Lucerne & Oak Grove

Honeybird Botanical Survey A botanical record of Lucerne & Oak Grove

History

The Lucerne property was purchased by Godfrey and Helene Coetzee in 1997 from Riaan Lourens father. It had originally been farmed along with Stanford Valley by Christian de Kock. In 2002, Lucerne was officially declared a Private Nature Reserve. Its name was registered as Honeybird Valley Private Reserve. The use of term Honeybird was a mistake by the registration authority; the original intention was to be Sugarbird.

Topography

Lucerne covers an area of about 510ha. Oak Grove is about 81 hectares. The terrain is in general gently undulating hills and valleys. There are no cliff faces but some rock outcrops on the steeper slopes to the south-east of the property. The highest point of the property is on the south-east boundary at ±330m (34° 25.874’S 19° 34.558’E). The lowest point is at the gate on the R326 at ±40m (34° 24.973'S 19° 32.648'E). Drainage is provided by a number of streams, several of which are perennial. There are natural springs in the area around Oak Grove. All the streams feed ultimately into the Klein River to the north of the property.

Fig. 1. General topography of Lucerne and Oak Grove with roads and paths.

Land use

Of the 510ha of Lucerne, 64ha has been used recently for cereal crops. A further 71 ha has at one time been cultivated. This is almost entirely in the shale area below the road. Exceptions to this are 2ha above the road was cleared and fertilized at one point for a vineyard, but this was never used and an area (2 ha) on the north side of the hidden valley was once used as a trial plot for potatoes. The rest of the property has always remained as natural veld with some flower picking. There has also been occasional use of cattle grazing on the natural veld. There is a scrape area (2ha) on the top of the sandstone that was used by the municipality for construction of the road.

Of the 81ha of Oak Grove, over 10ha have been severely transformed but further large areas have evidence from past satellite imagery and onground survey of previous disturbance. Land transformed for residential use is found at two sites on Lucerne (10ha and 3ha) and one at Oak Grove (9ha).

Currently no farming practices occur on the property other than cattle and horse grazing. The area around Visdam was left fallow from about 1992. Other areas that had been cultivated until 2014, have been left fallow since the new ownership. An area of 147ha has been fenced for introduction of game.

Fig. 2. Satellite imagery with past and current landuse overlaid

Fig. 3. Agreed use of land for lease pre 2014 at Lucerne (map courtesy of G. Coetzee)

Geology

Lucerne spans two major geological formations. On the lower slopes to the north and west of the property, the base rock is clayish shales of the Bokkeveld Group. Above the road the formation is almost entirely rock of Table Mountain Group or sands derived from that group. The municipal road traverses a natural division between the two formations. There is a geological fault line along the road to the house from Visdam. In the valley below the road and around the Stone Pines there are large quantities of ferricrete (koffieklip). Across the middle of the Table Mountain Group is a band of Cederberg Formation that forms a shale band from east to west. To the south of this band the hard Peninsula Formation outcrops, whereas to the north the almost as hard Nardouw Formation is found.

Fig. 4. Geology of Lucerne and Oak Grove

Rainfall

Rainfall is typical of the with dry summers and wet winters. However, the difference between the two seasons is more moderate than that on the West Coast, due to a greater degree of summer rainfall. There is some influence due to proximity of the sea but the area does not regularly get sea mists and is drier than Hermanus.

Rainfall measurements have been taken almost continually on a monthly basis at Lucerne between 1998 and 2015. The average annual rainfall at this point is 597mm, with a range of 425mm (2004) to 727 (2013). Monthly precipitation peaks in August with an average of 80mm. February is the driest month with only an average 23mm falling. The highest monthly rainfall was August 2013 when 243mm fell. Several months have had 5mm or less recorded. A number of dams around the property store water for irrigation and domestic use. Fig. 5. Average rainfall per month in millimetres 1998–2015

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Fig. 6. Total annual rainfall over the measured period in millimetres 1998–2015

900

800 December

700 November October 600 September

500 August July 400 June 300 May April 200 March 100 February January

0

2000 2011 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 1998

Vegetation

Two major vegetation types are found on the farms: and . There are also patches of riparian thicket in the stream valleys. There are no forest patches and the few native trees are restricted to rocky outcrops or near streams in the thicket vegetation. The fynbos is subdivided into Overberg Sandstone Fynbos on the sandstone slopes above the road. Within this is a band of Western Coastal Shale Band Vegetation along the Cederberg Shale which has a mixture of fynbos and renosterveld elements. While below the road Elim Ferricrete Fynbos dominates on the Bokkeveld shales. Where the Elim Ferricrete Fynbos has been degraded the vegetation has turned to renosterveld. The transition between the two main vegetation types, Overberg Sandstone Fynbos and Elim Ferricrete Fynbos, is often obscured by an overlying layer of broken and eroded sandstone above the Bokkeveld shale. This is evident in the area above the Visdam, which shows a transitional fynbos. This transitional fynbos has generalist species found across a wide range of vegetation types (e.g. repens, Cliffortia ruscifolia, xanthoconus).

Fire History

The largest fire that affected the property in recent years started in January 2006 near Beloftebos and burnt most of the natural vegetation on Lucerne. A more recent fire began at Stanford Valley in 2012 and burnt a small area to the north of the property. Satellite imagery around this time and suggest that a small area at Oak Grove, to the north of the property, just below the road, also burnt. In March 2016, a controlled burn was carried out above the Visdam to encourage the flowering of Moraea insolens.

Redlist of

A number of plants occur in the farms that are listed on the Redlist of South African Plants.

Critically Endangered Moraea insolens Endangered Acrodon parvifolius, Aristea teretifolia, Cyrtanthus leucanthus, Echiostachys ecklonianus, Gnidia humilis, Moraea melanops, Moraea tricolor, Pteronia tenuifolia, Xiphotheca reflexa Vulnerable Berkheya angusta, Cliffortia monophylla, Cyrtanthus carneus, Leucadendron linifolium, Leucadendron platyspermum, cordifolium, Moraea cooperi, Protea aspera, , Skiatophytum tripolium Near Threatened umbellata, Freesia caryophyllacea, Geissorhiza nana, Gnaphalium declinatum, Hesperantha radiata subsp. caricina, Ixia stricta, Lachnaea filicaulis, Leucadendron teretifolium, Leucospermum pedunculatum, Leucospermum truncatulum, Merciera leptoloba, Pauridia minuta, , Protea scabra, adscendens, Serruria elongata, , curvifolia Rare Sonderothamnus speciosus Declining Lapeirousia corymbosa, Rapanea melanophloeos

Species List

To date, 559 species have been identified on the two properties. A further 82 are awaiting formal identification. 26 non-native species have also been recorded. The number of members of grass family, Poaceae, sedge family, Cyperaceae, and restio family, Restionaceae are very poorly recorded to date. Further work is also particularly needed on the pea family, Fabaceae, vygie family, Aizoaceae, and the genus Erica. Cryptogams have not been recorded at all.

Achariaceae Searsia rosmarinifolia Kiggelaria africana Searsia scytophylla Aizoaceae Searsia tomentosa Acrodon bellidiflorus Apiaceae Acrodon parvifolius Arctopus echinatus Acrosanthes teretifolia Centella macrocarpa Carpobrotus edulis Centella tridentata Erepsia anceps Chamarea gracillima Erepsia inclaudens* Glia prolifera Galenia herniariifolia Itasina filifolia Lampranthus sp.* Lichtensteinia lacera* Lampranthus pink and white* Lichtensteinia trifida Oscularia deltoides Nanobubon capillaceum Psilocaulon parviflorum Apocynaceae Ruschia sp. creeping* Asclepias crispa Ruschia tenella Aspidoglossum heterophyllum Skiatophytum tripolium Gomphocarpus cancellatus Tetragonia fruticosa Gomphocarpus physocarpus Alliaceae Microloma tenuifolium Tulbaghia alliacea Araceae Amaranthaceae Zantedeschia aethiopica Exomis microphylla Amaryllidaceae Albuca aurea Amaryllis belladonna Albuca flaccida Boophone disticha Albuca fragrans/goswinii* Brunsvigia orientalis africanus Crossyne guttata Asparagus capensis var. capensis Cyrtanthus angustifolius Asparagus declinatus Cyrtanthus carneus Asparagus kraussianus Cyrtanthus leucanthus Asparagus lignosus Haemanthus coccineus Asparagus rubicundus Haemanthus sanguineus Drimia elata Strumaria spiralis Drimia filifolia Anacardiaceae Drimia media Searsia angustifolia Drimia minor Searsia cuneifolia Drimia cf. minor few flowers* Searsia glauca* Eucomis regia Searsia laevigata Lachenalia orchioides Searsia lucida Lachenalia perryae Lachenalia rosea Mairia coriacea Ledebouria ovalifolia Metalasia brevifolia Ornithogalum dubium Metalasia densa Ornithogalum graminifolium Metalasia erubescens Ornithogalum hispidum subsp. bergii Metalasia inversa Ornithogalum thyrsoides Metalasia serrata* Asphodelaceae Nidorella ivifolia Bulbine cepacea Oedera capensis Bulbine favosa Osteospermum hispidum var. hispidum Bulbinella cauda-felis Osteospermum moniliferum Bulbinella trinervis Osteospermum polygaloides Bulbinella triquetra Osteospermum tomentosum Kniphofia uvaria Othonna heterophylla Trachyandra ciliate strap-shaped * Othonna quinquedentata Trachyandra hirsuta Phaenocoma prolifera Trachyandra hirsutiflora Printzia polifolia Trachyandra hispida Pseudognaphalium luteo-album Pteronia hirsuta Arctotheca calendula Pteronia tenuifolia Arctotheca prostrata Relhania pungens subsp. pungens Arctotis acaulis Senecio burchellii Arctotis sp. erect low shrub Senecio crassulifolius Artemisia afra Senecio elegans Athanasia dentata Senecio glastifolius Athanasia trifurcata Senecio hastifolius Athrixia capensis Senecio juniperinus* Berkheya angusta Senecio lanifer Berkheya armata Senecio lyratus* Berkheya barbata Senecio pubigerus Berkheya herbacea Senecio rigidus* Berkheya rigida Senecio sophioides Chrysocoma ciliata Senecio triqueter Corymbium cymosum Senecio umbellatus Corymbium villosum Seriphium cinereum Cotula ceniifolia Seriphium plumosum Cotula turbinata Seriphium incanum* Cullumia setosa var. microcephala Stoebe aethiopica Dimorphotheca nudicaulis Stoebe capitata Disparago anomala Syncarpha canescens Disparago ericoides Syncarpha gnaphaloides Edmondia sesamoides Syncarpha paniculata Elytropappus rhinocerotis Syncarpha speciosissima Eriocephalus paniculatus Syncarpha vestita tenella subsp. cotuloides Ursinia anthemoides Gazania pectinata Ursinia heterodonta* Gerbera crocea Ursinia nudicaulis* Gerbera piloselloides Zyrphelis foliosa Gnaphalium declinatum Boraginaceae Haplocarpha lanata Echiostachys ecklonianus Helichrysum asperum var. glabrum* Lobostemon argenteus Helichrysum foetidum Lobostemon curvifolius Helichrysum indicum Lobostemon lucidus* Helichrysum odoratissimum Brassicaceae Helichrysum pandurifolium Heliophila juncea Helichrysum teretifolium Heliophila macra Heterolepis aliena Heliophila pusilla Hippia pilosa Heliophila subulata Hymenolepis crithmifolia Bruniaceae Macledium spinosum Berzelia abrotanoides Berzelia lanuginosa Tetraria bromoides* Brunia laevis Tetraria thermalis* Staavia radiata Dipsacaceae Campanulaceae Scabiosa columbaria Cyphia digitata Droseraceae Cyphia phyteuma Drosera capensis Cyphia volubilis Drosera cistiflora Lobelia chamaepitys Drosera pauciflora Lobelia comosa Drosera trinervia Lobelia erinus Ebenaceae Lobelia pinifolia Diospyros glabra Lobelia setacea Euclea racemosa Merciera azurea Euclea polyandra Merciera leptoloba Ericaceae Monopsis lutea Erica axillaris Prismatocarpus brevilobus Erica bruniifolia Prismatocarpus campanuloides Erica capillaris* Prismatocarpus fruticosus Erica cerinthoides Roella incurva Erica chonantha Siphocodon debilis Erica coccinea Treichelia longebracteata Erica corifolia Wahlenbergia capensis Erica cruenta Wahlenbergia cernua* Erica curviflora Wahlenbergia cinerea Erica discolor Wahlenbergia longifolia with broad toothed * Erica equisetifolia Wahlenbergia nodosa Erica globiceps subsp. consors* Wahlenbergia subulata Erica globiceps subsp. globiceps Wahlenbergia cf. thunbergii* Erica hispidula Caryophyllaceae Erica imbricata Dianthus albens Erica irbyana Silene burchellii subsp. pilosellifolia Erica labialis Celastraceae Erica lasciva* Gymnosporia buxifolia Erica mammosa Maytenus oleoides Erica multumbellifera Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus Erica nudiflora Colchicaceae Erica plukenetii subsp. penicellata Androcymbium eucomoides Erica pulchella Baeometra uniflora Erica quadrangularis Wurmbea punctata Erica rubiginosa Wurmbea variabilis* Erica sessiliflora Commelinaceae Erica viscaria subsp. longifolia Commelina africana Erica vogelpoelii Crassulaceae Euphorbiaceae Crassula biplanata Clutia alaternoides* Crassula capensis Clutia laxa* Crassula ericoides subsp. ericoides Clutia polygonoides Crassula fallax* Clutia pubescens Crassula fascicularis Euphorbia ecklonii Crassula muscosa Euphorbia erythrina* Crassula natans Euphorbia silenifolia* Crassula rupestris Fabaceae Crassula saxifraga Amphithalea biovulata Crassula subulata var. subulata Amphithalea ciliaris Crassula thunbergiana Amphithalea ericifolia Cunoniaceae Aspalathus aciphylla Cyperaceae Aspalathus acuminata subsp. acuminata Carpha glomerata Aspalathus angustifolia subsp. angustifolia Cyperus large riverine* Aspalathus caledonensis Ficinia radiata Aspalathus cf. ciliaris* Aspalathus hispida subsp. hispida Pauridia capensis (yellow form)* Aspalathus juniperina subsp. juniperina Pauridia curculigioides Aspalathus laricifolia subsp. laricifolia Pauridia flaccida Aspalathus tridentata* Pauridia minuta Bolusafra bituminosa Pauridia monophylla Dipogon lignosus Iridaceae Indigofera alopecuroides Aristea africana Indigofera angustifolia Aristea bakeri Indigofera cytisoides* Aristea capitata Indigofera heterophylla Aristea glauca* Lebeckia pauciflora Aristea oligocephala Lessertia frutescens Aristea racemosa Liparia splendens Aristea spiralis Liparia vestita* Aristea teretifolia Lotononis umbellata Babiana ambigua Podalyria biflora Babiana patersoniae Podalyria calyptrata Bobartia longicyma Podalyria myrtillifolia Chasmanthe aethiopica Psoralea aphylla Freesia caryophyllacea Psoralea asarina Geissorhiza aspera Psoralea imbricata Geissorhiza hispidula Rafnia acuminata Geissorhiza inflexa Rafnia capensis subsp. capensis Geissorhiza juncea Tephrosia capensis Geissorhiza nana Xiphotheca reflexa Geissorhiza ovata Gentianaceae Geissorhiza parva Chironia linoides subsp. macrocalyx Geissorhiza schinzii Sebaea aurea Geissorhiza scillaris* Sebaea exacoides Gladiolus alatus Sebaea grisebachiana* Gladiolus brevifolius Sebaea micrantha var. micrantha Gladiolus bullatus Geraniaceae Gladiolus carneus Pelargonium alchemilloides Gladiolus debilis Pelargonium candicans Gladiolus gracilis Pelargonium capitatum Gladiolus guthriei Pelargonium carneum Gladiolus hirsutus Pelargonium cucullatum subsp. strigifolium Gladiolus liliaceus Pelargonium dipetalum subsp. dipetalum Gladiolus maculatus Pelargonium elegans Gladiolus martleyi Pelargonium elongatum Gladiolus meridionalis* Pelargonium grossularioides Gladiolus overbergensis Pelargonium lobatum Gladiolus rudis Pelargonium longifolium Gladiolus trichomenifolius Pelargonium myrrhifolium Gladiolus tristis Pelargonium pinnatum Gladiolus virescens Pelargonium triste Hesperantha falcata* Grubbiaceae Hesperantha radiata subsp. caricina Haemodoraceae Hesperantha radiata subsp. radiata Dilatris pillansii Ixia dubia Wachendorfia broad-leaved paniculata Ixia flexuosa Wachendorfia brachyandra* Ixia micrandra Wachendorfia thyrsiflora Ixia polystachya Hemerocallidaceae Ixia stricta Caesia contorta Lapeirousia corymbosa Hypoxidaceae Lapeirousia micrantha Empodium plicatum Micranthus alopecuroides Hypoxis argentea var. sericea Micranthus filifolius Pauridia alba Micranthus plantagineus Pauridia capensis (white with dark centre) Micranthus tubulosus Moraea anomala Hermannia hyssopifolia Moraea bellendenii Hermannia martita* Moraea bituminosa Hermannia rudis Moraea comptonii Hibiscus aethiopicus Moraea cooperi Melianthaceae Moraea fugacissima Melianthus major Moraea fugax Menyanthaceae Moraea gawleri Nymphoides indica Moraea insolens Molluginaceae Moraea lewisiae Adenogramma lichtensteiniana Moraea lugubris Pharnaceum elongatum Moraea lurida Montiniaceae Moraea melanops Montinia caryophyllacea Moraea neglecta Myricaceae Moraea ramosissima Morella quercifolia Moraea setifolia Morella serrata Moraea tricolor Myrsinaceae Moraea tripetala Myrsine africana Moraea virgata Rapanea melanophloeos Romulea cruciata Nymphaeaceae Romulea flava (large purple) Oleaceae Romulea flava (white)* Olea capensis subsp. capensis Romulea hirsuta var. cuprea* Olea europaea subsp. africana Romulea rosea Orchidaceae Sparaxis bulbifera Acrolophia capensis Thereianthus bracteolatus Bartholina burmanniana Tritoniopsis antholyza Disa atricapilla Tritoniopsis burchellii Disa atrorubens Tritoniopsis lata Disa bifida Tritoniopsis parviflora Disa bracteata Tritoniopsis pulchra Disa ferruginea Tritoniopsis unguicularis Disa filicornis Watsonia aletroides Disa multifida Watsonia cf. coccinea* Disa obliqua subsp. clavigera Watsonia laccata Disa racemosa Watsonia meriana Disa tenuifolia Watsonia spectabilis Disperis capensis Watsonia stenosiphon Disperis paludosa Juncaginaceae Disperis villosa Triglochin bulbosa Eulophia aculeata subsp. aculeata Lamiaceae Evotella carnosa Leonotis leonurus Pterygodium acutifolium Salvia africana-lutea Pterygodium alatum Salvia chamelaeagnea Pterygodium bicolorum Salvia runcinata Pterygodium bifidum Stachys aethiopica Pterygodium catholicum Lanariaceae Pterygodium orobanchoides Lanaria lanata Holothrix cernua* Lauraceae Holothrix villosa Cassytha ciliolata Satyrium bicallosum Lentibulariaceae Satyrium bicorne Utricularia bisquamata Satyrium bracteatum Linaceae Satyrium coriifolium Linum africanum Satyrium humile Linum thunbergii* Satyrium lupulinum Malvaceae Satyrium odorum Anisodontea scabrosa Satyrium stenopetalum Hermannia alnifolia Orobanchaceae Hermannia deaconii* Alectra sessiliflora Harveya purpurea Protea angustata* Oxalidaceae Protea aspera Oxalis caprina Protea compacta Oxalis commutata Oxalis eckloniana Oxalis engleriana Protea longifolia Oxalis glabra Oxalis heterophylla Protea scabra* Oxalis livida var. livida Serruria adscendens Oxalis luteola Serruria elongata Oxalis multicaulis Serruria fasciflora Oxalis nidulans var. denticulata Serruria cf. heterophylla/phylicoides* Oxalis obtusa Spatalla curvifolia Oxalis pes-caprae Pteridophyta Oxalis polyphylla Asplenium adiantum-nigrum Oxalis punctata Histiopteris incisa Oxalis purpurea Pteridium aquilinum Oxalis stellata var. stellata Schizaea pectinata Oxalis truncatula Todea barbara Oxalis zeekoevleyensis Ranunculaceae Penaeaceae Anemone anemonoides Penaea mucronata Restionaceae Sonderothamnus speciosus Cannomois congesta Plantaginaceae Ceratocaryum argenteum Plantago remota Elegia hookeriana Plantago sp.* Elegia racemosa Poaceae Elegia spathacea Aira praecox* Hypodiscus albo-aristatus/rugosus* Hyparrhenia hirta* Hypodiscus argenteus Tenaxia stricta Hypodiscus aristatus Themeda triandra* Restio capensis* Polygalaceae Restio egregius Muraltia alopecuroides Restio festuciformis Muraltia cf. alopecuroides* Restio similis* Muraltia filiformis var. caledonensis Restio tetragonus Muraltia heisteria Restio triflora Muraltia pungens Rhodocoma fruticosa Polygala bracteolata Staberoha cernua* Polygala cf. parkeri* Thamnochortus fruticosus* Polygala garcinii Thamnochortus gracilis* Polygala scabra Thamnochortus lucens Polygonaceae Willdenowia teres Emex australis Rhamnaceae Rumex lativalvis Phylica diffusa Phylica imberbis Aulax umbellata Phylica lasiocarpa Tricocephalus stipularis Leucadendron gandogeri/laureolum* Roridulaceae Leucadendron linifolium Rosaceae Leucadendron platyspermum Cliffortia atrata Leucadendron salicifolium Cliffortia carinata Cliffortia falcata Leucadendron teretifolium Cliffortia ferruginea Cliffortia filifolia var. filifolia Leucospermum cordifolium Cliffortia graminea Leucospermum pedunculatum Cliffortia juniperina Leucospermum prostratum Cliffortia monophylla Leucospermum truncatulum Cliffortia multiformis cucullatus Cliffortia cf. multiformis/pterocarpa* Cliffortia phyllanthoides Stilbaceae Cliffortia pterocarpa Tecophilaeaceae Cliffortia ramosissima Cyanella hyacinthoides Cliffortia ruscifolia Cyanella lutea Cliffortia stricta Thymelaeaceae Cliffortia strobilifera Gnidia anomala Rubiaceae Gnidia humilis Anthospermum aethiopicum Gnidia pinifolia* Anthospermum bicorne Gnidia juniperifolia/simplex* Anthospermum galioides subsp. galioides "prostrate Lachnaea filicaulis form" Passerina corymbosa Anthospermum galioides subsp. reflexifolium Struthiola argentea* Anthospermum spathulatum Struthiola ciliata/confusa* Ruscaceae Struthiola mundii Eriospermum* Typhaceae Eriospermum narrow lanceolate with petiole* Typha capensis Eriospermum dielsianum subsp. dielsianum Zygophyllaceae Eriospermum schlechteri Zygophyllum sessilifolium* Rutaceae Adenandra brachyphylla* Non-native species: Agathosma bifida Acacia saligna Agathosma cerefolium Agapanthus praecox hybrid Agathosma imbricata Anagallis arvensis Agathosma serpyllacea Atriplex semibaccata Diosma hirsuta Bellardia trixago Diosma oppositifolia Brassica napus Santalaceae Briza maxima Colpoon compressum Cirsium vulgare Thesium acuminatum* Cyathea cooperi Thesium ericifolium Dittrichia graveolens Thesium spicatum Echium plantagineum Scrophulariaceae Fumaria sp.* Diascia capensis drupacea Dischisma ciliatum Halleria lucida Hibiscus trionum Hemimeris racemosa Hypochaeris* Limosella africana* Leptospermum laevigatum Manulea cheiranthus Myoporum tenuifolium Microdon dubius Petrorhagia prolifera Nemesia barbata Phytolacca octandra Nemesia diffusa Pinus pinaster Nemesia macrocarpa Pyracantha coccinea Nemesia pinnata Rumex acetosella Nemesia small yellow* Silene gallica Phyllopodium cordatum Vicia sativa Pseudoselago serrata* Xanthium spinosum Pseudoselago verbenacea Selago canescens* *To be confirmed Selago sp small white* Selago corymbosa/dolosa* Sutera foetida* Sutera hispida Teedia lucida Zaluzianskya capensis Zaluzianskya divaricata Solanaceae Lycium afrum Solanum nigrum Solanum linnaeanum