and from our mistakes this year and Friends of Tygerberg sampling at updating the reserve’s species do it better! Uitkamp list. Other farms we visited for the first time this year were Groot Phesantekraal in the Dur- banville area and Hercules Pilaar (Joostenberg).

Our plant press worked over- time (READ: we need another press!) with all our trips and we certainly have contributed to the piles of specimens finding their way to the CREW office and ultimately to the Compton Herbarium and the Tygerberg Herbarium. We found some real beauties, making it difficult to decide which find was the most exciting. Surely one of the 19 Harmony Flats Working Group

he Harmony Flats work- Ting group has had quite a rollercoaster ride this year. On the 30th of June the Har- mony Flats Working Group officially launched their NPO. Unfortunately, the day did not go as planned with many of the people invited to the launch not attending. In true Harmony Flats tradition the group still managed to make a success of the day by inviting the local kids from the Casablanca communi- ty to participate in the day’s ac- tivities. The kids really enjoyed the talks, video and the lovely lunch provided by the group. Kids involved in the Arbor week programme. The arbor week program this year was a roaring success. With the help of Chandra, Benny and Victoria from the Nature Reserve everything was well organized and the programme ran very smoothly. They even managed to get a sponsorship from Woolworths to cover the costs of food for the kids visiting the Reserve. The last day of the programme also went really well. CREW did the Plant Monitoring Day activity and we had Silvia Mecenero from the Butterfly Atlas Project presenting an activity on butterflies at the Harmony Flats Nature Reserve. (see page 12 for details)

The big news is that DEAT approved funds for infrastructure development for the reserve in 2005. Construction will hopefully start at the reserve early next year. The reserve will have visitor facilities and paths and fencing will be upgraded.

CREW is in the process of developing a birthday calendar for the Harmony Flats Reserve. The calendar will feature some of the stunning plants that occur on the reserve and will be sold to raise funds to support conservation projects at the Reserve. If you looking for great Xmas The CREW Harmony Flats birthday calendar. gifts don’t forget the calendars will be ready by the end of November.

The Harmony Flats Nature reserve also now has a full time site manager (Sabelo Lindani) employed 20 through the City of Cape Town/Cape Flats Nature partnership. Napier/ Exciting Botanical Discovery on the Bredasdorp/Napier Mountains

Bredasdorp n the early 1800s, an Erica to 250 years old, judging from Iwas included in a book titled the roots which are clearly vis- Andrews Heathery and named ible in the rock crevices in which CREW as Erica recurvata. No details they grow. Ross believes these resprouting ericas could be the espite some members be- of where it was located were recorded and no such wild very same plants from which Ding overseas at this time Nivens harvested seed. The il- Erica was ever seen again. and others not being available, lustration would most likely have there have been several CREW Modern experts considered the been painted from a plant grown outings this spring, mainly painting most likely to be of a to a flowering stage from these to Fairfield, one of the oldest garden bred hybrid, bred from in Kew Gardens, England. farms in the Napier district. As seed collected by James Nivens (see attached from Andrew’s the Bredasdorp/Napier branch, who botanised in the Cape Heathery.) we have had the pleasure of between 1799 and 1811. That comparing the veld of last year belief was miraculously over- Cameron McMaster, a local indigenous expert and following a fire in early 2006, turned this September when, another keen C.R.E.W member, to the veld of this year, in both in the course of a botanical survey of the Bredasdorp/Napi- who has himself discovered a Renosterveld and Fynbos. We few new species of plant, says er mountain, a few mysterious have been most privileged to finding a new plant is probably have a strong team come out plants were found. Believing it as exciting as being a golfer from SANBI to lead some of to be a brand new Erica spe- hitting a hole in one. You may, these CREW outings. We have cies, Ross Turner, its discov- if you are lucky, have this hap- also been able to occasionally erer and also an enthusiastic pen once, maybe even twice in a assist Odette Curtis (always a member of C.R.E.W, brought lifetime, but only if you spend a fun outing!) with her surveys of his find to the attention of Ted lot of time at it. Overberg Renosterveld. Oliver, the recognised world authority on Erica. Ted could Stephen Smuts What has become very clear is not believe what he saw. It was that we are in a botanically ex- a photograph of the same plant tremely rich area. With the con- included in his 200 year old tinued cooperation of conser- book. vation-minded landowners, we are confident that most of the The small erica flowers are gems that we are documenting gathered in a head, about the will be well-protected. Of con- size of a 10c coin. These heads cern, however, is the fact that hang downward like old drooping parts of the Napier commonage sunflowers with a very long red are now being used for cattle style hanging down from each grazing, one spot being where flower. When Ross discovered Babiana montana occurs . the plants, he immediately es- Erica recurvata (plate from Andrews timated some to be about 200 Heathery).

Babiana montana in flower at the Picture of Erica recurvata in flower, which was rediscovered in 2007. Pho- Napier commange tograph by Ross Turner 21 Caledon Wildflower Group

to head back. At first glance we were impressed by the ap- parently good looking veld and it seems a very interesting place to visit again. Unfortunately Hakea grows there like wild fury and Xavier indicated that they did clear some but as we could see, it is going to be a massive task to get rid of them completely. During December we want to go in pursuit of Pelargonium caledonicum and. Disa multifida, which has been recorded from this farm in the past. It will be exciting to relo- Disa multifida flowering at Shaws cate these species. pass. The next day the CREW team went back to the farm and they uring the past flower show Disa bracteata a small orchid that found Erica xeranthemifolia, Dwe once more organised a occurs in renosterveld. which is listed as Critically En- field trip to Shaw’s pass for the dangered and is only found on TWK mayor and some coun- of Shaw’s pass and he kindly Shaws Mountain. cilors. Ismail led the trip as we agreed to take us on a tour were too busy at the flower of farm. Unfortunately, time Adriaan Hanekom show. On his return he in- caught up with us and we had CREW volunteer formed me that the mayor had told him that the Department of Agriculture were going to give the pig farmers on Shaw’s pass money to build proper pigstys and to fence an area of two hectares around the exist- Mamré ing buildings for this purpose. I could not believe that they fter a slight delay in the im- wanted to do this, anyway, I Aplementation of the Mamré requested a meeting with the project we are now well under- mayor and all the relevant role way and the project is moving players, Rupert Koopman joined along quite smoothly. us for the meeting regarding this issue. I do not want to say The City has employed a site Amphithalea ericifolia subsp erecta from the Mamré area. too much but the issue is on manager for the Mamré area the agenda for the upcoming and CREW has managed to council meeting at the end of find and employ a biodiversity he will have success with creat- November. Please hold your facilitator Marvin Wagenaar. ing awareness about the incred- thumbs tightly and pray. Hope- He spent some time working ible biodiversity in the Mamré fully we will have good news for in Germany looking after chil- community. the next newsletter. dren with disabilities. Marvin had aspirations of being a chef The CREW team has also been We met Shela and Vatishwa for so we will have to put his skills very busy sampling the vegeta- the first time; I decided to call to the test at the next CREW tion fragments in the Mamré her Vestita (named after Erica annual workshop. He joined us area. We have conducted 9 vestita) instead. We then vis- on our field trip to George and field trips in the area and have ited the farm Muirton owned by Stilbaai and I think he is now mapped these areas and found Xavier Badenhorst. This farm completely bitten by the CREW some really special plants. 22 is situated to the western side plant-crazy bug. I am sure that Amongst the interesting finds were populations of Xiphotheca reflexa and Amphithalea ericifolia West Coast CREW group subsp erecta.

The Mamré community put on a underway fantastic flower show in Sep- tember. This year they had Koen t must be seen as ironic that Kaastens from Clanwilliam to the west coast contains so design the flowershow display. I many special species to search They also managed to get Solly for while there has been no Philander as the MC for the CREW members…until now opening of the show. that is. CREW, the City of Cape Town and Cape Flats Nature con- It started with a small step ducted a Stakeholder workshop when I contacted the head of- in Mamré on the 12th of No- fice to volunteer and was sur- vember 2007. The aim of the prised to learn that there were workshop was to get buy-in no CREW people in the West from all the relevant stakehold- Coast. ers for the conservation of key sites in Mamré. The other main Being the only interested per- objective was to develop a vision son that I knew of at that time, and action plan for conservation progress was slow but started in Mamré. well enough when Rupert Koop- Moraea calcicola flowering in the man came out with me to check limestone at Trekoskraal CREW is also conducting a se- on the Lachenalia viridiflora ries of basic ID courses for the population at St.Helenabaai. We Mamré community. Thus far we managed to find several addi- have done a basic botany course tional populations of this beautiful viooltjie. where we taught participants the meaning of all those horrible Moreae loubseri could not be found for this year. Being in the area, botanical terms and explained it was easier for me to be on standby to photograph Romulea el- the basic structure of flowers. liptica in it’s so far only known location near Vredenburg. The second course was on the At the same time Koos Claassens from came into the major Fynbos families. Partici- picture with his impressive floral wealth on his own erven. Koos’ pants learnt about the diagnos- intrigue of an unusual plant was verified on a visit by John Manning tic characters of the Proteace- and Rupert as being a previously undescribed species of Tripteris. It ae, Ericaceae and families. seems to be confined to a small area.

Future courses will be held in A C-team outing to Koos, as well as new and interested volunteer Mamré and they will focus on Barbara Tudor’s erven as well as another erf closeby on Trekoskraal Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Iri- boasted a variety of specials. These include Moreae calcicola, Ixia daceae. purpurosea, Afrolinum capense (Intermediate), Afrolinum acumina- tum, Antimima sp, all growing on a limestone habitat. The search Ismail Ebrahim for Lachenalia mathewsii, unseen for 5 years, was disappointingly CREW CFR manager absent from its known location. A few days later, however, a deter- mined Koos discovered them en masse at a new location!

All the exciting finds made headlines in the local newspapers (be- cause I wrote most of the articles) to spread the vision of CREW in hopes to attract more followers.

More members are to be made from contacts such as those in- terested in the controversial Trekoskraal development, upon which searches will commence to assist the EIA process.

By the time the next flower season comes we’ll be ready for sure! CREW volunteers in the field sam- pling renosterveld fragments. Divan Roets 23 Learning through Experience – SKEP Environment Week in Nieuwoudtville

he Environment Week took Tplace in Nieuwoudtville during the first week of June. Different activities took place and everyone enjoyed it a lot. The environment week was supported by six different organisations such as, INDIGO development & change, SKEP, The Nieuwoudtville Biodiver- sity Support Group, Media and Training Centre for Health, The Succulent Karoo Knowledge Centre and the Griqua Ratelgat Community Trust. A special thanks to SKEP for funding the activities of the Environment Week.

The aim for that week was to raise awareness around the bio- diversity and climate change in Radio interview with one of the learners. the Nieuwoudtville area. It was also to talk about career op- tions in the science and conser- vation area. Another aim was to also had a lovely time learning The Environment Week in Nieu- teach some of learners about the skills of radio broadcasting woudtville sparked an interest in the fascinating way of how and script writing. They learnt conservation as a career option these topics can be broadcast how to setup questions for an - we will keep you posted! through radio communication. interview. With the return of the learners that went to the Ten learners were invited on a Knersvlakte they got inter- GPS measurements of Quiver Trees two day excursion to the Kn- viewed by these trainee journal- Aloe dichotoma. ersvlakte. There they learnt ists. They also interviewed other a lot about the ecology of the local people familiar with these Knersvlakte, about the different topics. plant species there are as well as what they can be used for. All the learners together went They were also taken on a hike on a trip to the Quiver Tree by one of the members of the Forest, where they did another Griqua community explaining the activity. The activity was to incredible rock art and sharing measure the Quiver trees in some of the Griqua culture with groups and take GPS points of us. After this we experienced where the trees are that they a night in the Matjieshuise, measured. All this information and got a little feeling on how would then be mapped. the Griquas lived. Rhoda Mal- gas taught them about climate The Open Office provided young change and the effects it might and old to explore medicinal have in the future, for this area herbs and their traditional use, especially. the use of GIS to produce maps, ecology of the March Lily and While they had a good time career paths in conservation. in the Knersvlakte the other There were many other activi- 24 learners back in Nieuwoudtville ties that took place. Plant Monitoring Day in Nieuwoudtville Control of in lant Monitoring Day took We looked for some rare species Alien Grasses Pplace on the 7th of Septem- such as Hesperantha vaginata the Nieuwoudtville ber 2007 in the Nieuwoudtville and the Orange Bulbinella (Bul- Wild Flower Reserve where binella latifolia var doleritica). Wild Flower Re- Grade 10 learners of the Despite the alien grasses, we serve Protea High School and Indigo could find healthy populations of Biodiversity Facilitators partici- both species. This exercise also he Nieuwoudtville Wild pated in the event and moni- demonstrated how problem- TFlower Reserve boasts an tored rare plant species using atic invasive alien grasses have extreme diversity of especially scientific methods. become in the Wild Flower Re- geophytes and is a well known serve. For this purpose we have tourist attraction in the Spring. started a project on Control of Wild oats and other alien plants However, in the past years, on Dolerite Renosterveld. especially after good rains, wild The plant monitoring day was oat is taking over in the flower also assisted by a group of reserve threatening many en- BIOTA para-ecologists from demic and rare plants. In the Namibia who visited on the day light of this ever-growing threat and shared some professional the Hantam Municipality (as the expertise with the Grade 10 current manager of the reserve) learners. has teamed up with a local NGO (Indigo and the CREW biodiversi- Shannon Parring and Bettina ty facilitators) to conduct trials Koelle to find out what the best ways would be to manage the alien invasive grasses in the Wild Flower Reserve.

SKEP has provided some funding and we were able to get going with our initial trial plots. We have decided on the following Hesperantha vaginata in the Nieu- treatments: woudtville Wild Flower Reserve – threatened by alien invasive grasses.

The CREW Nieuwoudtville Biodiversity facilitators: Estholene Mo- Raking the plant material on a trial ses, Shannon Parring and Donna Kotze. plot (Donna Kotze) 25 1. Brush cutting and mulching 2. Brush cutting and removal of cuttings 3. Spraying of Co-pilot – a com- mercially available herbicide 4. Control plot – no treatment.

We have monitored 20 plots this season before the initial treatment, and then ventured to tackle the wild oats with a brush cutter working in the cool hours of early mornings to escape the rather vicious biting insects around!

We are now monitoring the plots and will repeat the treat- ment next year. Watch this Evaluating the impact of alien grasses in a trial plot (Elton Witbooi, Cupido space for more results!!! Tromp, Shannon Parring and Donna Kotze)

We are planning some field days with reserve managers and interested land users – if you want to learn more about the results or if you would like to join us email Donna at [email protected].

Bettina Koelle

The Big Ixia Hunt Outramps CREW group

owards the end of 2006, erg Nivenia was named a new TI had an e-mail from Jan species. Vlok. Peter Goldblatt was look- ing for a specimen of Nivenia Early in the New Year, Peter from the Langeberg. We had asked us to look for Ixia recon- collected a specimen in 1995 dita later that year in the from the Rooiwaterspruit Spring. This plant was originally area above Riversdale. Peter collected around 1950 by Elsie Ixia recondita – the only picture we asked us to see if we could Esterhuysen, one of the fore- could get as the wind was blowing find one and send it to John most botanical explorers of the to hard for a natural in situ shot Manning. In searing heat with 20th century. She collected it temperatures hovering around from the base of Leeurivierberg 40 degrees, we combed the and it was never seen again. beg for 3 days. Again the plant lower southern slopes below proved elusive. Sleeping Beauty. After several We organised 3 expeditions. A hours fanned out across the Mountain Club of South Africa The original locality was the slope, the deep blue of several trip to Grootvadersbosch in lower slopes of Leeurivierberg plants caught our eye. Keeping August was the first attempt. which is above the far western the plant alive in the extreme It was early Spring, but we were corner of the Swellendam Hiking conditions proved the most taking no chances. Plants have Trail, so off we went to the Mar- difficult part of the exercise, a habit of having their own agen- loth Reserve in early October. but we managed to fly it to das and that includes flower- The first afternoon we headed Kirstenbosch and John in fair ing-times. There was no sign of east and found our first Ixias condition. The upshot of this it. In September we walked the close to the Glenstroom Hut on 26 expedition was that the Rooib- eastern section of the Lange- an old playing field. We walked some distance on the first Kriel, who was very enthusiastic a huge sigh of relief that we day of the Hiking Trail branch- and suggested that we try and reached the farmhouse. That ing off to gain altitude towards get to the trail the next day evening we spent labeling and De Plaat. It was overcast and via Danie de Wet’s farm Bak- sorting out the site sheets. drizzling and the path was very oond. Danie very kindly showed First thing the next day, Jean steep and extremely slippery. us the way. He was driving a set off driving to Cape Town with It was here that we found our 4x4 and we were all packed the specimens. second species of Ixia that into “The Buchu Bus”. Predict- roughly corresponded to the ably we got stuck. Danie simply Although our methods of collec- description we’d been given of I. told me to sit in the back and tion and transporting need fine- recondita. The main feature be- drove the hard-working combi up tuning John was very excited ing the stamens enclosed in the the mountain. The passengers when he saw the plants. The perianth tube. The excitement mostly had their eyes closed. next day we had confirmation was intense. As he got out he said “Jy het that we had found the very rare

nie geweet dat die combi so n Ixia stohriae above Glenstroom. The next day we headed west goeie 4x4 is nie.” Too right! One It was indeed Ixia recondita col- to the farm Sitruspoort and wonders if poor old Agathosma lected on our second day above walked up towards the Nooit- will ever be the same again. gedacht Hut and then turned the farm Sitruspoort. And on east towards Leeurivierberg. In The going above Bakoond was a Day 3, our purple Ixia turned a kloof on the banks of a small lot trickier than the day before out to be the rare Geissorhiza stream in thick fynbos we found and we split into 2 parties go- ramosa. (Oops) a number of Ixia plants. It was ing east and west to cover the with great excitement that we most ground. The day’s only “What next, Peter?” was the realised that this specimen find was what we thought was question from a very excited resembled the description of I. a very beautiful purple Ixia. Our Outramps/FOTO CREW group. recondita even more closely. On drive down the mountain was our way out we spoke to Lizette a tense affair and it was with Di Turner

News from the Fourcade Botanical Group

ith all our rain and after Wthe fires we’ve had the veld is looking magnificent. Satyrium princeps by the hun- dred, S. hallackii starting to flower as early as October, and Merxmuellera cincta subsp. sericea is thriving in our dune system. All the above are “spe- cials” in our area.

Plant Monitoring Day (1 Sep- tembe ) was a great success. Our “patch” that had been se- verely trampled by the children in 2006 was looking wonderful. Both the Agathosma apiculata and A. stenopetala were at their best. Obviously the trampling had done them no harm. The children were more focused this year and although it was the second time for many of them they seemed to enjoy it just as much.

During the year, amongst other things, our children have had a day in the forests at Witelsbos Kids playing a game of “ecological chess” 27 where they could experience true forest trees and their understorey, and play ecological chess with Ismail! They also had a busy afternoon nearer home hunting snares and a happy morning exploring the botany and archaeology (and hurtling down the dunes ) of the Sand River.

On Saturday 3 November they had a very full and busy day investigating the upper reaches of the Krom River. The day was arranged by Martha Anne and John Finnemore, WESSA and us. There was a great deal to see and explore and workbooks to complete. Hopefully they all went home with more knowledge about our riverine thickets and the importance of our indig- enous trees. In the forest at Witelsbos.

Our CREW sampling in the renosterveld is almost over. We have only 2 more spots to do. However, our group has contin- ued to enjoy monthly rambles. What a joy it was to meet up with Christo Botes when he was here, to see a little of what his research involved and to learn so much about our Satyriums. Having an expert in the field with us makes all the difference.

We look forward to our Novem- ber ramble at the Kouga Dam where Victoria Wilman will show us the nursery where she is growing plants for rehabilita- tion.

Caryl Logie CREW volunteer Roshart and Marvin hard at work. Swellendam Crew

fter a long wait for ap- the town to display this to the The local correctional services Aproval, planting started in community or tourists. This have been a welcome source of our Zanddrift indigenous gar- garden will hopefully partially fill manual assistance. den at the Drostdy Museum this gap as well as provide an in April. Thunberg stayed on environmental dimension to the Out on the farms we re-visited Sandkraal where Hansie Swart the farm Jan Harmsgat 20km after-school projects in which has a large area of Renos- form Swellendam in 1773. He the Museum is involved. It is terveld fenced off for 10 years. was one of many famous plant time-consuming work as one It has become rather overgrown collectors with an apprecia- discovers the staff shortages with Merxmuellera grass and tion of the floral wealth of the and lack of funds in “non-essen- the shrub-type vegetation has 28 area yet there is nothing in tial” government departments. grown bigger than we have seen, for example Anisodontea the San Souci population is P. more attractive specials were scabrosa. It was difficult to find brevicalyx but keep missing the in a rather inaccessible part of the Aspalathus smithii and low flowering time! the park so our sample was a growing plants. It may be time bit unexciting in terms of ap- for a burn? The Swellendam Wildflower field pearance. The children grasped Identification Guide compiled by the concept and enjoyed the The fenced off area at Malansk- Shela Patrickson has been really morning. We look forward to the raal is not quite as overgrown helpful in our continued search challenge again next year. as it has been more recently for rare and threatened species burnt – 3 years. The populations of the area. of Leucodendron coriaceum, We have increased our regular Xiphotheca guthriei and other National Plant Monitoring Day number of volunteers to three specials for which it has been was held at Bontebok Park on a with another keen to join us conserved are well established cold 7th September. There were and increasing in number. whenever it is possible. 22 children, 12 from Swellen- It is great that Odette Curtis Two new farms with worthwhile dam secondary school and 10 has been appointed to liaise corridors of Renosterveld have from Bontebok primary school. with farmers on behalf of the The newly appointed People and been surveyed. More of our Cape Nature Conservation Conservation officer at the Park threatened species have been Stewardship program. It is discovered. It is always exciting was really helpful. Part of her really important for them that to meet farmers who value their job is to involve the children veld and are enthusiastic about in junior ranger programs and their enthusiasm is recognized. conserving it. Most exciting is other activities. We were as- that there are more popula- sisted by the rangers and stu- Flora Cameron tions of Polhillia. We hope that dent rangers. Unfortunately the CREW Volunteer

Activities of the CREW group from Darling during 2007

e started off with great Wexcitement as there had been a fire through the Groen- kloof Reserve at Darling, as this bodes well for the Renos- terveld. After the first rain in March we found one solitary specimen of Brunsvigia bosma- niae on a rocky outcrop – off to a good start as these are not that common round here. The following weeks of good rains were spent getting our herbarium up to date – we now have 1000 specimens col- lected in the Darling area, col- lected on 26 different sites.

After a tip-off from Nick Helme that there might be Cadiscus aquaticus near Darling we went to the site – a small wetland Brunsvigia bosmaniae on a rocky outcrop. that is a small pond in winter – and there they were. A sheet of small white water daisies tion of Babiana pygmaea in our to be spreading further than be- floating in the sun! This is on area. This year the stand was fore which is also encouraging. the boundary between Darling even better than before with The landowner keeps all animals village and the farm Oude Post well over 100 plants we counted away for the flower season, and where there is the only popula- on 28 August. The plants seem is one of our great supporters. 29 We were very lucky to find some unusual orchids which we cer- tainly had not seen before – Dis- peris cucullata from two sites, the farm Baarhuis and in the Tienie Versfeld Reserve. After Anton Pauw had reminded us to look for Pterygodium caffrum at Contreberg, we actually found them also at Baarhuis, where there also was a good number of Gladiolus quadrangulus, and the best Nemesia strumosa ever in all shades of yellow to dark orange. While out picking flowers for the show we happened upon a few Disperis bolusiana, although we are still not sure if they are perhaps D. bodkinii. These are tiny little orchids growing under the bushes in Renosterveld on Cadiscus aquatica, an endangered species of Asteraceae that only occurs The Towers Farm. in Vernal Pools on the West Coast. Our stand of Pterygodium cru- ciferum were out in full force at Contreberg farm after the area was burnt in March. The landowner has fenced off the area to protect them from the sheep and there were also more in number this year. This whole wetland was covered with Kniphofia uvaria for the first time in years, because of the fire.

We were lucky to join Cait- lin and the team on a visit to Riverlands where we found Disa tenella, Schizodium obliquum, Babiana mathewsii and others. A wonderful day was had doing some serious 4x4 driving in wa- ter and mud with Caitlin at the wheel! With Shela and her team on a visit to Burghers Post farm we found a few Pterygodium in- Babiana pygmaea, a Critically Endangered Irid only known from the Darling area. versum, large robust specimens growing on an old land. There also spread over a much wider we also found a new site for area within the reserve. The Gladiolus quadrangulus already in Lachenalia purpureo-caerulea seed, which we will monitor next were also more in number and year. the plants were robust and taller than before. With all the late rains Tienie Versfeld has been glorious to From all of us at Darling we visit in October, and the stand thank the CREW team at Kirst- of Geissorhiza darlingensis has enbosch for all the support, and been better than ever. We welcome back Caitlin! reckon that there must be well over 1000 plants now which is Heleen Preston Disperis cucullata, an unusual mem- 30 really encouraging. They have CREW Volunteer ber of the Orchid family A brief update on Kenilworth Race- course Conservation Area

o… the Under the guidance of Maya With short notice I could not Sinfamous Stauch (Reserve Manager) possibly convey all that makes “Golden some very needed relations have this place shine, all that has Oval”. been forged between the many happened and all that is happen- With as parties with their hands in this ing but this short piece should much at- sweet pie. The interests have give you enough to let your tention as a always been there, as well as imagination tell the story! A very remnant of the knowledge. But never before special thanks must go out to this stat- have any of these been co-ordi- Gold Circle for their generous ure de- nated and info correlated. KRCA support and understanding in Kenilworth Race- serves and what must sometimes seem like course. Photo- now has three confirmed Red in this case a “greenies dream”, know you graph: Maya Stauch Data List , render- receives, ing it the highest concentra- are investing in much more than something tion of rare amphibia on the peoples opinions and emotions, must come of it and Kenilworth Cape Flats, namely the Cape tying themselves to trees... Racecourse Conservation Area Rain (Breviceps gubosus), THANK YOU. (KRCA) has truly reaped more Cape Platanna (Xenopus gilli) and reward over the last eight Also from the KRCA staff. A big of course the Micro Frog (Mi- months than it has in decades. thank you to our predecessors. crobatrachella capensis). With And I am sure many concerns Your Knowledge and support now more than 283 indigenous over the well being of KRCA have have been invaluable to us in species of flora recorded and a been laid to rest thanks to a lot conserving such a precious rem- stunning new addition of one of of hard work and caring hands nant. No names mentioned, but South Africa’s rarest geophytic and minds. if you’ve put your name on paper orchids, Disa barbata, the fu- with KRCA mentioned or said For those who don’t know, ture of KRCA has never before the name with excitement, you KRCA has been under Full time looked as “Golden “ as it does know who you are. All this said management as of February this now. there are still many challenges year and has been accompanied that still lie ahead in conserv- by at least two staff at any one Not to mention the growing ing this gem and maintaining its time. relations with parties such as biodiversity. CREW, SANBI, KEW, VWS and CapeNature. Along with the So to come to a short and ‘ground bound’ guidance of one sweet, oh so sweet close, more of the world’s leaders in biodi- than 50% of the Port Jackson versity conservation the City of and Rooikrans have been re- Cape Town Nature Conservation, moved with the rest fast on its I believe the KRCA is on its way way out, of course with special to stardom. care. And Ross, your Cliffortia ericifolia are safe.

For more information or if you would like to get involved you can contact us on: 021 700 1843 (office); mayas@ goldcircle.co.za (email); or sign up to the Friends of Kenilworth Racecourse Conservation Area by sending an email to fkrca- [email protected]. Clifforia ericifolia the Critically en- dangered plant known from 5 plants that has been very threatened by Otto Beukes invasive acacias. Photograph: Ross The extremely rare and threatened (KRCA Field Assistant & Nature Turner. micro frog. Photograph by Cliff Dorse. Conservation Student) 31 BirthdayBirthday CalendarCalendar

has produced a birthday calendar for the Harmony Flats group. The Calendar is an awareness tool that we hope will educate many people about the Harmony flats working group and their role in conserving the very rare and unique plants that exist on this small and highly threatened re- serve. The calendars (size 297 mm × 420 mm) will be on sale for R70.00 a calendar at the CREW of- fice in Cape Town at the Kirst- enbosch Research Centre. Con- tact Wendy Paisley on tel: (021) 7998751 or e-mail: paisley@bo- tanicalsociety.org.za. It will also be available at the SANBI Bookshop, situated at the National Herbarium Building in Pretoria, tel: (012) 843 5000/1, fax: (012) 804 3211, e-mail: [email protected]

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