Discovery Cyrtanthus macmasteri The Eastern cape is particularly rich in Amaryllidaceae, especially Cyrtanthu5 and Nerine, and is sometimes referred to as the 'headquarters' of these two genera. This is the story of the discovery of yet another species of Cyrtanthu5. by Cameron McMaster ABOVE LEFT: Cyrtanthus macmasteri, with its large My first encounter with Cyrtanthus was on our family farm in the Cathcart dis­ flared flowers, was certainly different to any other trict when 1 was a child. My grandmother often took me for walks and taught me Cyrtanthus species. Photo: Cameron McMaster. to observe the flowers, birds and animals in the veld. I distinctly recall the numer­ ous red 'fire lilies' that emerged in the spring (much later I was to identify these as ABOVE RIGHT: The site where the new species was first discovered: in the spectacular gorge formed by Cyrtanthus contractus). This early introduction to the wonders of the veld engen­ the Bolo River before its confluence with the Kei dered an interest that later led to a passion for wild flowers and particularly bulbs River in the Eastern Cape. The greatest concentration which I started to record, photograph and grow. Over the years I have encountered of Cyrtanthus macmasteri is below the rocky out­ most of the Cyrtanthus species in the Eastern Cape. Whenever uncertain of the crop in the lower ~entre of the picture. However they have a wide distribution along the hillside for a dis­ identity of a species I would send a pressing to various herbaria and so eventual­ tance of about 2 km. They also occur on the dolerite ly got to know some of the botanists involved. I also came to know and eventually intrusion that can be seen further back in the upper meet others with a similar interest and it has always been most rewarding to share centre of the picture. Photo: Cameron McMaster. experiences and discoveries with an ever-widening circle of friends. So it was that on a hike through the spectacular Bolo River Gorge with my broth­ er, Nigel and his family in January 1994, when my nephew Alistair McMaster pointed out a bright red flower on a rock ledge a few metres above the river-bed, I was able to say to him, 'I think we have found a species that has not yet been described.' With its large flared flowers it was certainly different to any Cyrtanthus I had ever encountered, and its habitat and flowering time set it apart. It remind­ ed me of C. sanguineus, but its flowers were smaller and did not flare as much. I was very excited and carefully photographed it and took the flower for pressing and identification. Despite intensive searching we found no other specimens that day. 20 March 2004 Veld&Flora We sent the single specimen to nine years during which time I made ing to Fanie and Alta van Wyk, who Amaryllidaceae specialist, Dr Dee repeated trips to the Bolo River Gorge have laid out one of the most spectacu­ Snijman at the Compton Herbarium at and many similar habitats, gradually lar hiking trails in the region. The Kei Kirstenbosch. Her initial reaction, uncovering the secrets of this rare and and its tributaries flow through steep­ while very cautious, was encouraging. elusive flower. This quest has been one sided, bush-clad valleys 500-600 m She could not put a name to it and did of my main preoccupations over this deep, with many cliffs and krantzes ­ not rule out the possibility that it might period and has taken me to some very really rough and difficult-to-traverse be new - but a lot of work would be ough, isolated and yet beautiful and terrain. On the upper slopes of the val­ involved in establishing this: extensive botanically rich parts of the leys and gorges the bush gives way to research to compare it with all similar Stutterheim district. open rolling grassland. herbarium specimens, as well as fur­ The Bolo River is a tributary of the Extensive exploration of the region in ther field exploration to ascertain the Great Kei River in the Stutterheim dis­ 1995 and 1996 eventually revealed status and distribution of the species trict. In the last few kilometers before that the original specimen of the new and collect more material. This investi­ its confluence with the Kei, it flows Cyrtanthus was one of occasional iso­ gation was to occupy us for the next through a deep gorge on a farm belong- lated individuals in the valley. The LEFT: Cyrtanthus macmasteri. Illustration by Auriol Batten. Reprinted with kind permission from Auriol Batten and the publishers of Bothalia, and generously sponsored by Starke-Ayers Nursery. March 2004 Veld&Flora 21 Cyrtanthus macmasteri growing above steep, virtually inaccessible cliffs some 15 km north of the original site where it was first discovered. Here it occurs over a wider area, in association with three species of cycad. Seen here is Encephalartos princeps, which is endemic to the Kei Valley. Photo: Cameron McMaster. main population occurred on the upper lished that the height of the flowering to visit, being nearly 60 km from slopes of the Kei River Gorge at the period occurs in February, extending Stutterheim, and the final approach transition between Valley Bushveld into early March. Seed ripens at the entails a 10 km hike over very steep and Dohne Sourveld (Acocks' Veld end of March and by mid-April has and rough terrain, in the heat of sum­ Types 23a and 44b, see reading list mostly dispersed. Other amaryllids mer. A unique feature of this habitat is below) at altitudes of 700-800 m. The that occur at this locality are that three species of cycads occur here terrain is deeply dissected and the veg­ Cyrtanthus obliquus and Brunsvigia - Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi, E. etation changes from valley bushveld to gregaria. Although the flowering times princeps and E. caffer - perhaps the grassland over small distances. The of the two Cyrtanthus species overlap, only place in South Africa where three species occurs in a thick grass sward no natural hybrids have been observed. Encephalartos species overlap. Other between rocks on steep slopes of east­ In March 1995 a further population species of amaryllids that occur here erly or southerly aspects, often partial­ of the new species was discovered some are Boophone disticha (a very large ly shaded by woody shrubs and small 15 km north of the original site. Here it straight-leafed form that flowers in trees. The bulbs, which grow singly, are occurs over a wider area, but always August), Cyrtanthus macowanii that widely scattered and are nowhere confined to the specific altitude where flowers from mid-December and occurs abundant. The rock strata in which the bushveld merges into the grassland over a wider area, and Cyrtanthus they occur consist of sedimentary above it. This particular locality is obliquus, which is abundant. rocks, being fine sandstone in the unique in that it is very isolated and so By 1996, with the additional infor­ Beaufort series of the Karoo group. far from water that it is inaccessible to mation and material from both sites, This species also extends into soils domestic livestock. Consequently it is we realized we were dealing with a weathered from a dolerite intrusion still pristine and extremely rich in bio­ hitherto undescribed species. near the sandstone. It was also estab- diversity. It is also exceedingly difficult Consequently I collected two bulbs and 22 March 2004 Veld&Flora delivered these to the brilliant botani­ Holmes was known to you. We haven't This was confirmation of a third popu­ cal artist, Dr Auriol Batten of East any other collections of hers so she lation on the slopes of the Kei valley. It London, who very kindly offered to pro­ must have had a special interest in this is highly likely that more populations duce an illustration for use in the plant. The laid out flowers match will be found. The limited flowering description. These two plants eventual­ Auriol's painting very well. They have time and the extreme difficulty of ly produced capsules and seed and the stamens attached at different levels as exploring this very rough terrain makes result was a very beautiful and accu­ in the C. sanguineus group. This obvi­ this a tough challenge. rate colour plate illustrated here. I am ously led Miss Barker to think it was On the other hand, their isolation very grateful to Dr Batten for this mag­ C. galpinii, a small flowered species in and the fact that the two populations nificent illustration and for permission the C. sanguineus group but always on the west bank of the Kei are on to reproduce it here. with only one flower and from the farms which enjoy a high degree of Meanwhile, Dr Snijman continued northern areas.' conservation and protection, means her investigation of old literature and Mrs Holmes was not known to me, that although it may be very localized herbarium sheets to be completely sure but reference to my large scale trig-sur­ and rare, there are no immediate of the validity of the new species. On vey maps established that this site was threats to the future survival of this 4 December 2001 she sent me the fol­ on the east bank of the Kei River not exciting new Cyrtanthus, which was lowing communication: more than 20 km away from where I finally given the name Cyrtanthus 'Since I last contacted you I have dis­ had originally discovered the species. macmasteri. covered another specimen at the Compton Herbarium that matches your Bolo collection.