Volume 8 • April 2012

CREW –National Overview

he CREW programme, which and for providing baseline data REW, the Custodians of involves civil society volun- for conservation planning and T Rare and Endangered teers in monitoring South Af- land-use decision-making. Thus, C Wildflowers, is a programme rica’s threatened , is a key CREW volunteers are making a that involves volunteers from component of the South African significant contribution to South the public in the monitoring National Biodiversity Institute’s Africa’s biodiversity monitoring and and conservation of South (SANBI) Threatened conservation. Africa’s threatened plants. Programme. Keeping the CREW network of CREW aims to capacitate a This newsletter, produced volunteers going is a priority for network of volunteers from annually, is written by CREW SANBI’s Threatened Species a range of socio-economic volunteers and staff who Programme, however, it cannot backgrounds to monitor coordinate the programme and be done in isolation and working and conserve ’s covers the highlights for the with partners is essential. We are threatened species. 2011–2012 field season, as very pleased to announce that The programme links vol- well as important developments the Botanical Society (BotSoc) is unteers with their local within the programme. As we becoming ever more committed conservation agencies and enter 2012, CREW is in its ninth to the implementation of CREW. particularly with local land stewardship initiatives to en- year of implementation. The BotSoc has a Memorandum sure the conservation of key programme has matured and of Understanding (MoU) with sites for threatened plant grown extensively to a point where SANBI and financially supports species. there is now a strong network of the operations of CREW in volunteers spread across South the summer rainfall region in Africa’s threatened ecosystems. addition to paying the salaries Populations of threatened plants of two CREW coordinators. The are being monitored on an ongoing Botanical Society administrator basis, with fascinating species works part time for CREW and being found regularly (see articles a Botanical Society member from CREW groups). Monitoring sponsors the entire implementation data on threatened plants collected of CREW in the region. by volunteers is being fed to The Kirstenbosch Branch of the SANBI’s Threatened Species Botanical Society will, for the Programme for use in updating the next two years, work with CREW Red List of South Africa’s plants, in the surrounds

1 on an exciting new project to This website, the first of its statuses of some of the species train previously disadvantaged kind for South Africa, includes you have found. We will however school graduates to both monitor conservation assessments get to them in the upcoming year. threatened plants and work as plant using the IUCN system for all of We are looking for volunteers to conservation champions within South Africa’s 20 689 recorded help us with updating this website. their communities. The Botanical indigenous taxa. If you are interested in doing office Society is thus demonstrating Each species account includes work, preferably from the Pretoria commitment to conserving South distribution, habitat information and office, please contact me at Africa’s flora and promoting an explanation of why a specific [email protected]. transformation of the botanical species has been listed either conservation sector. under one of the categories of This newsletter includes, for the conservation concern or as not first time, a section that profiles During 2011, SANBI has developed threatened (Least Concerned). some of the staff members who two new online tools to support The Red List website represents have worked on the CREW the work of CREW volunteers and the official Red List of South programme during 2011 and 2012. members of South Africa’s public African plants and a new version As part of the CREW programme, interested in plant conservation. is released on a six monthly basis. we aim to train young scientists in The first is an online site for the Each update includes assessments plant conservation work. The staff public to identify South Africa’s for newly described species as section that can be found at the species called iSpot. iSpot allows well as species for which new end of the newsletter will profile citizen scientists and the public information about the status of what type of work our interns have to contribute information to populations is available. Volunteers been involved in and reflects their SANBI’s conservation and species working with CREW generate most experiences with us. We have been databases. Contributions are of the later data. The release of this fortunate to have three interns made by uploading images and national Red List website marks the with us over the past year, Anisha locality information of interesting end of the era of producing printed Dayaram, Martina Treurnicht and sightings of plants, animals and Red Data or Red List books. All Lerato Hoveka, each of whom fungi. Identification is done both by future Red Lists for plants will be have contributed significantly to experts and by other iSpot users. produced online. our work. Also included in our CREW volunteers typically have staff section is a special tribute to an excellent knowledge of their The maintenance of Red List Isabel Johnson who has worked as local floras and hence are valuable assessments for South Africa’s the CREW manager for KwaZulu- contributors to iSpot. iSpot provides flora is a massive job. Around 100 Natal (KZN) since 2007. Isabel a platform where volunteers from new plant species are described is transitioning from her role as across CREW groups can share per year and over 200 species CREW KZN manager to working their expertise and learn from are revised in new taxonomic on a related Botanical Society each other. It is an opportunity to treatments. New information project to secure the conservation learn and share observations on of important botanical sites via a wider range of biodiversity than indicating that populations have been lost to development or stewardship. Suvarna Parbhoo, just plants, for those who may be who has worked closely with Isabel new previously undocumented interested. We are very pleased over the past few years and who populations been found, is that many CREW volunteers have will be taking over the reins as the received from CREW volunteers already started posting images of CREW KZN manager, wrote the and consultants on a daily basis, plants and animals and have been tribute for Isabel. Although Isabel’s with over 400 species needing helping to identify plants posted main work focus is changing, she status updates per year. These by other iSpot users. iSpot will be will remain linked to CREW and will very high numbers indicate that developed over the next few years always remain part of the CREW CREW volunteers are doing an to include interactive keys for plant team. Fortunately for us, Isabel is excellent job of monitoring our identification. If you have not far too passionate about threatened flora. Unfortunately, however, yet started using plants to ever stop working on the team working at SANBI’s iSpot, visit http:// monitoring them. Isabel, thank Threatened Species Programme za..org.uk you for your pivotal role in getting has diminished in size over the past and get hooked! CREW established in KZN. From four years from six scientists to only the CREW team and the CREW one full time scientist. This is as a The second volunteer network, we wish you the result of ever shrinking budgets at online tool greatest of success with your next SANBI. Due to limited capacity, we is the Red project. have a significant backlog of data List for Plants that needs to be added to the Red (www.redlist. Domitilla Raimondo sanbi.org). List website. Many of you will note that we have not yet updated the Threatened Plant Programme Manager CREW Report

Ismail Ebrahim

t is always a privilege and ex- protocol for propagating these Iceptionally rewarding to reflect species to relieve pressure on the on the activities of another year wild populations that are being that has passed. harvested. Thinking back to all the wonderful Lerato will be with us until August places we have visited, the 2012 and is working on a very amazing plants we monitored and exciting project. We are developing the friendly, heart-warming people interactive identification tools we met on our travels really gives for iSpot and Lerato is currently one the warm ‘fuzzy’ feeling that working on the methodology for so many people search for. Without developing the keys by using trying to sound too repetitive (every Babiana as the pilot genus for the year is a good year!), 2011 was project. remarkable. The major difference was down to the additional capacity The field season was exceptionally we had last year. The SANBI intern good in 2011. Our main target for programme has benefited CREW. the year was to try to rediscover as In April, Martina Treurnicht started many Critically Endangered Pos- sibly Extinct (CRPE) species as we her internship with us. Martina could. The year started really well Muraltia ferox, one of the Critically completed her MSc degree in 2010 when we rediscovered Oxalis levis Endangered Possibly Extinct species and worked on the Agulhas Plain at the Riverlands Nature Reserve. CREW discovered in 2011. assessing the impacts of flower Due to the success of Maramodes harvesting on Fynbos. Martina has Day (27 April, Freedom Day) we a revision of Muraltia. There was been a great addition to the team decided to promulgate a new bo- a very vague description of the and has really helped to implement tanical holiday. Oxalis day will now locality in the revision but with our objectives for the year. Martina take place on 16 June (Youth Day) some sharp investigative work, the is part of the National Research every year. CREW team managed to relocate Foundation (NRF) and Department the original locality. of Science and Technology (DST) In September, we managed to internship programme and will be cross another CRPE off the list. Another major achievement this with us until the end of March 2012. This time it was Muraltia ferox from year was engaging students at uni- the Worcester district. Margaret versity level by presenting lectures Our strengthening and maturing Levyns last recorded M. ferox in on the Red Listing process and partnership with the Botanical So- 1951 when she was working on threatened plant conservation. ciety of South Africa is also paying great dividends: Zikhona Mdalase is now much more involved in CREW and she has been a valu- able addition to the team. Zikhona has been assisting us with adminis- tration, processing specimens and, more importantly, implementing our Environmental Education (EE) programmes. Zikhona spent four years working at the SANBI Gold- fields Centre and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our EE programmes.

In October 2011, we had an opportunity to welcome another intern, Lerato Hoveka to the CREW team. Lerato is from Limpopo and completed her BSc. Hons. in 2010. Lerato’s project entailed working with two threatened Euphorbia species to determine the best CREW with a group of students from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. 3 In addition to the lecture, we con- ducted a practical session and took students to critical sites to expose them to field based monitoring work that CREW is involved in. We managed to conduct success- ful Red List training days at two universities, Stellenbosch Univer- sity and Nelson Mandela Metropoli- tan University. CREW organised two fantastic plant identification courses in 2011. In July, we had an Oxalis identification course presented by Kenneth Oberlander at Stellenbosch University. Ken- neth is extremely passionate about plants (especially Oxalis) and has a fantastic way of teaching people CREW staff and volunteers getting Oxalis identification tips from Kenneth Ober- lander. Oxalis identification skills.

In September, dr John Manning the most amazing thing about We would like thank our funders for presented an identification course him is his willingness to share his making the CREW work possible on the family. Dr Manning knowledge. After the course, we and our fantastic volunteers is not only a well-known expert on visited the Rondebosch Common that are making meaningful this family but has a great general for a practical identification contributions to conservation of knowledge of plants. However, session. threatened plants.

CREW in KwaZulu-Natal 2011

Isabel Johnson

REW continues to grow in • Near Threatened: 31. large property in the Utrecht and CKwaZulu-Natal, with CREW Wakkerstroom district, where we joining the Zululand Tree Society • Rare: 23. may have found a new species of Apocynaceae. activities at False Bay, Usuthu • Data deficient: two. Gorge, Amatikulu and Mapelane Nature Reserves. We’ve had an Biodiversity Stewardship continues Our links with tertiary educational initial outing with people in the to support CREW, and we have institutions continue, and Dundee area looking for Knipho- contributed to site assessments at threatened plant lectures and fia flammula, and hope to form a a number of sites, most notably a field trips were held with the new CREW group there. We’ve had some great threatened plant finds, but as these will be in the group report backs, I won’t go into detail here. For interest, CREW KZN plant find statistics since 2007 are as follows:

• New species: nine (mainly thanks to Tony Abbott).

• Critically Endangered Presumed Extinct: one (Turraea streyi, but may be extinct again).

• Critically Endangered: seven.

• Endangered: 51.

4 • Vulnerable: 88. Group photo after a fieldtrip at Buffelskloof. The rare Brachystelma remotum from the Utrecht district.

Durban University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, and University of Zululand. Feedback from the CREW fieldtrip with students from UKZN in September 2011. students via course evaluation forms was very positive and, was absolutely delighted with a my role is changing. The last five hopefully, some students have few Christmas Bells (Sandersonia years have been very rewarding been inspired to pursue careers in aurantiaca) found during a CREW for me and I really hope that I plant conservation. outing growing in the middle of have played some part in getting a eucalypt plantation (and thus CREW established in KwaZulu- A highlight of the past year was doomed), which I took to her just Natal and folk fired up about the annual CREW volunteer before Christmas. threatened plant conservation and summer rainfall workshop, this surveying in the province. I hope time held in Mpumalanga and This is, very sadly for me, my last that there will be time, between brilliantly hosted by John and ‘CREW in KZN’ article, written the demands of getting privately Sandie Burrows at Buffelskloof as the CREW manager, as I am owned land formally proclaimed Nature Reserve. We had some moving on to do Biodiversity into conservation and finishing my inspiring speakers including Stewardship facilitation, funded by (everlasting—but the end is now in Angus Burns (WWF), Mervyn the Critical Ecosystems Partnership sight!) thesis, to join you on CREW Lötter (MTPA), Brigitte Church and Fund through the Botanical Society, outings, and I will be very glad of Roger Uys (EKZNW), John and for the next couple of years. As part your ongoing help with stewardship Sandie Burrows (Buffelskloof), of my work with Stewardship, I will sites. As I think you all know I can Anisha Darayam, Erich van Wyk, be involving CREW volunteers to never resist visiting new places and Lize von Staden and Sinegugu help with monitoring of stewardship finding new plants! Suvarna will Zukulu (SANBI). There was also a sites for special plants. Therefore, I be taking over as the CREW KZN very useful discussion on Brahms will still be involved with CREW but manager so you are in good hands. database progress led by Benny Bytebier in the state of the art new Buffelskloof Herbarium, and a fieldtrip down (and up) Buffelskloof A tribute to CREW in its help gorge to find Prunus africana and dormant Bowiea volubilis. The with research into the family annual workshop is a vital part of CREW’s role in getting volunteers, Apocynaceae conservationists, botanists and Ashley Nicholas students together and we always have a plea for more networking amateur botanists, parabotanists, time! nlike many of the other Udisciplines of , plant conservationists and professional A great sadness for us this year systematics has maintained its taxonomists. Professional was Kath Gordon-Gray’s death connection with the many com- botanists (those making a living from botany) have long valued in January, a few days before munities that use the classifica- the contribution ‘nature lovers’ her 95th birthday. A much loved, tions they produce. very special person, friend and make to their science. This is fine botanist until the very end, There is a strong mutual especially true for those of us in she will be sorely missed. She relationship between nature lovers, academia, who do not get much 5 time for fieldwork. The community Contact details of amateur botanists have become for CREW Group champions our eyes on the ground; they are at CREW office: [email protected] the interface between biodiversity, science and conservation. Their Cape Floral Region field observations on species Caledon—Adriaan Hanekom distribution, morphological [email protected] variation, ecology and reproductive Darling Wildflower Society—Helene Preston biology are essential for our [email protected] understanding of plants and their Friends of Tygerberg Hills—Hedi Stummer manifestations. Since the 1800s, [email protected] amateur botanists have contributed George Outramps—Di Turner substantially to the progress of [email protected] systematic botany and many, such Harmony Flats Working Group—Sabelo Lindani as Rudolf Schlechter, eventually [email protected] becoming professional botanists Hottentots Holland—Cecilia Wolmarans themselves. [email protected] When I first started my MSc in Jacobsbaai—Koos and Elise Claasens 1980, I relied on amateur and field [email protected] botanists for both observations and Kogelberg—Amida Johns herbarium specimens. Some 30 [email protected] years later, things have changed Mamre—Sophie Liedeman and Morgan Sambaba slightly in that superb digital pho- 021 576 1266 (Sophie) tographs now often supplement Napier—Cameron and Rhoda McMaster these. Many CREW members are [email protected] now also collecting both spirit and Nieuwoudtville (Indigo Development and Change)—Bettina Koelle DNA material, both of which are [email protected] essential to the progress of my research programme and its goals; Piketberg—Angela Langton [email protected] as well as helping my postgradu- ate students with their studies. Port Elizabeth—Clayton Weatherall-Thomas CREW, in particular, has energised [email protected] botany in KwaZulu-Natal. Besides St Francis/Fourcade Botanical Group—Caryl Logie providing a home, a nexus, for [email protected] both amateurs and professionals, Stilbaai—Janet Naude the fact that CREW is an active, [email protected] focused and enthusiastic network Swellendam—Flora Cameron of extremely well informed people [email protected] has enabled it to make major con- tributions to African botany. Besides KwaZulu-Natal the rediscovery of extremely rare Boston—David Clulow asclepiads, some of which have [email protected] been thought to be extinct (such Highway—Andrea Abbott as Asclepias bicuspis), CREW [email protected] has expanded the known range Mkhambathini—Alison Young of many species. In the last three [email protected] years, its members and friends Nicholson Botanical Group—Tony Abbott have discovered over six new [email protected] species of asclepiad in KwaZulu- Umvoti—Sue Swan Natal. This is a staggering number [email protected] for an otherwise well worked on Underberg—Julie Braby family. My students and I have also [email protected] benefitted from CREW outings and workshops. These have enabled Zululand Tree Society—Denis Oscroft [email protected] us not only to get into natural areas (the ultimate taxonomic laboratory) Mpumalanga but also allowed us to make new Mpumalanga Plant Specialist Group—Mervyn Lötter friends, and listen and learn from [email protected] the collective wisdom of its mem- Early Detection & Rapid Response (EDRR) invasive alien plant programme: bers. My research is now focused [email protected] on producing a well-supported 6 evolutionary tree for parts of the The rare KwaZulu-Natal midlands As- clepias bicuspis, recently rediscovered by Isabel Johnson (photograph: Isabel Johnson). family based on gene sequences. Modern systematics has to pursue this route as it is demanded by the Rob Scott-Shaw, Yashica Singh and Elsa Pooley discussing Hypoxis. tenants of empirical science, and may be the only way we will find (at Masters level) but Hypoxis according to our rather scanty a solution to the generic problems remained a challenging genus. knowledge of these species. that so plague the asclepiads. Yashica, supervised by prof. Remember, the field guides only I would therefore like, on behalf of Snowy Baijnath and prof. Braam illustrate a few of the species and my students and myself, to extend van Wyk, has given us a great new do not offer the full range. Each a sincere thank you to CREW and insight into the genus. We were group of participants debated and its members. You have played a privileged to have her to guide us carefully considered each plant, big role in facilitating my research at the workshop. She had gone to following Yashica’s notes, checking and I hope my association with you great efforts to assist us, bringing against the herbarium specimens will play a part in the future as my along dried herbarium specimens and checking the literature. It students and I work towards resolv- and enough fresh plants species to was demanding work, requiring ing the complex of the keep us all very busy! careful attention. It took the whole family Apocynaceae. I look forward morning. By the time we had to seeing our ties strengthen and Yashica gave us an overview broken for lunch, time had run out grow. presentation on the genus and her for the field trip. work. We then separated into small groups and started working on It would be great to run this course identifying the living plants which again, to give us all a little more Hypoxis had been supplied. For those of confidence in naming the species you who were not there, you might of Hypoxis! Thank you Yashica, workshop with have glanced at the specimens and Suvarna and Isabel of CREW Yashica Singh and provided a quick identification for organising the workshop. Elsa Pooley South African Transformation: t was with enthusiasm and a Isigh of relief that I signed up Biodiversity Facilitators changing for the CREW workshop on Hy- poxis by Yashica Singh, Curator the face of conservation of the KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium Bettina Koelle in Durban. Hypoxis has been almost as difficult to work on as here has been some discussion about effective ways to trans- Rhus/Searsia! Tform the South African Conservation Sector in the past years. Yashica completed her doctoral Many successful initiatives have reached young adults and kindled thesis on Hypoxis in South a passion for ecology and the environment. However, the challenge Africa—a challenge if ever there remains; how can we ensure that this passion can actually translate into was one! This subject had been a career in the conservation sector? Difficult access to information, lack the focus of previous theses of self-confidence, obligations to financially support family members and 7 living far from urban centres are just some of the many challenges young people are faced with.

To bridge this gap, the Biodiversity Facilitator Programme offers formal employment to young adults with a passion for conservation and the environment after matriculation. The employment includes an intensive capacity development programme including a range of skills that are crucial for learning more about the multiple aspects of conservation, such as using a computer, facilitating a community meeting, developing a healthy self-esteem and technical skills like monitoring methods. The aim is for these young adults to become young professionals in the conservation sector—to achieve transformation and ensure that the next generation will treasure our amazing biodiversity and to be an inspiration and role model to other Shannon Parring (front right), one of the Nieuwoudtville Biodiversity Facilitators, young adults. with learners during the winter school.

If you would like to find out more about the Biodiversity Facilitator Programme, please contact: Bettina Koelle ([email protected]).

The EDRR Programme: Updates from KwaZulu-Natal and Reshnee Lalla, with contributions from Jabu Sithole and Ernita van Wyk

“A stitch in time saves nine” KwaZulu-Natal distributed to further increase awareness and detection of this The Early Detection and Rapid Firstly, we would like to express species. Response to Invasive Alien Plants our gratitude for your support and Another invasive alien Sagittaria programme (EDRR)* targets assistance in sending us reports of species (S. latifolia, common name: species before they become widely invasive alien plants we highlighted arrowhead) which poses a threat established. Two obvious benefits in the CREW newsletter last to wetlands was also located in of this approach are preserving year (Sagittaria platyphylla and South Africa’s pristine biodiversity KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Diplocyclos palmatus). With your Cape. Sagittaria latifolia differs before it is too late and saving on assistance and by us conducting excessive costs of invasive alien slightly from S. platyphylla as it has surveys, 12 localities of Sagittaria broad arrow-shaped leaves. plant control. platyphylla (delta arrowhead) have been recorded and mapped from The EDRR Programme has a We are now initiating plans for a four provinces, and the number of national focus, with regional units rapid response to both Sagittaria confirmed Diplocyclos palmatus species. Field trials have been established in different provinces (lollipop climber) localities in initiated for a chemical control to facilitate effective functioning KwaZulu-Natal has increased. method, and a contractor will and stakeholder collaboration at A pamphlet on D. palmatus is soon be appointed to conduct a localised scale. Updates from being finalised and will soon be further trials in KwaZulu-Natal. As KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape units are highlighted in this article, as well as a few invasive alien plants we would like you to keep a 8 lookout for. KwaZulu-Natal staff and interns presented papers and posters at conferences such as the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) conference, 39th Annual Workshop on Biological and Integrated Control of Weeds, and the Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society Conference in Australia. We are continuing to survey arboreta across the country to assess naturalised invasive alien species at these sites, as well as increase South African herbaria collections of invasive alien plants. Expanding our stakeholder network and harnessing existing relations in the province are crucial to us. Participation in annual CREW summer rainfall workshops and joint field surveys are just some examples of successful EDRR- CREW collaborations, which we Sagittate leaves of Sagittaria latifolia. hope will continue in the future. recommended by the herbicide also highlighted in last year’s Western Cape registrar, we will be using a CREW newsletter). In addition, wetland-friendly herbicide that seven contractors have been A technical assistant and contract has no surfactants or harmful appointed to conduct rapid manager were appointed in the compounds that kill aquatic fauna. response clearing activities on Western Cape during 2011, making It dissolves very quickly in water pompom weed, formosa lily and us a ‘fully fledged’ unit, so to speak. and does not form residues. other emerging weeds across We are more effective and able to the province. The unit saw an make more structured progress We are also in the process of increase in staff capacity with on the suite of projects under our finalising contracts for clearing the appointment of a technical wing. Projects in the Western Furcraea foetida populations in assistant and contract manager Cape include Lythrum salicaria, KwaZulu-Natal (this species was during the latter part of 2011. Melaleuca species, Asphodelus fistulosis and work on several Acacia species (Acacia paradoxa, A. implexa and A. stricta). With the arrival of our technical assistant, we have also been able to develop an effective tool to help us respond more effectively to unsolicited records that we receive from spotters. Staff members attended the Fynbos Forum and the Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions conference (EMAPI) which was held in Hungary. We also hosted Mario Lesnik from Slovenia who has been assisting us with various aspects of Lythrum salicaria, and we continue to work closely with a suite of partners, such as MTO Forestry, PG Bison, SANParks, CapeNature, Friends groups and the Australian National Herbarium to manage incipient Acacia paradoxa work on Table Mountain. invasions in the Western Cape. 9 Please help us locate these invading culprits…

Special thanks to Kate and Graham Grieve (CREW volunteers) for helping us locate Epipremnum aureum in the Southbroom area.

Epipremnum aureum (silver vine/ money plant), a climber of the Araceae family recognised by its huge green leathery leaves with white or yellow flecks, is a potential alien invader to South Africa.

Melaleuca quinquenervia is an evergreen tree (12–35 m tall) of the Myrtaceae (guava family) with sister genera such as Eucalyptus (gum trees) and Callistemon Rivina humilis is a shade-tolerant understory species. (bottlebrushes). Melaleuca quinquenervia has pale cinnamon should not be consumed, as this commonly found in gardens in this to whitish, flaking bark and leaves plant is poisonous to humans. Birds province, so it is highly likely that R. that are grey-green, alternate, eat these berries and facilitate the humilis is much more widely distrib- lanceolate to oblanceolate. Leaves spread of the species. uted than we originally thought. smell of camphor when crushed, and have five distinctive parallel Rivina humilis originates from * EDRR—Early Detection and Rap- South America, and has been veins (except on seedlings). id Response Programme to Inva- noted as weedy in other regions of White to cream-white flowers sive Alien Plants is positioned in the (50–100 mm long), arranged in the world e.g. Australia, La Réun- ion, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii South African National Biodiversity cylindrical ‘bottle brushes’, are Institute (SANBI), and funded by produced throughout winter and and Japan. Being shade-tolerant, the Department of Environmental autumn; this species’ fruits are R. humilis thrives as an understory Affairs, Natural Resource Man- small, woody, cylindrical capsules, species and is capable of displac- arranged in clusters. Once ing small understory indigenous agement and Working for Water naturalised, M. quinquenervia are vegetation in low elevation pas- Programme. usually found near small streams tures and forests. Stakeholder engagement in KwaZulu-Natal has The EDRR Programme can be or standing water and spreads revealed that this species is also contacted at [email protected]. mainly by seeds that are easily dispersed by wind or water. Native to Australia, M. quinquenervia has invaded natural forest, riparian zones, open swamps and wetlands in the Florida Everglades of the United States of America, costing the US government US$ 25 million in control efforts between 1989 and 1999.

Rivina humilis is a short, perennial herbaceous plant (0.6–1.0 m) belonging to the Phytolaccaceae. Leaves are ovate-oblong and very thin (with an almost ‘flimsy’ texture), sometimes displaying a reddish tinge along the margins. Racemes are white/pinkish turning green. Flowers are produced during spring to summer, and fruit are bright red (hence, the common name bloodberry). Although these berries Close-up of Epipremnum aureum Large Melaleuca quinquenervia trees 10 may appear juicy and edible, they leaves. with characteristic flaky bark. iSpot, your chance to share nature

Sarah-Leigh Hutchinson

SANBI has recently released a fantastic website called iSpot, which is taking in southern Africa to a completely new level. Using a Virtual Museum interface, iSpot aims to foster greater public appreciation and participation in biodiversity recording, monitoring and identification. Unlike other Virtual Museums, iSpot is unique in that it allows anyone to share their discoveries in nature by uploading georeferenced photographs of their observations, whether plants, insects, animals, fish, birds or fungi, onto an easy to use database. The iSpot homepage. iSpot, however, is so much more than merely a collection of characterless data—it is a dynamic interested in compiling portal where nature enthusiasts, an inventory of species from beginners to experts, can found at your own local share their knowledge and help park or reserve, the same each other identify species. In this concept applies. The way, iSpot is user driven and is Early Detection and Rapid a fun and lively way to progress Response (EDRR) team from a novice in identification to a at SANBI who deal with learned expert. invasive alien plant species are using iSpot in this Cytinus capensis, a very special find. Since its release in March last year, way, allowing the public to the site has already gained over help detect and monitor alien 450 registered users, who have invasive species. Species that Erica seen on Table Mountain and submitted over 8 500 observations, are of conservation concern or at posted on iSpot by Corinne Merry. of which most (99%) have received risk of being targeted by collectors The obscure plant attracted a lot identifications. Societies can automatically have their locality register on iSpot so that each time data hidden on iSpot for obvious of attention and was identified a member posts on the site, the safety reasons. There is also the by Ross Turner as the European society badge is displayed and option to ‘hide precise location’ species Calluna vulgaris, a links back to the society webpage. if you are worried about people possible invader and threat to our So far, the most active society on visiting your garden to view special own Erica species—all within 48 iSpot is BotSoc, but CREW (the specimens. hours! fourth most active society) has the most registered members. As an No matter how common or The best way to get a feel for the iSpot user, you have the freedom ‘uninteresting’ a species may seem, site and how it works is to simply to use iSpot as a tool to run your iSpot encourages all submissions sign up and upload an observation own survey or atlas project. For as highly valuable for science. of your own. Most of us have instance, you could appeal to the In this way, some spectacular hundreds of photographs stored iSpot community to help acquire discoveries have been made. in files on our computers, unused distributional data on a certain Marland Holderness, a regular and forgotten. Now is the chance to Pelargonium species you are and avid iSpotter, uploaded a make a difference by contributing interested in. iSpot allows you to photograph of a strange parasitic your little bit to help further our create a unique tag that others plant she found while walking understanding and conservation of can use to label their Pelargonium at Cape Point. The plant turned our rich biodiversity. Who knows, observations relevant to your out to be Cytinus capensis, last you might even make a headline project so that all these records seen 40 years ago and thought discovery in your own backyard! are saved together in a searchable to be extinct. Another important Visit iSpot at http://za.ispot.org.uk category. Similarly, if you are find was that of a strange looking (don’t forget the ‘za’!). 11 Mpumalanga A-Team Plant Specialist Group (PSG) Suvarna Parbhoo

Barbara Turpin s the name suggests, the ACREW All-over, or A-Team, doesn’t have a specific area ased in Nelspruit, PSG was but visit sites which don’t fall established in 1994 and B within an existing group’s local has a membership of about 50 area. The A-Team had to adorn plant enthusiasts, both amateur thick skin this field season as and professional. The Group’s most of the outings provided involvement with CREW began null-finds. in 2007, and since then, many of our outings have been geared Professor Snowy Baijnath intro- towards searching for plants duced me to the critically endan- whose existence is threatened gered pauciflora popula- by habitat loss and medicinal tion at the Clairwood racecourse harvesting in Mpumalanga. (Durban). The species was previously thought to be Extinct In February 2011, we travelled to in the Wild until prof. Baijnath Mac Mac Pools, near Mac Mac confirmed the existence of a small Falls in search of the small herb, natural population surviving in the Alepidea basinuda subsp. subnuda racecourse’s fragment. (EN), and found one population We are grateful for his persever- scattered in the damp montane grassland. Two months later, we ance to ensure the population’s visited farm Paardeplaats near survival. Lydenburg to look for Crotalaria Crotalaria monophylla from the farm The A-Team headed out to monophylla (VU) which was Paardeplaats. Dundee early in December to previously only known from the locate the endangered Kniphofia type specimen collected by the flammula. However, this was an artist Anita Fabian and described by Gerrit Germishuizen. The plants unsuccessful trip due to severe we saw growing in the grassland droughts in the area. We plan to were in fruit, making our find even revisit the area later in the season. more special, as only flowering We had a post-Valentine’s Day records existed until then. We outing to the Buddhist Retreat also discovered several of these centre in Ixopo, southern KwaZu- on an adjacent farm that day. A CREW outing in 2010 to look for lu-Natal. Our aim was to locate saxosum (EN) Dioscorea brownii that was last was unsuccessful, but a new seen on a Botanical Society trip in locality for this attractive shrub was 2005. Despite being in the correct discovered on a PSG outing in May area, we were unable to find the 2011 between Bourke’s Luck and population. To make up for this Graskop. In October, Paul Wilkin disappointment, we ended the (Dioscorea specialist at Kew) and day with a scrumptious ovo-lacto Muthama Musaya (Cyperaceae vegetarian lunch. specialist based at the ) joined a few members for the annual monitoring of the extremely endangered endemic Eriosema naviculare. Dioscorea strydomiana, the results of which were, sadly, very Among the expeditions into Lim- discouraging. For our last trip of the popo Province and northern year, we went to the Lowveld, just KwaZulu-Natal planned for this outside the in year, we will be checking on the search of Eriosema naviculare (EN) fortune of the beautiful Aloe craibii and found a population of 52 plants (CR), which grows in the Barberton 12 surviving near a local hospital. area of Mpumalanga. Zululand Tree Society

Denis Oscroft

very year we aim to visit Emost of the forest types in Zululand, such as dune forest, swamp forest, sand forest, scarp forest, , coastal grass- veld/palmveld and coastal low- land forest. I think we achieved this except for the coastal low- land forest. Our outings were to: • Zulu Nyala, Heatonville, where we identified and labelled trees around the main rest camp at A group photo of the Zululand Tree Society. the request of the owner. • Ongoye Forest. • Eastern shores, iSimangaliso. • Ndumo and Usuthu Gorge. Underberg • Amatikulu Nature Reserve. Julie Braby • Maphelane Nature Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park. e started our year off with spring rains and our flower season Wan open day for any inter- was a little delayed. Some of us also attended the ested parties to join CREW. This Some of our members attended CREW meeting hosted by Francois was held on Anne Rennie’s farm the excellent Hypoxis identification and Ronel du Randt at False Bay in her fantastic library that has course held at Kranzkloof Nature as well as another trip by some every flower book ever printed. Reserve. members to Phinda to assist with We had a permanent PowerPoint tree identification. display of the flowers of our area We continue to monitor the We had an introductory visit to and many of Anne’s pressed SPCA grassland which gave us Usuthu Gorge Community Game flower specimens were on dis- a wonderful display of Orchids Reserve and it has certainly play. over the festive season. This is whetted our botanical appetite to After a winter of heavy snowfalls, owned by the municipality and visit there more often, with a date the water table was very high but had been set aside for medium already confirmed for 2012. We unfortunately we had very late density housing which we have spent a weekend there in August, which is not the best time to look at trees, as most of them do not have leaves let alone flowers or fruit. Nevertheless, we still managed to identify well over 100 species. We all stayed at the Ndumo KZN Wild- life rest camp where we virtually swamped the campsite and took up most of the hutted accommoda- tion. We also explored the Ndumo Game Reserve at our leisure and visited the fantastic hides over the Inyamithi Pan and Red Banks at the Usuthu River. Thank you to Isabel and Suvarna for completing the species list of our observations so promptly—it was done before we departed! CREW Underberg folk at the Shelter farm. 13 been assured will not happen, as the area is under bedrock and CREW and the Umgano Project therefore too expensive to develop. Isabel Johnson Other outings included visits to two wetlands full of the endangered he Umgano Project is a com- have a comprehensive monthly orchids, Disa scullyi and Satyrium Tmunity owned Biodiversity programme planned for 2012. The hallackii. Both of these are on Stewardship site of 7 000 hec- guides are also receiving training private properties and we are so tares situated in southern Kwa- in bird identification from BirdLife fortunate that the farmers are Zulu-Natal between Creighton, South Africa. interested in their protection. Coleford and Ntsikeni. Of this, 1 500 hectares of The local branch of the Botanical We are fortunate to have the grassland, indigenous forests and Society (KwaZulu-Natal Inland Sani Pass on our doorstep woodland in the higher Branch) has generously donated and a highlight every year is altitude areas have been set aside new copies of Pooley’s Wildflower the Wildflower walk down the for a Nature Reserve which is in and Mountain Flower Guides, as pass. This year the flowers the process of proclamation. Part well as used copies of Pooley’s were exceptional and 83 keen of this very comprehensive project Trees of KwaZulu-Natal, and Van enthusiasts attended the walk. is training of the community, in We look forward to the rest of our ’s Grasses of South particular the five field rangers from Africa to the field guides. beautiful but short flower season. the local community.

CREW has been actively involved in the Umgano Biodiversity Stewardship site for the past two years, doing botanical surveys of the area, as well as basic botanical training of the field rangers. Training so far has included grassland and forest studies, surveying of the Encephalartos ghellinkii colony with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife A view of Umgano showing indigenous scientists, and assistance with forests, Protea woodland and high biodiversity index monitoring. We altitude grassland.

Disa scullyi.

Field rangers using the flower guides donated by BotSoc. in the Umgano grass- 14 Field of Disa scullyi. land. Boston David Clulow

he Boston CREW group was Tquite busy during the latter half of 2011. Herewith then fol- lows a short diary of our out- ings.

Edgeware (17 November 2011) The great number of flowering Watsonia socium plants took pride of place. The wildflowers were in profusion all over the hills.

Watershed (2 November 2011) We discovered unusual and interesting plants below a cliff- face: a Ledebouria species with flowers facing downwards and two Albert Mallol, CREW Spanish volunteer joined us at Wahroonga farm. Brachystelma petraeum plants. The unusual Ledebouria with hanging flower heads and striped leaves the splendid on the Palmer Four farm (8 January 2012) was sent for identification. hilltops which have, for the first, The annual outing to this protected time become accessible to CREW. area, set aside and now conserved Wahroonga (5 October and 24 A mass of Asclepias woodii plants by Ivanhoe farm, took place on 8 November 2011) were seen. January 2011. This is the eighth This was a notable visit for the annual visit, so a vast resource of Impendle Nature Reserve (end re-discovery and additional records has been built up over the November 2011) discoveries of at least 25 Asclepias years. bicuspis plants in flower. The plants Prof. Ashley Nicholas, Adam were rather widely dispersed. Shuttleworth and Rene and Ivanhoe (18 January 2012) Melissa Glen was accompanied to Accompanied by John Campbell, Sterling (24 November and 30 Impendle Nature Reserve to locate we visited four specific places. We December 2011) Asclepias concinna. Only one plant decided on three to be fenced off This trip was memorable for a was seen and it had been eaten off for their conservation value. The number of reasons. firstly we were at the tips. We saw numerous other third place has a sensational view drenched by rain, but we also Asclepiads, although some were over the extensive indigenous had the opportunity to explore not flowering. forests and a cottage for visitors is planned here.

Wahroonga-Glendale (25 January 2012) This outing involved the preparation of a species list, as the site is set aside for biodiversity stewardship. The hike over Wahroonga farm was met with a profusion of flowers. We then went on to Glendale hills, where the CREW team chose suitable areas for sampling and within those areas, chose ten one metre square sections where all the plants were listed. This was done twice. Albert Mallol, a visiting CREW volunteer from Spain, joined The blooming of the Watsonia socium in great numbers rather took pride of place us and his enthusiasm was rather at Edgeware farm. contagious. 15 Umvoti Vic Schutte and Sue Swan

uring March and April 2011, Dseveral trips were made to wetland areas in search of Nerine pancratioides (VU) without success. During one of these excursions, a second small population of a possible new species of Watsonia was found and a further specimen was collected for submission to Umvoti group with a handsome population of Aloe neilcrouchii (EN). Kirstenbosch. westward to recheck on some On 10 August we undertook an very large aloes that Isabel and I exploratory visit to a west facing had seen a couple of years ago, grassland near York where we and thought were very large Aloe thought Leucospermum gerrardii boylei. We were delighted to find (NT) might occur, but it was found not only the original ones, but to be over-grazed with few forbs. several other largish groups and We proceeded to a grassland near Dalton on which rocks from a cane these have been identified as Aloe field had been dumped, where we neilcrouchii. The list of flowers found many common grassland identified for this lovely area over the last ten years is well over 230 flowers as well as a possible Pachycarpus natalensis at Ahrens population of the endangered Aloe different species! (photograph: Isabel Johnson). neilcrouchii. The hunt for Aloe neilcrouchii is on Sadly, Greytown says goodbye A visit to Blinkwater Nature and on 25 January 2012, Vic and to Vic as he relocates to Reserve on 8 October had no I visited the site mentioned earlier, Pietermaritzburg, but we know his target species—just an outing to on the Dalton-New Hanover road, love of this area will entice him enjoy the flowers which were at and to our delight found what we back to botanise! Go well, Vic, we their best for the first time in many are sure is Aloe neilcrouchii. shall miss you. years. We saw large numbers of Merwilla plumbea and a new record of the rare Aspidonepsis cognata. Two visits were made to the mist An Ahrens grassland, rich in Mkhambathini belt grasslands of Baynesfield and Asclepiads, was visited on 15 Alison Young Byrne Valley to check three Hilton October with Adam Shuttleworth, Daisy populations, however two a postdoc from University of he Mkhambathini CREW populations were not found due to KwaZulu-Natal working on this Tteam organised 12 visits this poor visibility. group. We found Asclepias field season. dregeanus, Aspidoglossum cf. glanduliferum, Miraglossum We made two return visits to verticillatum, two species of Ixopo to collect cuttings of the Sisyranthus (possibly S. virgatus Critically Endangered Helichrysum and S. fanninii), Pachycarpus citricephalum, which I am trying grandiflorus, P. natalensis, to grow at the University of Xysmalobium involucratum, X. KwaZulu-Natal’s botanical garden. gerrardii and X. parviflorum on a It is a robust perennial shrub with small area that had been mown evergreen silver foliage and good for the major portion for a year or horticultural potential, proving two. This site may be a possible rather difficult to root. candidate for a Biodiversity Stewardship. A return to Inhlamvini Mission We again visited Blinkwater in to look for the rare Tetradenia 16 mid-January 2012 and headed tuberosa was unsuccessful. Alison and Mary Thrash in the field. Indigofera obscura (photograph: Alison Young).

• One return visit to Ingomankulu, also to collect flowering material for voucher specimens. • One visit to a proposed nature reserve site in Eston owned by Masonite. Kniphofia northiae (photograph: Alison Young). Argyrolobium longifolium (photograph: Successful? No new localities for Alison Young). our formal list of target plants were found, however we were grateful flowers did not put up their usual for the opportunity to broaden our spectacular show, but we were able Other visits included: knowledge of the local flora and to to get to places that are usually add to the local species lists. drowning in mud in January. • One visit to Killarney Valley Further return visits are planned near Cato Ridge. What we did find was a new for the next two months to some of • Two visits to two properties in species for the area (Indigofera these same sites to collect material the Ashburton area (bushveld obscura) and more localities for in flower for vouchers. type). Eriosema populifolium, Satyrium woodii and Kniphofia northiae. Thanks to all the landowners for • Two return visits to Priscillavale their invitations, their time and to collect flowering material for This season has seen poor rains. hospitality and for giving us the op- voucher specimens. As a result of this, the grassland portunity to enjoy their flora.

Highway that wattles and pines border work to be done to get the owners the site and there is a degree of to appreciate what they have! Andrea Abbott bugweed infestation while refuse is Trafford took us to see another vast commonly dumped there. There’s swathe of untouched grasslands his season, Highway CREW Thas visited grasslands to the far west of eThekwini. Trafford Petterson from the municipal- ity’s Environment Department has joined us and his knowledge of the region and the flora has proved invaluable. In October, on an extensive grassland adjacent to ‘Half Way House’ at Cato Ridge Golf Course, we found three target species—Merwilla plumbea, Boophone disticha and Hypoxis hemerocallidea. Undoubtedly, other notable species occur there and we need to return. It is rather worrying Trafford Petterson at the Cato Ridge Golf Course grassland. 17 nearby. We couldn’t stay long, but we intend to return for the area promises many special finds.

In November, we found the same three species mentioned above on Whaleback hill near Hammarsdale. It’s also where we found Dierama pallidum the previous season. I now just need someone to find her glasses that she lost somewhere on that site...!

Suvarna and I joined Errol Sisyranthus species found at Cresthol- Brachystelma pulchellum at Monteseel Douwes, also from the eThekwini me. (photograph: Steve Woodhall). Environment Department at a small grassland in Crestholme, site. Based on input from Isabel Valley of a Thousand Hills. This is one of several that the Municipality Johnson and David Styles, we’re has bought in the area. Having a rich grassland with spectacular fairly sure that it’s data deficient been burnt and after some good views and it yielded two target Sisyranthus anceps which was rains, it had turned into a lovely species—Senecio exuberans and found in Hillcrest last season. Prior flower garden where many of the Hypoxis hemerocallidea. We also to that, it was last collected in the species common to the area were had confirmation, from CREW region in Inanda in 1880. flowering. Just as we were leaving Mkhambathini champion Alison though, we found a Sisyranthus Late in January, we visited a site Young, of the third target species, species on the very edge of the in Monteseel overlooking the Brachystelma pulchellum.

Nicholson Botanical Group

Tony Abbott

egular Thursday walks kept Rus well occupied doing surveys and CREW reports in places like Mbumbasi Nature Re- serve near Oribi Gorge, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve and as many pieces of coastal grass- land (all under threat of develop- ment of one kind or another) as we could find. One disappointment has been the inability of Hibiscus Coast municipal manager to put his signature to paper to finalise the already approved Red Desert Nature Reserve. This valuable area comprises grassland, vlei, rocky heights, small forest patches Turraea pulchella. and the southern krans of the Umtamvuna Gorge and, of course, the Upper and Lower Red Desert Rudolf Strey who used to be the two natural locations both of which with 300 000 year old Sangoan curator of Natal Herbarium. Strey are lost in Chromalaena odorata artifacts. That it falls within the polished his interest in botany in thickets; there was an early Pondoland Centre of Endemism the Namibian Andalusia Internment collection from around Stanger also merely exacerbates the uncertainty. Camp during World War II—the named T. streyi but David Styles, courses run by the inmates were who has seen the plants, feels they One serious disappearance is the recognised by German universities are probably a different taxon. The 18 missing Turraea streyi, named for after the war. I am aware of only only plant to have survived until Turraea streyi. Umtamvuna estuary. recently was an ex situ population taxonomist Rolf Dahlgren. This task that the majority of specimens planted by Hugh Nicholson in was successfully accomplished but are from the Pondoland Centre of Skyline Nature Reserve which there remains the need to locate Endemism. survived until recently. However, we further specimens there. are unable to find them now. We The 1990 forest survey shall be attempting to relocate the Our herbarium continues to flourish 50 m × 50 m plot is under study by plants this year. with volunteers Dorothy McIntyre, Rob Scott-Shaw and looks set to Joan Smith (curation), Ruth produce some interesting results; A visit to Umdoni Park was Mathias (data capture), Kate Grieve interesting as this is the only long- undertaken to relocate the type (records) and Graham Grieve term research plot in our scarp specimen of Beilschmiedia (specimen photography) and strong forests. natalensis watched for seven years. support from EKZNW ecologist Finally Hugh Nicholson and Rudolf dr. Roger Uys. It is now registered As always, our warm thanks go to Strey collected fertile material with the Index Herbariorum as the the sterling CREWers Tilla, Isabel and the name was subsequently Hugh Nicholson & Tony Abbott and Suvarna without whose efforts changed to Dahlgrenodendron Herbarium with the acronym of we would be losing much more natalensis after noted Swedish PCE—chosen to reflect the fact biodiversity than we do already.

Port Elizabeth

Clayton Weatherall-Thomas and Merika Louw

nce again, we are resurrect- Oing plants from the proverbi- al ‘dead’. Our latest find, with the aid of Ismail on his annual visit in October, is Senecio hirtifolius, a furry dwarf succulent shrub that grows on the rocky edges of plateaus in grassy fynbos. This species is listed as Critically Endangered Possibly Extinct (CRPE). The good news is that it was discovered in Hopewell Conservation Estate, a new nature Senecio hirtifolius. 19 Close up of a Satyrium hallackii subsp. hallackii flower.

A patch of Satyrium hallackii subsp. hallackii at Kini Bay. reserve on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth, hopefully securing the future survival of this species. An exciting new development of Stewardship to volunteers and Other Species of Conservation for our group is that the Nelson assess how CREW would be Concern (SCC) that occur on Mandela Bay Metropolitan involved in the qualification and 2 500 ha of near-pristine Fynbos Municipality, in partnership with monitoring process. the Wildlife and Environmental and Thicket vegetation at Hopewell 2011 has been a difficult year with Society of South Africa, is setting include Aloe micracantha, a number of setbacks—our CREW Cyrtanthus obliquus and possibly up a Biodiversity Stewardship GPS, field guides and some of our Trichodiadema orientale. Programme, following in the data sheets were stolen from the footsteps of the other provinces. Another rediscovery made by boot of a car, as well as a laptop This will allow us to visit sites on Wesley Berrington, the Reserve and other essentials. We are private land, as well as receive choosing, however, to see this as Manager of Van Stadens taxonomic training. A Stewardship encouragement to work harder in Wildflower Reserve, is Lobelia Training Workshop was held in 2012 and rebuild our field guide. All zwartkopensis (CRPE). This December to introduce the concept for the greater good! sprawling little plant, which doesn’t look anything like a Lobelia, is a succulent annual with tiny white flowers that only pop up in ephemeral wetlands after good St Francis/Fourcade rains. We will definitely be spending time looking for this species in the Botanical Group near future. Caryl Logie On a Dendrological Society field trip to the Gamtoos River Mouth n our area, we don’t have as weeks later, there was no sign of Conservancy, another population Imany ‘special species’ as them. That all goes to show that if of the pink everlasting, Syncarpha other areas of the Cape Floristic you’re not out there you can easily recurvata (EN), was discovered. Region. miss the treasure. On a Botanical Society walk from Nevertheless, our ramblings on As we walked up an Aloe- Kini Bay to Laurie’s Bay, in marshy the farm Honeyville in 2011 have clad koppie in May, we initially coastal fynbos, we also discovered been very exciting with several a large population of Satyrium eye-catching blooms popping up. thought we were looking at Aloe hallackii subsp. hallackii (EN). Species like yellow Rafnia elliptica, arborescens. Then we thought it We have also done some alien deep coloured Erica curviflora, must be A. ferox, but after some clearing around a very small, but hillsides of Erica pectinifolia, and consideration, we speculated precious population of Aspalathus the striking Gladiolus mutabilis that they were a very variable A. cliffortiifolia (CR), growing along a were all seen. The latter were in arborescens, or A. ferox. Back at 20 busy road in Summerstrand. flower in August and exactly four home, we consulted a Guide to australis on St Francis Links.

Gladiolus mutabilis on Honeyville. the Aloes of South Africa by Ben- Erik van Wyk and Gideon Smith where we learnt that one of the Erica pectinifolia on Honeyville. best known natural hybrids is a cross between Aloe ferox and A. arborescens. The mystery was Honeyville received its stamp solved and it was a first sighting for of approval and is now a private The team in an old quarry at Honeyville. us. nature reserve. By the end of January 2012, we had recorded was decided that with very little top We are hoping that we have lo- more than 430 different plant soil it was not going to be a viable cated a new population of Gymno- species on the farm. At the request proposition and it would be better sporia elliptica (VU), but being a bit of John Barrett, the owner, and to let it continue rehabilitating itself. of an outpost we wait patiently for together with prof. Richard Cowling, the confirmed identification of our we had a look at some old quarries Our group of juniors has also been specimens. We recorded Aristea and lands on the farm to see if very busy. The activities for the nana (Rare) and every now and they could be rehabilitated. There year included testing FOSTER’s then, we come across new loca- was a suggestion to scatter Protea (Friends of St Francis Nature tions of Haworthia fasciata, Aloe neriifolia seeds to aim towards Areas) newly laid out trail at Cape having a big population that could St Francis, walks in the St Francis micracantha (Near Threatened), be harvested for cut flowers but it Nature Reserve, hiking up the Sand Cyrtanthus obliquus (Declining) and Cussonia gamtoosensis (Rare). Recently we found two new loca- tions for this very interesting tree species. The Red List status of Indigofera to- mentosa, which grows in the Cape St Francis area, has changed from Least Concern to Near Threatened. This is clear indication to us that we will have to keep a close eye on this species so it does not become threatened. Another interesting find in St Francis was the discovery of Moraea australis. It was classified as Thr* meaning it was thought to be threatened, but could not be assessed in time to be included in the 2009 Red List. We collected specimens and data for this spe- cies in 2010 and it is now listed as Endangered. Work and play with the CREW team. 21 River in winter and Plant Monitoring Day. A visit from the Cape Town CREW team is always a hit with the juniors and in 2011 we had Martina and Zikhona here to present fabulous activities to the kids.

Our demographic monitoring of two populations of Brunsvigia litoralis continues and is going very well. We are very excited about this project and we hope that the data we collect will contribute to the conservation of this species in future. Refreshing water from the Sand River.

George Outramps

Di Turner

t the start of 2011, we set road, with the help of some Dutch We have to convey our thanks to Aseveral goals. We hoped tourists. Bill phoned Pieter (our Oliver Purcell who fetched us in the to plot 40 rare and endangered trusty farm manager) to tow the absence of the Buchu Bus. species that were new to us. We Buchu Bus all the way back to ended the year with 70 new spe- Roelf and Jack in George, who are Min Water in the Little cial plants monitored in a very becoming rather too familiar with The Outramps left for Min Water on hectic and busy year. the ageing Buchu Bus. We were a Tuesday in March not knowing Describing all the plants and trips thankfully able to continue with our what to expect. It exceeded our would take up the whole newsletter, field work for the day. New species wildest dreams! The campsite, so I have decided to concentrate added to our list for Waboomsberg under a thick canopy of Acacia on the three most memorable trips. that day were Rafnia rostrata and karroo, was exceptional. The Aspalathus congesta. facilities at the campsite were

“Whoosh, Bang!”

A huge explosion in the front of the Buchu Bus rocked us. Clouds of steam, green water and the radiator grille flew high into the air. We came to a grinding halt about 750 m from the top of the Swartberg Pass. There was a moment’s shocked silence followed by some interesting language— totally unsuitable to the ears of someone of my advanced age! We were stranded in the middle of the road at the narrowest and most precipitous section of the Swartberg Pass. We all climbed out and Bill started to reverse her back to a cutting about 50 m back. There was plenty of verbal encouragement with Ann acting as the traffic cop, stopping any approaching cars. Eventually 22 we managed to push her off the Outramps enjoying the ‘strange plants’ at Min Water. somewhat quirky but functional. Project. In 2004, I was asked to on the Protea grandiceps flats but While we were setting up camp, a form a CREW group and the rest is fortunately reason prevailed. We shrike was chasing a boomslang history. had at least 5 mm of rain in the in the canopy above us, making night and despite having bruised plenty of noise. Grootvadersbosch has to be one of hips from the concrete floor, at least the most beautiful places on earth. we were dry. An early start the next The rest of the day was spent The mountain scenery is majestic day had us on our way back to the walking across the veld with Louis and the plants are awesome. The campsite via Loerklip. As we got to Jordaan, who seems to know campsite near the office is very the ridge, the mist came down and every plant on his property. Highly comfortable. Stunning mountain we had a very wet descent for part entertaining stories about the paths lead to hidden valleys with of the way with minimal visibility. plants, the veld, the insects, birds changing microclimates that have We were thrilled to find three and animals had us enthralled. We a wide diversity of plants growing plants of Acrolophia lunata on the have always worked in the Fynbos, there. Despite the presence of a way down and fields of Watsonia which has many beautiful plants. number of geriatrics, there were fourcadei had whole slopes turning In contrast, the Karoo succulents enough ‘young folk’ to give us hope pink. We saw one nubicola are not particularly beautiful, just for the future. and some interesting Erica species. unbelievably fascinating. Leaving George at the crack of The next morning we drove north The next day, Louis took us to the dawn we arrived at about 10:00 of Korente Dam to a kloof on the western boundary, which is shared on Wednesday, despite losing an southern side of Sleeping Beauty with the Gamka Reserve. It was a indicator light that got sucked out, below the Rooiwaterspruit track. wonderful day of spotting plants, as a large truck whizzed past our Bill unerringly led us to the spot and learning their names and strange Buchu Bus. After setting up camp, after three years of searching, we habits. In the evening Louis joined we met Twakkie and Molly and eventually found Erica ixanthera. us for supper and showed us some did the Grysbok Circle with them. of his magnificent slides which We know Twakkie from his stay at We look forward to another exciting made the fieldtrip much more the Outeniqua Reserve and it was year, working with the rangers and memorable. good to meet Molly who is full of exploring the stunning mountains enthusiasm and looks to have a and coast all around us. Thanks to Grootvadersbosch bright future in conservation. the team for their commitment and enthusiasm in 2011. It was fitting that the last plant- Next morning, we set off on the hunting trip of the year was the Saagkuilkloof track heading for most successful of 2011. This is the Helderberg shelters below based on the amount of ‘rares’ Grootberg. It was a very hot day, found that are new to the Outramps which didn’t make the hike any Napier & since their reincarnation in 2004. easier. We were very pleased to The Group was disbanded in 2002, find water towards the end of the Swellendam at the end of the Protea Atlas day. Bill wanted to spend the night Odette Curtis & Flora Cameron

ur CREW group, consisting Oof Cameron and Rhoda Mc- Master, Flora Cameron, Odette Curtis and Hildegard Crous, has been working closely with the Overberg Conser- vation and Management Project and so, our surveys have fo- cused mostly on lowland sites in our region. We had some very exciting finds this year and some of our previous and new finds were confirmed as being new species. We were also lucky enough to have vygie expert, Pascale Chesselet, join us for a few of our trips (Pascale recently moved to Swellendam and we hope she will become a part Erica ixanthera, finally found! of our team in 2012), as well as 23 Bruce and Daphne Beyers (Bruce coriaceum, Acrodon Farmers Cooperative) making use is a Haworthia expert). Here we diminutus and Elegia recta. For of the Suurbraak commonage lands summarise the areas we surveyed Haarwegskloof, we found the for agriculture. Alan requested this year and the highlights of what typical quartz specials as listed that a management plan be drawn we found. for Plaatjieskraal, as well as up, providing guidelines as to Polhillia curtisiae (currently being how the farmers should use their Schietpad–Napier described as a new species, after renosterveld. This led to several We visited this under-explored site this population was previously CREW visits to the area (>1 500 ha late in the season (November) and erroneously indentified as P. of veld, mostly Swellendam Silcrete were amazed with how much was connata), Peucedanum striatum, Fynbos, with some Eastern Rûens still going on in the renosterveld. Xipotheca guthriei and Acmadenia Shale Renosterveld) and this We found an interesting population macropetala. proved to be a treasure chest of of a pink flowering Aspalathus, the Aspalathus quartzicola is a species rare and beautiful plants. We found identification of which is still to be currently being described by Polhillia cf. pallens (also likely confirmed by Charlie Stirton. well-known legume expert and to be described as new) in the renosterveld as well as Plaatjieskraal and Haarwegskloof University of Cape Town (UCT) research associate, Charlie Stirton, foliosa, Elegia verrauxii, As usual, these sites were full as it was wrongly identified as Otholobium pungens, Aloe of rare, special and even some A. incompta in the past. Ficinia brevifolia, Haworthia mutica, Protea surprising species. The list for gordongrayae is a new species, decurrens and Erica filamentosa in Plaatjieskraal included 12 special currently being described by the Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos. species, namely Gibbaeum Muthama Muasya (sedge expert haaglenii, Elegia verrauxii, Polhillia at UCT). On follow-up visits with The Polhillia is exciting because, pallens, Mesembryanthemum Charlie, we found a new species of although specimens of this species longistylum, Brownanthus Hesperantha—a beautiful, tiny pink are curated in the herbarium as P. fraternus, Aspalathus quartzicola, flower with very long stamens! pallens, it is in fact very different to Ficinia gordongrayae, Otholobium the P. pallens from further south. curtisiae, Otholobium pungens, Fonteinskloof Therefore, it is very likely that After a good rest from some heavy Charlie Stirton will be describing grazing the previous year, this site this species as new. If this is the was once again filled with many case, we will involve the local spectacular renosterveld bulbs. community in naming the plant. After a long search, and much It is hoped that the relationship to our relief, we finally managed between the botanical and to find the new Romulea pilosa conservation community and the (discovered by Cameron and Suurbraak community (particularly Rhoda McMaster in 2010) in seed its farmers), will grow. Plans are again. afoot to develop hiking trails, alien Suurbraak commonage area clearing initiatives, etc. in the commonage areas and surrounds, Odette Curtis was approached by hopefully with significant long-term Alan Jeftha, one of a group of five benefits to the community and the BEE farmers (Suurbraak Grain environment.

A new species of Hesperantha

One of the new species to be named 24 after Odette Curtis. Aspalathus quartzicola, a species that will be described by Charlie Stirton. Kelkiewyn wetland This is a relatively undisturbed vlei Kogelberg in the Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos near Buffeljags that is under threat Amida Johns of being polluted by agricultural development. The diversity of he Kogelberg’s CREW ini- plants alone makes it an ecosystem Ttiation year focused on the worthy of protecting. Some of the spring and summer post-fire special plants that occur there flowering plants of the coastal Moraea versicolor. are Babiana patula (declining), plains, eastwards of Kleinmond Haworthia mirabilis (CR) and towards the Bot River Vlei. leipoldtii (NT). The vegetation of this area has Barrydale and the Langeberg been classified as a mosaic At last a climb to 900 m on the farm of , Sandrivier led us to a northwest Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos facing overhang in which we found and some Western Rûens Shale Erica turneri (VU) to add to the Renosterveld, which are all excellent collection of plants that threatened ecosystem types. Jill Blignaut has assembled for the Barrydale and Suurbraak section of The five-man strong group began Xiphotheca reflexa. the Langeberg. their monthly field days with a look at the formally conserved After the late rains, patches of Rooisand Reserve. The two dwarf what we believe is Wurmbea Moraea species, M. tricolor and compacta (VU) were evident in M. versicolor were a delight to all several localities. There was also a as was an intriguing silver leaf stunning display of Drosanthemum resprouter that soon gave bright bicolor, D. speciosum and D. yellow flowers. We were delighted splendens and much debate about to find out that this was Xiphotheca the identification of D. micans reflexa, listed as Endangered. (EN). The population of Bartholina etheliae, found in arid renosterveld The succulent Acrodon subulatus on the farm Heldestroom, is was found on the shale areas flourishing in association with adjacent to the vlei amidst a show Holothrix secunda and Haworthia of bulbous flowers. On more arachnoidea. sandy areas ‘special’ species recorded included Lachenalia lactosa, Geissorhiza tenella, Geissorhiza tenella. Disa atrorubens, Limonium anthericoides and the conspicuous and elegant leaves of Cyrtanthus carneus. The more rocky lowland mountainsides displayed a few scattered flowers of Tritoniopsis caledonensis.

Of particular interest were the ferricrete outcrops that surfaced as islands in the sands, much to Ismail’s delight. The indicative and aptly named Cliffortia ferricola (Critically Endangered) was seen growing on these mounds as well as the less habitat discerning Lachenalia peersii.

Wurmbea compacta making an appear- Well done to all for their good ance after late rains. humoured perseverance. Lachenalia lactosa. 25 Hottentots Holland

Cecilia Wolmarans

he new Hottentots Holland on to Landdrostkloof, where we TCREW branch had their first identified another 18 species. Two meeting on 18 June 2011 in the different ground growing Helderberg Nature Reserve. Dur- were identified, Protea lorea and ing this meeting, Cecilia Wolma- . Finding a species rans was nominated and elected in the Orchidaceae family is always as the champion of the group. wonderful, and on this occasion, we found Disperis capensis, which Ismail gave an overview of the was an absolute highlight of the CREW programme and explained day. what is required to be involved as a volunteer. He then immediately In September, we returned to started training us on the different Helderberg Nature Reserve, flower parts of the Fabaceae where a sea of Spiloxenes and family. Thereafter, we went for a Geissorhizas surrounded us at Leucospermum guenzii at Vergelegen quick walk in the reserve. The veld times. Alas, we did not find any Estate. looked very promising after the fire ephemerals on this particular recent fire in April and we were day, but we did find Gladiolus looking forward to discovering fire liliaceus—brown during the day Fabaceae family, joined us and as ephemerals during spring. and pink at night. We also found a result, we could identify almost Pterygodium catholicum and 100 species. Vergelegen has In August, we visited the Satyrium cordifolium. been busy with an alien clearing Lourensford Estate, where two program for a number of years, and areas were targeted. At our first In October, we visited the the veld has recovered beautifully stop, we identified 25 species, one Vergelegen Estate. Prof. Charles after the fires in 2009. Once again, of which was Serruria kraussii, Stirton, who shared with us some we explored the Landdrostkloof listed as Vulnerable. We moved of his vast knowledge of the area, where we found the beautiful Tritoniopsis parviflora, which flowers profusely after fires as well as Serruria kraussii (Vulnerable), which we also found on Lourensford. We could have spent the whole day in the kloof, but we started heading back in a circular route. The highlight of the day was finding Leucospermum gueinzii, listed as Endangered. By the end of the day, we realised that we have only scratched the surface on Vergelegen, and we vowed to be back in November. Unfortunately we had extremely bad weather on our return trip, and could not add any species to our list. I have no doubt that Vergelegen will deliver many more specials in future.

We have learnt a lot during the past couple of months, and we thank Ismail and everyone else working with him, for the effort they put into organising the courses that they make available to us. It is great to know that we have the support we Members of the newly formed Hottentots Holland CREW group identifying need and we look forward to a year 26 Fabaceae in the field. of new discoveries! Harmony Flats Working Group

Ismail Ebrahim

his year was an exception- Tally busy and successful one for the Harmony Flats Nature Reserve. The most exciting de- velopment is that construction of the new offices and Environ- mental Education Centre started in 2011. After a very lengthy process of getting approval and funding, this dream is finally becoming a reality. The Harmony Flats Working Group is still very much involved in activities and a number of new partnerships will strengthen civil society engagement at the reserve. The reserve manager has now Learners being entertained at the Harmony Flats Holiday programme. established relationships with a community youth group called TAG Changers and the Black week, biodiversity week and Association for the Agricultural environmental holiday programmes sector based in Casablanca, involving over 650 learners. In Strand. addition to the activities for the youth, there were two wonderful A new ‘Friends of the Gordon’s activities involving adults. The Bay Environment’ group, soon reserve hosted its first Earth Hour to be affiliated to Wildlife and event as well a series of spring Environment Society of South guided walks. About 50 people Africa (WESSA), was established attended these events and through and although the group is still in its charging a nominal fee of R10.00 Volunteers enjoying one of the guided infancy, it will consolidate the effort some funds were raised for walks. and contributions volunteers make conducting environmental activities to the reserve. with school learners visiting the reserve. forward to another blockbuster year There were a number of fantastic of activities and strong support events during 2011. The reserve The reserve staff, Friends group from all those involved at the conducted a successful wetlands and community partners look reserve.

Friends of Tygerberg Hills (FOTH)

Hedi Stummer

he past year was as busy as Witzands Acquifer NR all in the Jack Muller Park with its wonderful Tever! CREW Tygerberg had West Coast area; Milnerton Race pockets of indigenous vegetation in their usual Friday outing every Course and Rietvlei NR closer to the immediate vicinity. week, while during spring, addi- home; Haasendal Farm in Kuils Briers Louw NR had a controlled tional outings had to be slotted River; Hercules Pilaar, Briers Louw burn at the end of 2010, so FOTH in to cover all the necessary NR and Klipheuwel Telkom site all near Paarl; Paarl Mountain NR; CREW did a monthly survey of areas. Uitkamp Wetlands and Botterblom the re-emerging vegetation. New We worked on 18 sites namely: Park in the Durbanville area. Then species of conservation concern Blaauwberg Nature Reserve (NR), of course, we surveyed our own added to our list were Moraea Mamre NR, Dassenberg Farm, Tygerberg with its new burn site on angulata (CR), Spiloxene minuta Kanonkop, Nirvana, Tydstroom and a monthly basis. We also visited (EN), Eriospermum flavum (Rare), 27 Geissorhiza purpureolutea (VU), Amazing Aristea lugens (EN) and (DDD) and collected specimens for Moraea tricolor (EN) as well as Podalyria cf. argentea (EN) were the Compton Herbarium because it many other LC species. discovered. Student Leigh Wootton was only known from a specimen in diligently monitored this site. a European herbarium. Tygerberg Hill also had a controlled fire on the western slope in March At Mamre and Nirvana, we At Rietvlei NR (newly added to our 2011 and we came regularly to discovered Othonna linearifolia schedule), we found Pseudalthenia check what was new. Aristea aschersoniana (CR), last seen spiralis, Geissorhiza ovata, Moraea in 1957. This was also found at fugacissima and Pterygodium Milnerton Racecourse along caffrum, amongst others, were with Cotula filifolia (CR). Here added to our already extensive the population of Hermannia plant checklist. Oxalis strigosa (EN) procumbens subsp. procumbens was found coming up abundantly (CR) was doing very well despite on the burnt slopes. We checked the ground being waterlogged for on the population of Lachenalia three months due to bad drainage. liliflora (EN) and found abundant plants, however, they were very We confirmed the suspected small and almost unnoticeable population of Babiana secunda compared to the original size after (CR) at the Klipheuwel Telkom site the burn several years ago. in October and also found Cliffortia acockii (CR), Otholobium bolusii Uitkamp Wetlands 3 (Renosterveld (NT), Aspalathus varians (EN) and site) was burnt in February 2011. Gnidia parvula (DDD).

Our last outing in the year was to Paarl Mountain NR for demographic monitoring of Argyrolobium angustissimum (EN). We found all the plants numbered the previous year as well as a good many extras. Its current threat is its proximity to the road verge and thus in danger of being cut away by the grader.

Many more pressed specimens have been added by our enthusiastic CREW team to our own Herbarium collection, overseen by Gurli Armbruster, at Babiana secunda. the Kristo Pienaar Centre. Eriospermum flavum.

28 Moraea angulata. Moraea tricolor. Aristea lugens. Many thanks to the stalwarts of Tygerberg CREW especially Gurli, Darling Wildflower Society Sandra, Melda, Veronica, Ursula and Hanna; new members Keith Jacques van der Merwe and Mirec; Gail monitoring Rietvlei NR; Penny of Tygerberg NR for arling is a small town on the course at Stellenbosch University her continued support; Ismail and DCape West Coast, about an on 14 July was interesting and the CREW staff at Kirstenbosch hour from Cape Town. The town a real eye-opener for those who and the very valuable input by is best known for its wine and attended. There was also an our scientists and the Compton theatrical attraction, Evita se Iridaceae identification course Herbarium. Perron, where tannie Evita Be- presented by dr John Manning at zuidenhout struts her/his stuff Kirstenbosch Research Centre on on stage every weekend. 29 September, again reminding Few know about the Darling us of how little we really do know Flora Project, established by about one of the largest families in the Darling Wildflower Society our area. (DWS), CapeNature and the Cape iSpot: Southern Africa (http:// West Coast Biosphere Reserve za.ispot.org.uk) is currently being (CWCBR) in 2002. developed and tested by SANBI. The project is run by the DWS, The website was established which is one of the oldest to provide nature lovers with a conservation societies in the platform where they can share country (established 1915) and is their pictures and observations in responsible for the management nature (be it a plant, animal, fish, of Darling’s three municipal nature invertebrate or fungi) onto the reserves, establish and managing website for experts to identify and the Darling Herbarium and is provide additional information on currently in the process of building that particular species—almost an environmental education centre. like a Facebook for nature! Some Funding is generated by the Darling Darling CREW members added Wildflower Show, held annually on observations, helped with a few the third weekend of September identifications and joined in on the and attracting around 6 000 first iSpot Bioblitz (iSpot field trip) to people. Riverlands Nature Reserve outside of Malmesbury. After the recent Getting back to 2011, the Darling burn in February, the Riverlands CREW group took advantage of the field trip was packed with specials workshops hosted by SANBI the and interesting observations past year. The Oxalis identification from the reserve with the highest

Geissorhiza purpureo-lutea. Darling CREW group after a lovely day in the field. 29 number of rare and endangered Kirstenbosch is currently Finally, Helene Preston, one of the species per square area for any propagating the collected species founding CREW members, primary reserve in the country! and the plants will be brought back organiser of field trips and most ex- to Darling in autumn. They will be perienced botanist decided to retire Cape West Coast and Swartland replanted in the area set aside for at the end of 2011. It has only been Tourism approached us again this rehabilitation at Burgherspost. A a few months and already we are year looking for a speaker to give section of 13 ha consisting of Sand feeling her absence in the group! a talk on conservation and flagship Fynbos and seasonal wetland From the rest of the Darling CREW flower species of the West Coast area were fenced off from grazing members, we would all like to thank flower season. About 100 tourism inside the conservation area during Helene for the years of dedicated officials and tour operators attend- December and will be used as service and hope that she will not ed the West Coast Flower Training forget about us and that we can Seminar on 21 July at Draaihoek a pilot rehabilitation site. In the still, from time to time, make use of Lodge, Dwarskersbos. The hour- meanwhile, all aliens are being her extensive knowledge. long talk covered some basic cleared from the site to prepare it conservation principles and eth- for replanting. Seeds from various ics, some ecological concepts and other species have also been then focused on identification and collected, smoked and will be sown interesting facts on twenty colour- after the initial planting as the first ful, flagship flower species tourists rain starts to fall. are likely to encounter during the Other interesting species uncov- flower season. ered in the same area included In September, a beautiful buchu Erica ferrea (Endangered), Disa was observed in the Burgherspost barbata (Critically Endangered) Wine Estate Conservation Area and Babiana pygmaea (Critically in Darling’s critically endangered Endangered). After adding the new Swartland Granite Renosterveld discoveries to the already long and had specialists scratching Darling CREW specials list, the list iSpot Bioblitz at Riverlands NR, an their heads trying to figure out the now covers more than 180 rare or interesting case of fasciation in Felicia species. After much deliberation, endangered species. tenella. dr Terry Trinder-Smith at the identified it as Adenandra marginata subsp. serpyllaceae and noted that even though it is a common species further north, this particular specimen was only the second to be collected from the Darling area and of a much more threatened, graceful and less robust form. Anthony Hitchcock (Rutaceae specialist) and Louise Nurrish ( specialist) from SANBI came to Burgherspost in Darling to collect specimens for the Millennium Seed Bank Project. They also collected cuttings from various rare and endangered species (not just from the Renosterveld, but also from the equally threatened Atlantis Sand Fynbos) for propagation and rehabilitation of the critically endangered vegetation types of the Darling area. The collected specimens will be used as ‘framework’ species, which establish easily under ‘unnatural’ conditions, gradually improving the condition of the soils to allow the more sensitive species to get a 30 foothold. Critically Endangered proteoides. Jacobsbaai

Koos Claassens en Martina Treurnicht

011 het vir ons in Jacobsbaai 2‘n baie groot bewarings- geskenk opgelewer—die Wêreld Natuur Fonds (in Engels bekend as die World Wildlife Fund, WWF) het ‘n stuk eiendom, ongeveer 180 ha groot, aan- grensend aan die dorp gekoop wat voorts deur die Weskus Biosfeer Reservaat bestuur sal word. Die WWF reservaat bestaan Otholobium venustum. Aspalathus recurva. hoofsaaklik uit Saldanha Kalk- strandveld en Saldanha Strandveld en feitlik al ons spesiale en het. Skaars plante wat ons op die bedreigde plantspesies kom hier dag gesien het sluit in Otholobium voor. Gevolglik is die stuk grond venustum, Aspalathus recurva en kosbaar vir bewaring en ons sal in Psolarea repens. Laasgenoemde die toekoms gereeld die eiendom is nie so skaars nie, maar dit is besoek vir moontlike botaniese volgens Charlie ‘n nuwe lokaliteit ontdekkings. Die reservaat is ook vir die spesie (die mees noordelike) minder as 1 km vanaf die kus asook die grootste populasie. Ons geleë en het ‘n pragtige uitsig op Weskus-mense sê baie dankie, die see. Die bonus is dat dit 500 m Charlie! van my huis af is en dat ek nou ‘n natuurreservaat op my voorstoep In die afgelope paar jaar steek het! Jacobsbaai ook ‘n botaniese skat of twee weg en dus was Verder, soos baie van julle weet, is ‘n verdere hoogtepunt aan die dit vir ons amateur plantkundiges Weskus vir ons die ontdekking moeilik om ‘n algemene kennis van van ‘n nuwe spesie in 2011. Oom groot families (veral die Fabaceae) Koos het die plantjie vroeg in die en groot genera op te bou. Dit is jaar versigtig aan Vathiswa en daarom so ‘n spesiale geleentheid Martina oorhandig en dr. Steven as ‘n gesogte plantkundige by Boatwright, van die Compton ‘n mens kom kuier en kom kyk Herbarium in Kirstenbosch, het dit na eiesoortige spesies van die as nuut verklaar. Die baie klein, omgewing. CREW het gereël dat nuwe Trachyandra spesie kom op prof. Charlie Stirton, voorheen ‘n granietbank voor wat meestal adjunk-direkteur van die Kew uit Saldanha Kalk-Strandveld Prof. Charlie Stirton hou ‘n rank van Botaniese Tuin in Londen, by Psoralea repens omhoog. ons kom besoek aflê en help met bestaan. Die klein plantjie blom in onopgeloste name van ertjie- September en die blommetjies is plante. Dit was ‘n voorreg om die slegs vir een dag oop, vanaf 16:00 Coast Biosphere Reserve will dag saam met Charlie in die veld tot sononder. Ons hoop om in 2012 manage the land. te stap en te sien hoe deeglik die nog ‘n populasie van hierdie skaam inligting van elke plant versamel plantspesie te vind! One of the challenges for amateur botanists is building a general en aangeteken word—dan wys hy English summary ook nog vir jou watter eienskappe knowledge and competency in belangrik is vir sekere genera en In 2011 the WWF (World Wildlife identifying species in big plant watter eienskappe noukeurig met Fund) presented a great gift to families (especially Fabaceae), ‘n kamera afgeneem moet word. Jacobsbaai by purchasing a 180 ha so it is always a great learning Die bonus is dat ek van elke spesie piece of land with very special opportunity when a specialist visits wat ons in die veld gesien het vegetation and many threatened the area. This year prof. Charlie later ‘n foto en ook ‘n naam gekry species occurring on it. The West Stirton, ex-Assistant Director of 31 Kew Botanical Garden in London, paid us a visit to assist with identifying the Fabaceae occurring on our area. It was a privilege to spend the day with Charlie in the field and to observe his method of recording information about the plants and taking photos of the features required to make an identification using photos. Special species recorded on the day were Otholobium venustum, Aspalathus recurva and Psoralea repens. The latter was listed as ‘Near Threatened’ but according to Charlie, this was a new distribution record for the species. We would like to thank Charlie for visiting us. Trachyandra sp. nov. Another major highlight of the year was the discovery of a new species. Koos Claassens submitted was a new species. The small open from 16:00 to sunset and only a specimen to the Compton Trachyandra species occurs on last for one day. We hope that we Herbarium where dr. Stephen the granite boulders and flowers find more populations of this shy Boatwright confirmed that the plant in September. The flowers only species in 2012.

Acronyms Isabel Johnson BEE—Black Economic Empowerment

BotSoc.—Botanical Society of South Africa CREW KZN mentor

CFR—Cape Floristic region Suvarna Parbhoo CR—Critically Endangered uring Isabel’s tenure as CR PE—Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct DCREW manager: KwaZulu- CREW—Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers Natal (KZN) Node, she worked DENC—Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation hard towards making CREW come alive in the province. EDRR—Early Detection and Rapid Response to Invasive Alien Plants Because of her knowledge and EKZNW—Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife guidance, the CREW volunteers EMAPI—Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions and I have a much deeper EN—Endangered understanding of the KZN flora. We have learnt so much from Isabel KZN—KwaZulu-Natal that it is difficult to explain how MoU—Memorandum of Understanding grateful we are. Isabel, thank you for openly sharing your extensive MPTA—Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency knowledge with the CREW NGO—Non-Governmental Organisation volunteers. You patiently listen to NT—Near Threatened the many questions and answered accordingly, never showing SAAB—South African Association of Botanists signs of frustration. The way you SANBI—South African National Biodiversity Institute motivate people to give their best is remarkable. You truly lead by SCC—Species of Conservation Concern example. UCT—University of Cape Town I have mixed feelings about UKZN—University of KwaZulu-Natal taking over from Isabel as CREW VU—Vulnerable manager for KZN. On one hand, it WWF—World Wildlife Fund is daunting for me to run the project 32 on my own but on the other, I am feeling positive about Isabel’s new role and how it will contribute to expanding the reach of the CREW programme. Isabel, you have made such a significant contribution to CREW, and we are eternally grateful. The extended CREW team and I would like to say thank you!

This is a time to look back with admiration and look forward with anticipation. May your next adventure as KZN Biodiversity Stewardship extension facilitator be fulfilling and successful. We would also like to wish you the best of luck with the final stretch of your PhD thesis.

I would like to end with a message of appreciation for Isabel’s Isabel Johnson looking at Gerbera aurantiaca. considerable input into KZN CREW from the Boston CREW group, “Isabel has spent hours of her time, other things on her mind and many helpfulness and thoroughness. Our without considering her personal other responsibilities to deal with. own progress in amateur botany life in many instances, promoting Isabel has answered our questions has been greatly assisted by her the growth of KZN CREW, caring individually, however simple they dedication to this conservation for and nurturing it despite many must have seemed to her, with project. Thank you, Isabel!”

How the CREW team spirit contributed to my personal development

Vathiswa Zikishe

cannot believe how long it has a passion for plants and an this new challenge. My start was Itaken me to write this kind of eagerness to learn. As a result, I not very smooth as anyone might article. It should have been writ- was often on CREW outings with imagine. I had so much to learn ten a long time ago, but it just the Outramps, which contributed to and the pressure was on, as it was didn’t cross my mind at the time. my experience and skills to bag the the beginning of the field season. I have so much to share here, CREW project assistant position. My first trip was on a Sunday as well as so many people to My expression of gratitude goes afternoon to Fairfield near Napier, express my gratitude to, so here to the Outramps for teaching me which is a spectacular site with lots it goes! all about plant identification and of ‘specials’. I looked around and Lorraine McGibbon who is still my In September 2007, I joined everyone had something to do, mentor, friend, and continues to the CREW team as a Project some were down on their knees encourage me. Assistant. Prior to that, I worked for photographing the plants, some were looking at the characters CapeNature at Outeniqua Nature Usuku lwam lokuqala to identify species and Ismail Reserve in George as a Quality emsebenzini (my first day at (my supervisor) had a clipboard Controller for the Working for Water work)! Programme. During my time at and he was called left and right Outeniqua, I performed a diverse Ooh, everything around me felt to identify plants. There I was range of duties and activities, new, and it was a complete change standing, completely overwhelmed ranging from environmental of scenery. It was my first time by everything. Eventually I found education, to threatened plant in Cape Town. Some people get myself asking for a clipboard to species monitoring with the nervous on their first day at work fill in the data sheet. That was the Outramps CREW Group from that but for me it was a case of mixed start of my learning curve. In the area. Plant monitoring activity feelings, with curiosity the most beginning I could not spell the appealed to me, and I developed apparent! I was excited to take on names correctly or pronounce 33 the Latin names but I had to learn achieved so much since 2007 with with, the Compton Herbarium staff quickly because there were many my most important achievements for their patience, especially in the specials to record. My plan of independency, confidence and beginning when I was struggling, action was to write them down a sense of pride in the work and to other volunteers from all the in my own way and then check completed with CREW thus far. CREW groups, for sharing their them later in a field guide. This botanical expertise. To each and Acknowledgements strategy worked well for me and every one of you, I want to say helped me learn the plant names I can never thank everyone these few words, “you never know much faster. That was how my day enough, from our office volunteers, when a little word or something you ended, with lots of homework and Ky Pulvermacher and Margaret do may open up the windows of a plant pressing to do. The learning Kahle, who were the first volunteers mind that seeks the light.” So keep process continued and I made I had to build a working relationship up the good work! sure that I built up my knowledge on a daily basis as we were in the field almost every day. When not in the field I were doing spell checks as well as data sheets, filing, and CREW through the eyes of an intern others duties like data capturing. The amazing thing about this Martina Treurnicht kind of work is the learning never stops and I am still as excited and n April 2011, the CREW committed to learn as I was on the Iteam in Cape Town wel- first day. comed me as an intern recruited through the De- A working team is an inspiration partment of Science and The CREW team is the exact Technology and National definition of ‘team’: a collection Research Foundation’s col- of individuals who have gathered laborative graduate recruit- to achieve the same goal. CREW ment programme. has a diverse range of duties My first day was at the very and activities to be performed. exciting 2011 Cape Floristic These activities and duties Region (CFR) Workshop held are clearly outlined and very in Betty’s Bay and provided an During my time at CREW, I have stimulating. In order for the team excellent opportunity to familiarise supported the project manager to achieve its common goal, open myself with CREW and all the with planning and coordinating communication, trust and working volunteers! I went to school in field trips, planned and organised together are key ingredients Durbanville and completed my lectures with university students, for making a successful team. university qualifications (BSc, coordinated the demographic I was extremely inspired by the MSc) at Stellenbosch University monitoring research, developed dedication the CREW team in Conservation Ecology. Other identification guides for the members have towards their work. than my academic qualifications, I new volunteer groups, provided When you enter the office, you have always relished the outdoors, landholder feedback after see everyone focused on their hiking, horse riding and family site visits, and assisted with work and always willing to share holidays throughout beautiful environmental education activities. their knowledge and experience. southern Africa. My Masters One of the most important factors research, which was completed I am committed to and enthusiastic that influenced my development in 2010, spanned social and about environmental concerns was the trust and support from my ecological aspects of wildflower and determined to inspire others’ supervisors. I would be encouraged farming on the Agulhas Plain. interest for the environment. to take on challenging projects and The sustainable management Clearly, being a member of the try new ways of doing things. This of privately owned fynbos was CREW team meant that I could was critical to developing my ‘can emphasised throughout my heartily express my commitment to do’ attitude. The major lesson I thesis. Additionally, I worked on the environment and share this with learnt was that without willingness a short-term project that reported many like-minded folks. I would like to develop myself, I would not on fynbos species discoveries (a to thank all the staff and volunteers be where I am now. Learning is time-series analysis) in the Cape of CREW for an adventurous year a two way process. The teacher Floristic Region. From this, my in the field in which I learned a has to be willing to impart with interest in exploring and conserving lot, and I wish CREW many more their knowledge and the learner the unique plant diversity of the remarkable botanical finds. I could must be receptive and willing to Cape became my passion and I not have wished for a better kick-off 34 use the knowledge gained. I have found it easy to settle in at CREW. to my environmental career! My introduction to the CREW programme

Lerato Hoveka

am Lerato Hoveka, a CREW biodiversity management, I learnt team had to educate the children ICape Floristic Region (CFR) how important the data that about climate change and energy intern from Limpopo Province, CREW collects is for biodiversity saving practices. who majored in Botany and planning, policy development Zoology at the University of and Environmental Impact When I return home, I plan to use Limpopo. Assessments. the experience that I have obtained with CREW to conserve threatened My Honours project entailed One of the highlights for me plants. The majestic world of plants the micro-propagation of two was being invited to be part of shall keep me passionate about critically endangered and a summer school programme in biodiversity conservation and I will endemic succulents for ex situ Nieuwoudtville where the CREW always remain a CREW volunteer. conservation. This was aimed at developing a propagation protocol for horticulture in an effort to make the plants readily available, thus reducing the pressure placed on CREW Red Listing Intern: Pretoria wild populations by poachers. The ultimate plan was to reintroduce Anisha Dayaram the plants into their natural habitats to augment existing and declining ow exciting these last nine populations. Hmonths of my NRF intern- ship at SANBI in Pretoria have When my honours year ended, been. it came to mind that I might have been a bit too ambitious to As we are all aware, the propagate a plant and reintroduce can be ranked second only to the it into the wild in one year. moon in terms of a lack of visible Nevertheless, I had successfully floral diversity during winter, managed to propagate the plants. therefore, I was elated when I was given the opportunity to travel to Further research was now needed the Western Cape to experience to establish how the cloned plants a bit of CREW fieldwork there. It would respond to environmental was my first experience of winter conditions and whether or not in the Cape region as well as my they would be a threat to the first opportunity to meet some wild populations. Augmenting of the Cape CREW members individuals of a threatened species and volunteers. I’m afraid that I is one way of conserving a was as bad as a tourist in a curio species but it does not reduce the store and must have had eyes pressure placed on the plant by rolling from the more experienced anthropogenic factors. CREW members as I took photo I decided to apply to SANBI’s after photo of beautiful, colourful, brightly contrasting and yet Anisha Dayaram working hard in the Threatened Species Programme to completely common flowers and field. have a better understanding of the plants. Included are a few of conservation of threatened plants. these amazing flowers as well as I was placed with CREW, where Buffelskloof and it is always a a cryptically hidden photo of the I have learnt the importance of Johannesburg veld I left behind so I pleasure to see everyone well and engaging civil society groups and can justify my excitement! as enthusiastic as ever. I also got landowners in the conservation of to know the CREW-SANBI teams threatened plants. With CREW, Some of the other tasks I had from Cape Town, Johannesburg I have learnt how important it is the opportunity to work on was and KwaZulu-Natal and I have yet to monitor rare and endangered geo-referencing the localities to meet a group of people who plants regularly and to go out of the summer rainfall species are as dedicated and effective at into the field to search for those and helping a little with the Red achieving conservation targets species that are data deficient List website. I also met some of with the minimal resources they and highly threatened to prevent my favourite volunteers at the are afforded. If we could find the extinctions. Having worked in summer rainfall workshop at source of the passion they run on, 35 I think we have found our green fuel of the future. I also got to experience some of the struggles and bureaucracy which is holding back effective conservation and it disappointed me. However, I recently read a New Scientist article that said ecologists are too melodramatic, downplay our successes, and put too much weight on negative issues, thinking that they will garner greater interest from the public, while it is instead counterproductive. Therefore, I think that CREW should be proud of the fact that they inspire positivity and whenever I have been around them, I have felt my own passion Some amazing Fynbos flowers with a cryptically hidden image of the Johannes- for conservation reignited. burg veld—see if you can spot it!

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, Tilla

Suvarna Parbhoo

ational Manager of the NCREW Programme, Domitilla Raimondo, gave birth to beauti- ful baby Thalia just two weeks after the CREW summer rainfall workshop. Thalia is named after the ancient Greek deity of plants and Thalia is also a genus of the family Araceae, so an appropriate name for the latest addition to the CREW family. We wish you and your family all the best in health, happiness and a long journey full of learning, patience, support and laughter—all the ingredients every happy family needs sprinkled with lots of love. Tilla and Thalia. Tilla and Luca.

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