Drakensberg

Golden Gate & The Sani Pass

A Greentours Trip Report

2nd to 15th February 2013

Led by Paul Cardy and Callan Cohen

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

Days 1 & 2 Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd February Arrival and travel south

After our arrival at Johannesburg airport, our main aim for the day was to drive southwards over the highveld grasslands to the foothills of the Drakensberg. Of course, we managed a few flora stops along the way. A verge near a fuel stop held the peachy Jamesbrittenia aurantiaca. A later stop near a road cutting and then on the plains of the Golden Gate National Park brought our first ground orchids: Habenaria falcicornis ssp. caffra (sometimes split as its own species). The endemic antelope Blesbok and Black Wildebeest grazed on the plains. The scenery was very dramatic today and we soon began to encounter the cream and orange sandstone cliffs that characterise the lower reaches of the Drakensberg. Our next three nights were at the same hotel in the Golden Gate NP, with amazing views into sandstone cliffs and a river valley.

Day 3 Monday 4th February Up into the Drakensberg

An early highlight was a Mountain Pride butterfly pollinating a Kniphofia in the hotel grounds. This large satyrid with huge eye spots is attracted to the colour red (one of the few insects that can see red) and is the unique pollinator of a suite of red-orange montane flowers. We spent most of the day heading up the highest road in South Africa in order to access the Drakensberg alpine flora. The weather turned out to be very misty, but that did not dampen our spirits as the flora was exceptional. Highlights were 14 species of ground orchid including Sopubia cana, Dierama dracomontanum, Eucomis autumnalis, Moraea brevistyla and Helichrysum spiralepis. Some of the orchids included Satyrium longicauda, Satyrium parviflorum (Green Devil Orchid), Schizochilus flexuosus, Disperis renibractea, Disperis tysonii and Disa fragrans. Paul, master of the picnic lunch, chose to lay out of huge spread a few minutes before an unexpected and sudden hail storm! Back at lower altitudes, we watched bright yellow and lime Foam Grasshoppers and Black Wildebeest.

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Day 4 Tuesday 5th February Into Lesotho

Today we again took a packed lunch and did a long day trip into the border country of Lesotho. Here a tarred road ascends over 3200m and we followed it up, stopping along the way. Dramatic landscapes with basalt cliffs and pointed skylines extended in every direction. We headed all the way to Oxbow had some great highlights today too, including a diversity of endemic Helichrysum species, slopes of stunning Kniphofia caulescens, Phygelius capensis along a stream, Galtonia viridiflora, and Brownleea macroceras. The Machacha Brown butterfly was locally common. Returning to lower altitudes, we found the hooded, orange Gladiolus dalenii.

Day 5 Wednesday 6th February Golden Gate to Spionkop to Giant’s Castle

Today we explored the lower reaches of Golden Gate National Park and were rewarded with very close Secretarybird, eye-level Bearded Vulture, and Gladiolus papilio, Gladiolus crassifolius and a big population of the showy Disa cooperi. Our lunch visit to the lower altitude Spionkop Nature Reserve gave us a chance to see many African mammals, including Eland, Giraffe, Impala, Warthog, Burchell’s Zebra and Yellow Mongoose. The landscape here, with its acacia trees and kopjes, was different to that we had encountered before and had a sense of Angola-Boer War history as one of the most memorable battles of the war had been fought on the hill above us. In the afternoon we headed back inland towards the Drakensberg, making some excellent roadside stops for the endangered Southern Bald Ibis, scarlet candelabra Brunsvigia undulata, Galtonia candicans and the endemic damselfly Mountain Malachite, before settling into our rest camp for the evening.

Day 6 Thursday 7th February Giant’s Castle

We spent a full day here, doing a loop walk from the rest camp to the Bushmen-painting cave. The weather was excellent and the views of the top Drakensberg peaks from our accommodation (set on the edge of a river valley in scrub forest) were dramatic to say the least. The clear waters of the river were fringed in places by riparian forests, but the habitat was mostly open grassland. Highlights here included some good asclepiads: Riocreuxia torulosa and Schizoglossum atropurpureum. Disperis tysonii was a pink orchid among the grasses, while Disperis fanniniae was in the forest understory. Gems in the mossy forest were Stenoglottis fimbriata (mainly on rocks) and Plectranthus grallatus. The green orchid Habenaria dregeana was just on the edge of the path. The tour of the cave paintings was very informative too. In the later afternoon we drove a little way towards the gate where we enjoyed a display of flowering Protea roupelliae and the attendant Malachite Sunbirds and Gurney’s Sugarbirds.

Day 7 Friday 8th February Giant’s Castle to Howick

The following morning the weather was excellent again and we did a similar but shorter loop and managed to add some species including Moraea brevistyla and Moraea trifida, Gomphostigma virgatum “ River Stars”, along the river, Crassula vaginata and a few patches of the very striking Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 2

Hesperantha (ex Schizostylis) coccinea. Birding was excellent with the endemic Bush Blackcap responding well. The large, endemic satyrid Bush Beauty was in flight. Productive roadside stops on our way south to Howick included the geophytic Pelargonium luridum in flower, and banks of Watsonia densiflora.

Day 8 Saturday 9th February Howick to Sani

This morning we explored the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve near Howick. It was a chance to see some more wildlife (Burchell’s Zebra was especially obliging!) and experience some lower altitude grasslands. The Howick falls themselves were also very spectacular, the river plunging over huge dolerite cliffs. Interesting flora here included Kniphofia buchananii and the showy pea Pseudarthria hookeri. We also saw a good selection of birds (Amethyst Sunbird, Thick-billed Weaver, Lazy Cisticola, etc.), and butterflies including Actizera lucida and Hyalites esebria. We had an especially exciting afternoon in an indigenous forest on our way south to Sani. Here, a flock of the endangered Cape Parrot flew into a tree just above our heads! Also here in the glades were the butterflies Emperor Swallowtail and Large Sprite. A selection of excellent flowers such as Littonia modesta, Begonia sutherlandii and Crocosmia aurea were overshadowed by the incredible find of the scarce and local “old man” ground orchids Huttonaea fimbriata and Huttonaea pulchra! What an afternoon! Our accommodation for the next three nights was a country guest house, set in fantastic gardens.

Day 9 Sunday 10th February Up Sani Pass!

Today was another exciting day: we would board 4x4s and take the rough and rugged road into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho in search of more alpine endemics. The day did not disappoint! As we headed up the pass, we moved through different zones of flora. Highlights were many and thanks to Stuart’s local knowledge included Pterygodium magnum, Protea dracomontana, Disa cephalotes, Corycium dracomontanum, Brownleea galpinii, Eucomis schijffii, Gladiolus ecklonii, a huge patch of Dierama dracomontanum, Pterygodium cooperi, Glumicalyx goseloides, Diascia anastrepta, Dianthus basuticus – and yet another Huttonaea, this time the much larger-flowered Huttonaea grandiflora! Drakensberg Rock-jumper was the highlight of the birds, which also included close Gurney’s Sugarbird, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Drakensberg Siskin, and Streaky-headed Seedeater. The very top of the pass was rather cold and windswept and Lesotho border formalities were spent in the company of sheep, a Sloggett’s Ice Rat, and a herder with a hat made from Black-backed Jackal fur. After lunch and a quick look at Rhodohypoxis baurii, we headed slowly back down the pass.

Day 10 Monday 11th February Natal midlands

Today we explored a variety of wetlands, grasslands and woodlands at lower altitudes. One seep near a roadside had a striking display of Nerine appendiculata and some more cryptic Habenaria filicornis. At a special private reserve, Blue Swallow (and Wahlberg’s Eagle) flew swiftly overhead while bright pink Disa nervosa flowers were in the open grasslands. Our picnic lunch was set in Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 3

the woods along a large river and below cliffs. Here Knysna Turaco was the bird highlight, dropping down onto the road in front of us to bathe. Butterflies were plentiful here too and included male Mocker Swallowtails. Turraea floribunda was a showy riverine tree with cream flowers. A Cape Fig, Ficus sur, was in flower and was swarming with parasitoid wasps with very long ovipositors trying to parasite the fig wasps themselves. A late afternoon visit to another forest was good with Impatiens hochstetteri and giant yellow trees Podocarpus latifolius. An optional evening excursion a short drive from our accommodation revealed a very localised species of chameleon, the Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleon!

Day 11 Tuesday 12th February Underberg to Port Edward

An early morning birding drive had a number of highlights including very close Jackal Buzzard, White Stork, male Long-tailed Widows displaying, Red-throated Wryneck and Grey-crowned Crane. Later, we headed south, driving for much of the middle of the day to the coast at Port Edward. Nerine angustifolia was an especially good roadside stop. In the late afternoon we went for a short stroll in a completely different habitat. Here a deeply-incised gorge revealed grey sandstone cliffs, much closer in geology to those of the Cape Flora to the far west. As we stood at the viewpoint with our drinks, some Chacma Baboons watched us from nearby. Our superb lodge was set in a patch of coastal forest with walkways to the rooms.

Day 12 Wednesday 13th February Port Edward area

We were very fortunate today to be hosted by local botanists Graham & Kate and they showed us a number of special spots and species of this unique area. Most of the morning was spent in some coastal grasslands where it was impossible to walk more than a few metres without seeing some interesting flora. Highlights were red Brunsvigia grandiflora, Disa polygonoides, Brachystelma saundersii, Xysmalobium involucratum, Cyanotis speciosa, Hybanthus enneaspermus and Zornia natalensis. A good display of Eulophia angolensis and Dissotis canescens were in a nearby marsh. Picnic lunch was at a coastal lagoon with waterbirds (including Pied Kingfisher). A late afternoon stroll through rocky grassland in the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve revealed the giant milkweed Pachycarpus grandiflorus.

Days 13 & 14 Thursday 14th & Friday 15th February Port Edward to Durban and London

After a relaxed breakfast, we began the road north along the coastal road to Durban before boarding the overnight flight to London. Thanks to all for a superb trip!

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Drakensberg Systematic Lists 2013

The Itinerary

2nd February 2013. Depart London. Day 1. 3rd February. Arrival. Johannesburg to Golden Gate. Day 2. 4th February. Witsieshoek. Day 3. 5th February. Lesotho. Oxbow. Day 4. 6th February. Golden Gate. Spionkop. To Giant’s Castle. Day 5. 7th February. Giant’s Castle. Day 6. 8th February. Giant’s Castle. To Howick/Hilton. Day 7. 9th February. Howick. To Underberg. Day 8. 10th February. Sani. Day 9. 11th February. Natal Midlands. Day 10. 12th February. Underberg to Port Edward. Day 11. 13th February. Port Edward area. Day 12. 14th February. Departure. 15th February 2013. Arrive London.

NB. The day numbers listed here are used in the following annotated lists, whilst the daily accounts have the departure day from London as day 1, so the day numbers in the diary section are higher by one.

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Systematic List Number 1 Plants

Compiled by Paul Cardy

Being our first Drakensberg tour, this list was created from scratch. For families likely to be unfamiliar to European botanists I have given a few defining characteristics. As an aide memoire I have usually given a few species characters too, which with locality information may help to identify photographs. Of course comments under each species are of necessity brief, and a character given for one species does not mean it is not shown by others in the list! The list should be used in conjunction with the relevant books.

Many books were used in the field, and later in compiling the list. The three books useful above all others were ‘Mountain Flowers’ by Elsa Pooley, 2003; ‘A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Kwazulu-Natal’ by Elsa Pooley, 2nd impression 2005; and ‘Trees of Eastern South Africa. A Complete Guide’ by Richard Boon, Second Edition 2012.

‘Wild Orchids of Southern Africa’ by Stewart et al. was used for that family. Where available many monographs were also used, such as ‘Gladiolus in Southern Africa’ by Goldblatt and Manning, and ‘The Moraeas of Southern Africa’ by Goldblatt.

Pteridophytes

Anemiaceae Mohria rigida Lesotho.

Aspleniaceae Asplenium aethiopicum African Spleenwort. Giant’s Castle etc. Asplenium trichomanes Maidenhair Spleenwort. Witsieshoek.

Blechnaceae Blechnum spp. Noted in Drakensberg but not identified to species.

Cyathaceae Cyathea dregei Common Tree Fern. Giant’s Castle, Day 9.

Dennstaedtiaceae Pteridium aquilinum Bracken. Widespread.

Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris athamantica Giant’s Castle. Dryopteris inaequalis Lop-lobed Wood-fern. Giant’s Castle.

Lycopodiaceae Lycopodium clavatum Giant’s Castle.

Polypodiaceae Pleopeltis macrocarpa Scaly Lance-fern. Giant’s Castle.

Pteridaceae Adiantum poiretii Fine Maidenhair Fern. Giant’s Castle. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 6

Cheilanthes eckloniana Resurrection Fern. Witsieshoek. Cheilanthes quadripinnata Four-pinnate Lip-fern. Lesotho and Giant’s Castle. Pellaea calomelanos Blue Rock Fern. Giant’s Castle. Pteris cretica Avery Fern. Giant’s Castle.

Selaginellaceae Selaginella imbricata Fish-scale Clubmoss. Giant’s Castle. Selaginella dregei Grey, mat-forming and moss-like. Port Edward.

Gymnosperms

Cupressaceae Widdringtonia nodiflora Mountain Cypress. Giant’s Castle.

Pinaceae Pinus elliottii Slash Pine. Pinus patula

Podocarpaceae Podocarpus henkelii Henkel’s Yellowwood. Day 9? Podocarpus latifolius Broad-leaved Yellowwood. Giant’s Castle.

Angiosperms Palaeodicotyledons

Piperaceae Peperomia retusa Flowers in thread-like terminal spikes. Scattered forest records.

Monocotyledons

Agapanthaceae Agapanthus campanulatus Bell Agapanthus. Witsieshoek and Sani.

Amaryllidaceae Brunsvigia grandiflora Giant Candelabra Flower. Strap shaped erect leaves. Port Edward. Brunsvigia natalensis Natal Candelabra Flower. In leaf and fruit at Witsieshoek. Brunsvigia undulata Leaf margings wavy. In flower en route to Giant’s Castle. Cyrtanthus breviflorus Yellow Fire-Lily. Lesotho. Nerine angustifolia Leaves flattish, less than 10 flowers. West of Underberg. Nerine appendiculata Leaves deeply channelled. 10-20 flowers. Stamens with conspicuous white appendages at base. Marsh east of Underberg.

Anthericaceae Chlorophytum has linear leaves in a basal rosette. Pedicels jointed. Capsule prominently three angled. Chlorophytum acutum Leaves flat, tapering to long point. Witsieshoek. Chlorophytum comosum Leaves in rosette, tapering at both ends.Forests. Chlorophytum cooperi Cooper’s Anthericum. Leaves in 2 ranks, in a fan. Flowers clustered near tip of unbranched winged stem. (Anthericum cooperi) Chlorophytum krookianum Giant Chlorophytum. Up to 2m tall. White flowers. Giant’s Castle. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 7

Araceae Zantedeschia aethiopica Calla Lily. Evergreen. A few records, e.g. Day 9. Zantedeschia albomaculata Arrow-leaved Arum. Deciduous. Leaves arrow-shaped with or Without white spots. Widespread.

Asparagaceae Asparagus asparagoides Cladodes ovate. Witsieshoek. Asparagus ramosissimus Cladodes in threes, flat above, keeled below. Giant’s Castle. Asparagus setaceus Cladodes in round clusters, soft and shiny. Day 9 forest. Asparagus spp. Others unidentified.

Asphodelaceae Aloe maculata Common Soap Aloe. Port Edward. Bulbine are usually yellow flowered, with densely bearded filaments. Fleshy basal leaves. Bulbine asphodeloides Spreading Bulbine. Port Edward. Bulbine sp.nov. Port Edward, first evening. Kniphofia buchananii Small White Poker. Narrow spikes of white flowers. Howick. Kniphofia caulescens Lesotho Red-hot Poker. Robust. Leaves 25 to 50mm wide, glaucous, fleshy, v-shaped, margings finely toothed. Stamens protruding. Numerous in Lesotho. Also Sani. Kniphofia laxiflora Slender Poker. Up to 1m. Leaves 6-10mm wide. Inflorescence elongate. Very variable. Day 6. Kniphofia linearifolia Common Marsh Poker. Robust, leaves 12-28mm wide, yellow- green, inflorescence large. Marshes at Giant’s Castle. Kniphofia ritualis Solitary. Leaves soft and deeply keeled. Flowers greenish-yellow. Witsieshoek. Kniphofia thodei Thode’s Poker. Solitary. Leaves narrow, blue-green. Witsieshoek. Kniphofia triangularis Mandarin Poker. Leaves grasslike. Days 4 and 9. Trachyandra have white flowers. Leaves basal. All have mebranous sheaths at stem base unless otherwise noted. Trachyandra saltii Day 1 roadside.

Colchicaceae Androcymbium have petal like floral bracts that enclose the small flowers. Sometimes included in Colchicum. Androcymbium striatum Pyjama Flower. Bracts white striped green. Several on plateau on Lesotho side of Sani. Littonia modesta Yellow-orange pointed tepals. Leaves have tendrils. Forest edge on day 7. Sandersonia aurantiaca Christmas Bells. Bright orange flowers with only tips of tepals free. Gone over at Sani.

Commelinaceae Aneilema aequinoctiale Clinging Aneilema. Flowers yellow. Commelina africana Yellow Commelina. Flowers yellow. Scattered records. Commelina erecta Flowers blue. Port Edward. Cyanotis speciosa Stamens conspicuously hairy. Port Edward.

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Convallariaceae Eriospermum, Cottonseed, are geophytes, leaves and flowers produced at different seasons, leaves often distinctive. Eriospermum spp. A few seen in leaf, e.g. Witsieshoek.

Cyperaceae Sadly there has been little time to devote to sedges! Carex cognata Nodding Sedge. Lesotho. Carex spp. A few others unidentified. Cyperus obtusiflorus Port Edward. Cyperus rupestris Russet Rock Sedge. Scattered records, e.g. Port Edward. Cyperus sphaerocephalus Yellow Sedge. Giant’s Castle. Mariscus congestus Day 4.

Dioscoreaceae Dioscorea rupicola Climber with lobed wavy margined leaves. Seen en route to Giant’s Castle. Dioscorea sylvatica Forest Elephant’s Foot. Climber with heart-shaped leaves and a large corky tuber. Giant’s Castle.

Hyacinthaceae Albuca are Ornithogalum like and sometimes included in that genus. They differ in erect inner tepals, with at least the inner filaments pinched below. Albuca shawii Small Yellow Albuca. Flowers nodding. Golden Gate NP. Albuca sp. Port Edward. Eucomis autumnalis Common Pineapple Lily. Leaves with crisped margins. Witsieshoek and Day 6. Eucomis humilis Dwarf Pineapple Lily. Small bracts edged purple, stem spotted purple. Howick. Eucomis schijffii Miniature Eucomis. Leaves prostrate, flowers purple. Sani. Galtonia candicans Common Berg Lily. Leaves erect, flowers pure white. Day 4. Galtonia regalis Royal Berg Lily. Leaves lax and spreading, teplas creamy white. Witsieshoek. Galtonia viridiflora Green Berg Lily. Leaves erect and glaucous, flowers pale green. Lesotho. Ledebouria ovatifolia Purple spotted leaves flat on ground. A few records. Ornithogalum graminifolium Dense spikes of white flowers, tepals with a green stripe. Witsieshoek. Scilla dracomontana Miniature Blue Scilla. In leaf and fruit at Giant’s Castle. Scilla natalensis Large Blue Scilla. Scattered in leaf. Scilla nervosa White Scilla. In flower at Port Edward.

Hypoxidaceae Hypoxis angustifolia Short, yellow flowers c. 20mm. Howick. Hypoxis argentea Small Yellow Star-flower. Leaves narrow, v-shaped, covered in silky yellowish hairs. Flowers small, in pairs. Golden Gate NP. Hypoxis colchicifolia Very robust. In leaf at Port Edward. Hypoxis hemerocallidea Leaves in three ranks. Howick and Port Edward.

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Hypoxis iridifolia Leaves narrow, shiny, hairless, margins and keels with line of dense white hairs. In leaf at Giant’s Castle. Hypoxis sp. Day 9. Rhodohypoxis baurii Red or White Star. Forms colourful carpets in grassland and on rocky outcrops. Flowers red or white. Lesotho side of Sani.

Iridaceae Aristea have actinomorphic blue flowers. Aristea cognata Miniature Blue Aristea. Leaves clustered at base, flowering stem flattened. Several in flower at Giant’s Castle. Aristea woodii Wood’s Aristea. Leaves in basal fan, flowering stem not flattened. Scattered records, e.g. Witsieshoek and Sani. Crocosmia aurea Falling Stars. Orange and red flowers with spreading tepals. Giant’s Castle, and other forest records. Crocosmia paniculata Evergreen, in large clumps, tubular curved yellow-orange flowers. Common in Underberg area. Dierama dracomontanum Drakensberg Hairbell. Witsieshoek and Sani. Dierama jucundum Possibly this species in Lesotho, very pale blue flowers. Dierama latifolium Broad-leaved Hairbell. Seen on Day 7. Gladiolus has leaves usually with a definate midrib, inflorescence a spike of usually zygomorphic flowers. Gladiolus crassifolius Thick-leaved Gladiolus. Erect leaves with margins and veins heavily thickened. Small mauve to pink flowers turned to one side. Witsieshoek and Golden Gate. Gladiolus dalenii African Gladiolus. Large hooded flowers, variously coloured. Lesotho, Sani. Gladiolus ecklonii Sheathed Gladiolus. Flowers 40 to 60mm greenish to silvery-white, densely speckled red-brown, grey, or mauve. Witsieshoek and 1 at Sani. Gladiolus microcarpus Inflorescence pendulous, flowers pink with darker stripes on lower three tepals. Witsieshoek. Gladiolus papilio Butterfly Gladiolus. Nodding flowers, pale creamy yellow with large purplish blotch on lower halves. Golden Gate NP. Hesperantha flowers usually actinomorphic, often opening late afternoon. Style divides at the mouth of the tube into long filiform branches. Hesperantha baurii 2 firm basal leaves, margins thickened, midrib and side veins raised. Hesperantha coccinea Scarlet River Lily. Large scarlet flowers. Some fine examples at Giant’s Castle. Hesperantha grandiflora Large pink flowers, tube 25 to 40mm, sharply curved at top. Sani. Hesperantha spp. Small pink flowered species at Witsieshoek and in Lesotho. Moraea have either iris-like flowers with unequal tepals, or with all tepals more or less equal. Moraea alticola Robust. Gone over at Sani. Moraea brevistyla Leaf solitary. Flowers small, outer tepals white to pale lilac-blue above, grey to purple below, inner tepals, claws and nectar guides yellow. Witsieshoek, Giant’s Castle, and Sani. Moraea inclinata Nodding Wild Moraea. Solitary leaf much longer than flowering stem. Large blue flower on inclining stem. Witsieshoek, Day 6, Sani. Moraea trifida Leaf solitary, stiff, small creamy yellow flower spotted brown to green. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle.

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Tritonia disticha Red Tritonia. Port Edward. Watsonia have spikes of two-ranked numerous pink, orange, or red flowers. Watsonia densiflora Locally common on roadsides etc. Watsonia pillansii Gone over at Sani.

Juncaceae Juncus effusus Soft Rush.

Liliaceae Lilium formosanum Naturalised at Howick etc. Native to Taiwan.

Luzuriagaceae Behnia reticulata Forest Smilax. Forest on Day 9.

Orchidaceae Brownleea has median sepal joined with two lateral petals to form trumpet shaped hood, spur curved, lip insignificant. Brownleea galpinii Inflorescence dense, flowers white. Several at one site at Sani. Brownleea macroceras Large white to blue flowers. Witsieshoek, Lesotho, Sani. Brownleea parviflora Slender spike of small white flowers, petals rectangular to square. 2 at Sani. Corycium dracomontanum Lip appendage bright green, side arms face sideways. Witsieshoek, Lesotho, and Sani. Corycium nigrescens Sepals pale green, soon turn black, petals purple brown to black. Witsieshoek and Golden Gate NP. Disa has median sepal hooded and elongated into a spur, or pouch. Disa cephalotes Dense inflorescence of white flowers. Closely resembles Brownleea galpinii. 1 at Sani. Disa cooperi Flowers white to pale pink, spurs point upwards. Day 4. Disa fragrans Fragrant Disa. Dense inflorescence, small white to deep pink flowers, spur slender, pointing down. Witsieshoek and Lesotho. Disa nervosa Robust with large pink flowers. Day 9. Disa patula Flowers horizontal, pink, spur round, pointed, horizontal. Giant’s Castle. Disa polygonoides Orange flowers in dense spikes. Port Edward. Disa versicolor Dense inflorescence, flowers small, usually facing downwards, vanilla scented. Witsieshoek and Golden Gate NP. Disperis has median sepal and petals joined to form a helmet-shaped hood, side sepals pouched or spurred. Disperis cardiophora Flowers small, white and green, magenta tipped. Witsieshoek. Disperis fanniniae Granny Bonnet. Large white flowers with very deep hood, flushed pink or green, speckled green or purple. Giant’s Castle. Disperis renibractea Flowers resemble an owl’s face, pungent odour. Witsieshoek. Disperis tysonii Small pink to magenta flowers, tall hood inclined backwards. Witsieshoek, Giant’s Castle, Sani. Disperis wealii Flowers white, spotted green under hood margins. Witsieshoek and Lesotho. Eulophia angolensis Robust with yellow flowers. Port Edward. Eulophia schnelliae Port Edward. Habenaria dives Small white flowers, midlobe of lip longer than side lobes. Scattered records, e.g. Witsieshoek, Lesotho, Sani. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 11

Habenaria dregeana Small Green Hood. Yellowish green flowers. Giant’s Castle. Habenaria falcicornis ssp.caffra Flowers white, spur 20 to 40 mm. Plains of Golden Gate National Park. Habenaria filicornis Day 9 Nerine stop. Habenaria lithophyla Flowers yellowish green, lower petal lobes long and very slender. Witsieshoek. Habenaria malacophylla Several in forest on Day 7. Holothrix sp. Gone over at Sani. Huttonaea has petals and lip fringed, petals erect and clawed at base. Genus more or less endemic to Drakensberg. Huttonaea fimbriata Flowers small, sepals and petals white. Forest on Day 7. Huttonaea grandiflora Flowers large, speckled purplish on upper petal, fringes long. 2+ Sani. Huttonaea pulchra Flowers small, sepals and lip pale green. Forest on Day 7. Polystachya ottoniana Epiphyte. In leaf in forest patches. Polystachya pubescens In fruit at Port Edward. Pterygodium has median sepal and petals joined to form very shallow hood. Lip with short or tall appendage. No spur. Pterygodium cooperi Flowers white flushed pink. 1 at Sani. Pterygodium magnum Up to 1.5m. Petals fringed, yellowish with red dots and veins. Lip white to pale green to mauve with darker veins, fringed. This fine species at Sani and on Day 9. Rangaeris muscicola In fruit at Port Edward. Satyrium flowers have two conspicuous spurs or pouches. Satyrium cristatum Flowers whitish blotched red. Giant’s Castle etc. Satyrium longicauda Leaves on separate shoot from flowering stem. Flowers white to red. Rather widespread. Satyrium parviflorum Devil Orchid. Yellowish green to maroon flowers. Petals dry brown soon after opening. Witsieshoek, Sani, etc. Schizochilus flexuosus Inflorescence dense, flowers white with yellow lip. Witsieshoek. Stenoglottis fimbriata Fringed Stenoglottis. Small lilac-pink flowers, lip 3-lobed. On rocks in forest at Giant’s Castle etc. Tridactyle bicaudata In leaf at Port Edward.

Poaceae Aira cupaniana Alien. Arundo donax Giant Reed. Alien. Avena barbata Alien. Avena fatua Wild Oat. Alien. Avena sterilis Winter Wild Oat. Alien. Brachypodium distachyon Alien. Bromus diandrus Great Brome. Alien. Bromus madritensis Compact Brome. Alien. Bromus rigidus Stiff Brome. Alien. Bromus sterilis Barren Brome. Alien. Bromus tectorum Drooping Brome. Alien. Cenchrus incertus Alien. Cortaderia selloana Alien. Cynodon dactylon Bermuda Grass. Cymbopogon excavatus Giant’s Castle.

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Cynosurus echinatus Rough Dogstail. Alien. Ehrharta calycina Ehrharta longiflora Eragrostis capensis Fingerhuthia africana Hordeum murinum Wall Barley. Alien. Hyparrhenia hirta Widespread. Lolium multiflorum Italian Ryegrass. Alien. Lolium perenne Perennial Ryegrass. Alien. Lolium rigidum Stiff Darnel. Alien. Lolium temulentum Darnel. Alien. Lophochloa cristata Alien. Melinus repens Alien. Merxmuellera drakensbergensis Sani. Monocymbium ceresiformis Port Edward. Pennisetum setaceum Alien. Pentaschistus airoides Pentaschistus curvirostris Phalaris aquatica Bulbous Canary-grass. Alien. Phalaris minor Lesser Canary-grass. Alien. Phragmites australis Common Reed. Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass. Alien. Poa bulbosa Bulbous Meadow-grass. Poa pratensis Smooth Meadow-grass. Alien. Thamnocalamus tessellatus Drakensberg Bamboo. Giant’s Castle. Themeda triandra Thinopyrum distichum Vulpia bromoides Squirreltail Fescue. Alien.

Smilacaceae Smilax anceps Port Edward.

Strelitziaceae Strelitzia nicolai Coast Strelitzia. Common in Port Edward area.

Typhaceae Typha capensis Bulrush.

Velloziaceae Xerophyta viscosa Small Black Stick Lily. Flowers lilac to deep mauve. Lesotho, and Giant’s Castle.

Xyridaceae Xyris are herbaceous marsh plants. Xyris capensis Common Xyris. Yellow flowers, bract margins entire. Port Edward.

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Eudicotyledons

Acanthaceae Asystasia gangetica Flowers white with purplish markings. Port Edward. Hypoestes triflora Ribbon Bush. Flowers 2-lipped, pink with purple markings. Forest on Day 7. Isoglossa ciliata Herb with white or pink, red spotted flowers. Isoglossa cooperi Shrub with lilac flowers. Forest patches. Isoglossa ovata Port Edward. Thunbergia atriplicifolia Natal Primrose. Flowers creamy yellow. Port Edward.

Achariaceae Ceratiosicyos laevis Cucumber Pod Creeper. Climber with yellowish green campanulate flowers. Forest on Day 9.

Aizoaceae Delosperma lavisiae Mountain Vygie. Magenta flowers. Giant’s Castle and Sani. Delosperma lineare White flowers. Port Edward. Delosperma subpetiolatum Trailing Vygie. White flowers. Delosperma sutherlandii Flowers magenta fading to white at base, pink or white. Sani.

Amaranthaceae (includes Chenopodiaceae) Achyranthes aspera Alien. Forest on Day 9.

Anacardiaceae Protorhus longifolia Red-beech. Port Edward. Searsia (formerly Rhus) are shrubs or small trees with trifoliate leaves. Searsia dentata Giant’s Castle and Sani. Searsia discolor Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle. Searsia laevigata Giant’s Castle. Searsia lancea Day 1. Searsia lucida Giant’s Castle. Searsia viminalis Day 1 and Giant’s Castle.

Apiaceae Alepidea have conspicuous petal-like bracts. Alepidea natalensis Leaves in basal rosette. margins toothed, flowerheads c.15mm, bracts white. Giant’s Castle and Port Edward. Alepidea thodei Large showy flowers, c.30mm. Sani. Alepidea sp. c.12 cm tall, very narrow leaves, white bracts. Alepidea sp. Taller species with spiny edged leaves. Bupleurum mundii Perennial herb. Witsieshoek and Sani. Heteromorpha arborescens Parsley-tree. Scattered records. Pimpinella caffra Basal leaves entire, stem leaves finely divided. Sani. Sium repandum Water Parsnip. Howick.

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Apocynaceae (includes Asclepiadaceae) Brachystelma saundersii Port Edward. Carissa bispinosa Num-num. Thorny shrub with milky sap. Giant’s Castle. Gomphocarpus fruticosus Shrub with nodding clusters of cream flowers. Fruits swollen with fleshy projections. Widespread and very common. Gomphocarpus physocarpus Stem solitary below. Fruits roundish and inflated. Port Edward area. Miraglossum pulchellum Horned Miracle-tongue. Greenish flowers, appendage tips angled away from flower centre. Witsieshoek. Pachycarpus grandiflorus Grand Pachycarpus. Large hanging, round, yellow and purple flowers. Port Edward. Periglossum angustifolium Round Head. Flowers yellow inside, reddish brown outside, inner corola lobes threadlike. First stop on Day 9. Riocreuxia torulosa Candle-vine. Leaves heart-shaped, tubular flowers with inflated base and lobes joined at tips to form a cage. Giant’s Castle and Day 9. Schizoglossum atropurpureum Flowers almost black. Giant’s Castle. Schizoglossum bidens ssp.atrorubens Variable Schizoglossum. Corona lobes white marked dull purple. Sani. Xysmalobium involucratum Flower lobes completely reflexed. Port Edward. Xysmalobium undulatum Large inflated fruits, Giant’s Castle.

Aquifoliaceae Ilex mitis

Araliaceae Cussonia paniculata Mountain Cabbage Tree. Rather widespread. Cussonia sphaerocephala Forest Day 7. Cussonia spicata Hella Hella.

Asteraceae Ageratum conyzoides Alien. Ageratum houstonianum Alien. Arctotis have 5 or 6 rows of bracts, outer often tailed, inner broad with large membranous tips. Arctotis arctotoides Yellow flowers 25 to 40 mm, yellow, ray florets often purplish beneath. Lesotho, Sani. Artemisia afra Wormwood. Widespread. Aspilia natalensis Wild Creeping Sunflower. Port Edward. Aster bakerianus Flowers white to deep pink, bracts with long hairs at least on midline. Near Giant’s Castle. Aster erucifolius Prostrate, ray florets purple. Lesotho. Athrixia angustissima Stem leaves slender. Ray florest white. Sani. Berkheya are thistle-like usually with yellow flowers. Berkheya cirsiifolia Ray florest white or yellow. Witsieshoek and Day 4. Berkheya multijuga Leaves deeply lobed and spiny. Flowers yellow. Witsieshoek. Berkheya purpurea Purple Berkheya. Purple flowers. Sani. Berkheya rhapontica Basal leaves in rosette, harshly hairy, long narrow inflorescence of yellow flowers. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle.

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Berkheya rosulata Rosette Thistle. Leaves dark green above, white-felted below, solitary yellow flowers. Witsieshoek. Bekheya speciosa Leaves basal, green above, white-felted below. Flowers yellow. Port Edward. Bidens formosa Cosmos. Very commonly naturalised on roadsides. Cineraria dieterlenii Herb with lobed kidney shaped leaves, flowers yellow with ray florets. Sani. Cirsium vulgare Alien. Cotula have discoid heads, although sometimes with rays, 2 rows of bracts with narrow membranous margins. Cotula membranifolia Sani. Cotula paludosa Sani. Eumorphia sericea Dwarf shrub white white ray florets, bracts with large orange oil glands on the inner surface. Lesotho. Euryops are shrubs with yellow flowers with one row of smooth oval bracts joined at the base. Euryops acraeus Rounded shrub, leaves leathery. In fruit at Sani. Euryopsevansii Shrub with grey-green leaves, yellow flower in terminal clusters. Sani. Euryops tysonii Shrub with glossy green leaves, smaller yellow flowers than previous species, in crowded terminal clusters. Sani. Felicia have yellow or rarely blue disc florets and blue, pink or white rays, with 2 to 4 rows of green bracts with narrow membranous margins. Felicia filifolia Fine-leaved Felicia. Aromatic shrub with mauve to blue flowers. Witsieshoek and Sani. Felicia uliginosa Herb with blue to mauve flowers. Lesotho. Gazania are perennials or annuals with milky latex. Several rows of stiff bracts joined below into a smooth or hairy cup. Gazania krebsiana Perennial. Leaves narrow, flowers yellow or orange. Day 4, Sani. Gnaphalium ?limicola This species at Witsieshoek? Haplocarpa scaposa Leaves in basal rosette, white-felted beneath. Yellow flowers. Golden Gate grasslands. Helichrysum are usually woolly or felted, with disciform flowers with several rows of papery bracts. A very large genus in the region. Helichrysum acutatum Silver leaves, yellow bracts. Giant’s Castle. Helichrysum adenocarpum Solitary flowerheads, bracts red or pink. Locally common in Lesotho. Also Port Edward. Helichrysum albo-brunneum Outer bracts glossy white tipped brown. Lesotho. Helichrysum appendiculatum Upper stem leaves often tipped with a small coloured bract. Bracts dull white to yellowish to pink. Widespread. Helichrysum aureum var.monocephalum. Solitary yellow flowerheads. Port Edward. Helichrysum bellum Basal leaves thin and soft. Bracts snow-white. Lesotho. Helichrysum chionosphaerum Tiny Snowball Everlasting. Mat-forming, wool usually confined to 3 veins and margins. Bracts glossy white. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle. Helichrysum cymosum Thinly woolly shrublet. Leaves small. Flowerheads yellow. Port Edward. Helichrysum dasycephalum Branches covered in grey tissue like felt. Flowers yellow. Witsieshoek. Helichrysum flanaganii Forms large mats, narrow leaves woolly or not, bracts tawny yellow tipped golden brown. Lesotho.

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Helichrysum krookii Leaves mostly in basal rosette. Bracts bright yellow. Witsieshoek and Sani. Helichrysum herbaceum Monkey-tail Everlasting. Bracts to 28mm across, outer golden brown, inner lemon-yellow. Golden Gate, Giant’s Castle, Sani. Helichrysum hypoleucum Scrambling shrub with yellow flowers. Giant’s Castle. Helichrysum lineatum Greyish rounded leaves in basal rosettes. Bracts light golden brown. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle. Helichrysum montanum Dwarf shrub, leaves thick grey woolly, bracts bright yellow. Sani. Helichrysum nanum Mat forming herb, stiff leaves covered in silky felt, flowerheads bright yellow. Sani. Helichrysum oreophilum Leaves grey woolly, only main vein visible beneath. Bracts lemon- yellow. Golden Gate. Helichrysum pagophyllum Very compact hard cushions at Sani. Helichrysum populifolium Shrub with large leaves and branched inflorescences of small flowers, bracts brown and white. Port Edward. Helichrysum rugulosum Is this widepread weedy tall species? Helichrysum spiralepis Flowerheads in small congested clusters surrounded by leafy bracts. Scattered e.g. Witsieshoek and Sani. Helichrysum tenax Sticky Everlasting. Heads of glossy yellow flowers. Golden Gate. Helichrysum trilineatum Aromatic shrublet, leaves with three parallel veins, bracts bright yellow. Lesotho and Sani. Helichrysum umbraculigerum Leaves very variable, greyish woolly, bracts golden yellow. Giant’s Castle, Sani. Helichrysum witbergense Rounded shrub, upper surface of leaves green and sticky, outer bracts brown, inner yellow. Lesotho. Inulanthera thodei Aromatic shrub with yellow flowers. Locally dominant in Lesotho. Osteospermum have 2 to 4 rows of narrow bracts, and yellow flowers. Osteospermum monilifera Day 9. (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) Senecio usually has one row of bracts, often with membranous edges. Usually a few small dark-tipped bracts occur on the pedunclebelow the involucral bracts. Senecio asperulus Solitary bright yellow flowers. Lesotho. Senecio deltoideus Climber with yellow flowers. Forest Day 7. Senecio ?erubescens Port Edward. Senecio hygrophilus Blue green with yellow flowers. Giant’s Castle riverside. Senecio macrospermus Large grey-woolly herb with large yellow flowers. Sani. Senecio oxyriifolius False Nasturtium. Very distinctive blusih-green leaves, resembling the genus Oxyria. Leaves at Giant’s Castle, Day 9, etc. Senecio polyodon Mauve flowers. Lesotho. Senecio rhyncholaenus Herb with yellow flowers, bracts sticky. Port Edward. Senecio seminiveus Dwarf shrub, young leaves densely white woolly, large yellow flowers. Sani. Senecio subrubriflorus Sticky aromatic herb with pale mauve to white flowers. Giant’s Castle. Stoebe vulgaris Zigzag Bush. Intricately branched shrub. Day 1 and Sani. Taraxacum officinale Dandelion. Scattered records. Vernonia natalensis Silver Vernonia. Covered in silvery silky hairs. Golden Gate, Giant’s Castle, etc. Zinnia peruviana Alien. Spionkop.

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Balsaminaceae Impatiens hochstetteri Often common in forests.

Begoniaceae Begonia sutherlandii Locally common in afromontane forest patches.

Boraginaceae Afrotysonia glochidiata Tall herb, widely branched inflorescence of white flowers flushed mauve. Giant’s Castle. Cynoglossum austro-africanum Blue flowers. Witsieshoek and Sani. Cynoglossum spelaeum White flowers. Cave Sandstone at Giant’s Castle. Myosotis semiamplexicaulis Forget-me-not. Lesotho and Sani marshes.

Brassicaceae Heliophila are annual or perennial, sometimes slightly woody. Flowers blue, pink, white, or occasionally yellow. Heliophila sp. Port Edward area.

Buddlejaceae Buddleja salviifolia Quilted Sagewood. Locally numerous.

Cactaceae Rhipsalis baccifera Mistletoe Cactus. Straggling, pendulous, epiphytic succulent. Day 9.

Campanulaceae Craterocapsa congesta Prostrate perennial herb. Blue stalkless flowers, crowded at tips. Lesotho. Craterocapsa tarsodes Carpet Bell Flower. Stems end in rosettes of leaves. Blue flowers solitary. Witsieshoek. Craterocapsa sp. Possibly another species with very narrow leaves on the Lesotho side of Sani. Cyphia are erect or twining herbs with white to purple flowers, equally five lobed or two lipped, and split down the side. Cyphia elata Erect herb, flowers creamy white with mauve markings. Witsieshoek. Cyphia tysonii Twining herb. Sani. Lobelia has the corolla two-lipped and split to the base at the back, the front lip with three lobes. Lobelia anceps Swamp Lobelia. Port Edward. Lobelia flaccida Annual herb, two crests in mouth of flower tube. Witsieshoek. Lobelia preslii Perennial herb, flowers bright deep blue, stems up to 240mm long. Giant’s Castle and Sani. Lobelia vanreenensis Flowers whitish, yellow on palate. Giant’s Castle. Monopsis decipiens Butterfly Monopsis. Flowers violet and blue with a yellow palate. Golden Gate, Witsieshoek, Giant’s Castle. Monopsis stellarioides Sticky-leaved Monopsis. Day 7 forest. Monopsis unidentata Wild Brown Violet. Port Edward. Roella glomerata Bell sahped white to blue flowers. Port Edward. Wahlenbergia has campanulate flowers with broad petals. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 18

Wahlenbergia cuspidata Large violet-blue flowers. Widespread and locally common. Wahlenbergia huttonii Flowers in small terminal clusters, lobes long and narrow. Giant’s Castle. Wahlenbergia krebsii Fairy Bell-flower. Leaves crowded towards base of stems. Violet- blue flowers. Lesotho and Golden Gate.

Caryophyllaceae Cerastium arabidis Snow Flower. Sani. Dianthus basuticus Lesotho Dianthus. Pink or white flowers. Witsieshoek and Sani. Silene undulata 20 to 40mm white to pink flowers. Leafy flower stem from side of rosette. Witsieshoek and Sani.

Celtidaceae Celtis africana Afromontane forest. Trema orientalis Afromontane forest.

Combretaceae Combretum erythrophyllum Hella Hella lunch.

Convolvulariaceae Cuscuta campestris Dodder. Alien. Hewittia malabarica Hewitt’s Dwarf Morning Glory. Flowers pale yellow ith deep red centre. Port Edward. Ipomoea cairica Leaves with 5 to 7 lobes. Port Edward. Ipomoea crassipes Leaves hairy. Port Edward. Ipomoea purpurea Naturalised weed.

Cornaceae Curtisia dentata Assegai.

Crassulaceae Cotyledon orbiculata Large succulent leaves, clusters of nodding tubular red flowers, which are stalked. Sani. Crassula alba Red flowers. Giant’s Castle. Crassula brachypetala Herb with starry white flowers. Giant’s Castle. Crassula dependens Sharp-tipped leaves at right angles to stems. White flowers. Sani. Crassula natalensis Leaves in basal rosette. Flowers small, petals recurved, white or pink. Lesotho. Crassula natans Aquatic herb. Sani. Crassula pellucida Leaves sharp tipped, flowers in terminal inflorescence, white tinged pink. Witsieshoek. var.brachypetala. Port Edward. Crassula sarcocaulis ssp.rupicola Shrublet. White flowers. Sani. Crassula setulosa Mats of leaf rosettes, terminal clusters of white flowers. Witsieshoek and Sani. Crassula vaginata Stems leafy, yellow flowers. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle.

Cucurbitaceae Zehneria scabra Trailing herb, leaves with rough white dots, small white flowers, hairy yellow to red or brown fruits. Giant’s Castle. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 19

Cunoniaceae Cunonia capensis Butterspoon Tree.

Dipsacaceae Cephalaria galpiniana ssp.simplicior Basal leaves with small lobes. Sani. Cephalaria natalensis Robust herb with large compound leaves. Cephalaria oblongifolia To 1m, leaves in basal rosettes, margins entire. Giant’s Castle. Port Edward. Scabiosa columbaria Small Scabious. Native here as well as in Europe. Scattered records, e.g. Witsieshoek, Lesotho, Sani. Scabiosa drakensbergensis Drakensberg Scabious. Large perennial herb, leaves deeply divided. Giant’s Castle.

Droseraceae Drosera natalensis Giant’s Castle.

Ebenaceae Diospyros austro-africana Fire-sticks Star Apple. Lesotho. Diospyros whyteana Bladder-nut. Scattered records. Euclea crispa Blue Guarri. Giant’s Castle.

Ericaceae Erica aestiva Sticky pink flowers. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle. Erica alopecuros Foxtail Erica. Spikes of pink flowers. Lesotho. Erica thodei Dwarf shrublet with white to pink flowers. Sani. Erica woodii Flowers white, stigmas just exserted. Day 4. Erica spp. Other species, most not in flower, unidentified.

Euphorbiaceae Acalypha punctata Male and female plants separate. Giant’s Castle. Euphorbia clavarioides Lion’s Spoor. Cushionlike succulent. Bracts bright yellow. Witsieshoek and Sani. Euphorbia epicyparissias Subshrub, bracts large and yellowish green tinged red. Sani. Euphorbia ericoides Leaves closely packed and erica-like. Port Edward. Euphorbia striata Herb with red leaf margins. Witsieshoek and Golden Gate. Euphorbia woodii Dwarf succulent. Cyathia yellow. Port Edward. Phyllanthus meyerianus Port Edward.

Fabaceae Abrus laevigatus Mauve to cream flowers clustered towards tips of terminal inflorescence. Port Edward. Acacia karoo Sweet Thorn. Spionkop etc. Acacia melanoxylon Australian Blackwood. Widespread. Acacia nilotica Scented-pod Thorn. Spionkop. Acacia sieberana Paperbark Thorn. Spionkop etc. Argyrolobium marginatum Silvery hairy herb, leaf margins golden, yellow flowers 10-15mm. Giant’s Castle. Aspalathus chortophyla Shrublet with yellow flowers. Port Edward.

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Calpurnia sericea Mountain Calpurnia. Small yellow flowers in erect terminal bunches. Giant’s Castle. Chamaecrista mimosoides Fishbone Dwarf Cassia. Annual with sensitive leaves and yellow flowers. Port Edward. Desmodium dregeanum Marsh Desmodium. Port Edward. Desmodium repandum Orange Desmodium. Day 7 forest. Eriosema grayii Port Edward. Indigastrum fastigiatum Slender Indigo. Small pink flowers. Port Edward. Indigofera are herbs or shrubs with pink flowers, the keel petals with a sac or spur. Indigofera hedyantha Black-bud Indigo. Shrublet, flowers red with darker spot in centre, standard covered in golden silky hairs, calyx covered in black hairs. Giant’s Castle. Indigofera hendechophylla Port Edward. Indigofera tristis Velvety Indigo. Port Edward. Lessertia perennans Shrublet with large inflorescence of pink flowers. Sani. Lotononis corymbosa Perennial, flowers yellow turning orange-red. Giant’s Castle. Lotononis eriantha Russet Lotononis. Shrublet, flowers yellow turning reddish brown, densely hairy. Witsieshoek. Lotononis galpinii Solitary blue flowers with white eye. Sani. Lotononis lotonoides Shrublet with long inflorescence of blue flowers. Scattered records, e.g. Witsieshoek, Giant’s Castle, Sani. Lotononis sericophylla Silky with blue and yellow flowers. Sani. Melilotus albus White Melilot. Golden Gate. Ophrestia oblongifolia Creeping herb with white to lilac flowers, calyx densely golden hairy. Port Edward. Otholobium polystictum Shrub with pale blue flowers. Giant’s Castle. Pseudarthria hookeri Bug-catcher. Robust shrub with pink flowers. Howick. Psoralea glabra Narrow-leaf Fountain-bush. Shrub with linear leaflets and blue flowers. Umtamvuna Nature Reserve. Psoralea sp. Subshrub with fine leaflets and bright blue flowers. Riverside at Giant’s Castle. An undescribed species. Rhynchosia cooperi Trailing herb. Leaves held erect, inflorescence erect. Giant’s Castle. Rhynchosia sp. Another species present at Giant’s Castle. Sphenostylis angustifolia Wild Sweetpea Bush. Large magenta flowers. Tephrosia capensis Subshrub with pinnate leaves and pink or purple flowers. De Hoop. Tephrosia grandiflora Large magenta flowers. Port Edward. Tephrosia macropoda Creeping Tephrosia. Pink flowers. Port Edward. Trifolium burchellianum Wild Clover. Pink flowers. Widespread. Vigna unguiculata Trailing herb, white to purple flowers on erect stems. Port Edward. Vigna vexillata Trailing creeper with lilac to purple flowers. Port Edward. Zornia natalensis Port Edward.

Fagaceae Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak. Alien.

Flacourtiaceae Scolopia mundii Red Thorn-pear. Forest on Day 9. Trimeria grandiflora Wild-mulberry. Giant’s Castle. Greentours Natural History Holidays www.greentours.co.uk 21

Fumariaceae Cysticapnos pruinosa Climbing annual with small pink flowers and inflated fruits. Sani.

Gentianaceae Chironia sp. Day 5. Sani Pass. Sebaea are herbs often with angled or winged stems. Flowers usually yellow, sometimes white. Sebaea grandis Large white flowers. Witsieshoek. Sebaea natalensis Anthers tipped with small round gland. Day 4. Sebaea sedoides Small yellow flowers. Howick. Sebaea sp.nov White flowers. A very local endemic. Port Edward. Sebaea spp. Several were unidentified.

Geraniaceae Geranium drakensbergensis Blue-purple flowers in pairs. Sani. Geranium magniflorum Leaves less divided than following species, large pink to purple flowers. Lesotho. Geranium multisectum Leaves finely divided, flowers violet to magenta. Lesotho and Sani. Geranium pulchrum Leaves large and deeply lobed, large pink flowers. Sani. Geranium schlechteri Leaves lobed, small pink or white veined pink flowers. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle. Geranium wakkerstroomianum White Geranium. White flowers veined pink or red. Giant’s Castle. Monsonia attenuata Large whitish flowers. Giant’s Castle. Pelargonium capituliforme Very small flowers in crowded heads. Sani. Pelargonium luridum Waving Pelargonium. Leaves deeply lobed. Giant’s Castle, cream flowers. Pink flowers at Howick.

Gesneriaceae Streptocarpus gardenii Lower lip of flower pale violet with deep violet broken lines. Widespread in forests. Streptocarpus sp. Forest on day 9.

Greyiaceae Greya sutherlandii Natal Bottlebrush Tree. Giant’s Castle.

Gunneraceae Gunnera purpensa Wild Rhubarb. Leaves large, spikes of tiny brown flowers. Scattered records.

Hypericaceae Hypericum forrestii Alien shrub. Naturalised at Giant’s Castle.

Icacinaceae Apodytes abbottii Pondo White-pear. Port Edward. Apodytes dimidiata White-pear. Howick.

Kiggelariaceae Kiggelaria africana Wild Peach. Scattered records.

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Lamiaceae Aeollanthus parvifolius Pink Spur Bush. Shrublet, pink to white flowers in much branched inflorescence. Port Edward. Leonotis intermedia Broad-leaved Leonotis. Leaf stalks short. Scattered records. Leonotis leonurus Narrow-leaved Leonotis. Whorls of orange tubular flowers. Day 9. Leucas martinicensis Tumble Weed. Small white flowers in well spaced crowded clusters. Spionkop. Mentha aquatica Water Mint. Giant’s Castle and Underberg area. Plectranthus dolichopodus Blue flowers. Forest on Day 7 and 9. Plectranthus fruticosus Forest Spur-flower. Flowers pale to deep mauve. Scattered forest records. Plectranthus grallatus Tuberous Spur-flower. Shrub with flowers white flushed pink. Giant’s Castle. Pycnostachys reticulata Slender Pycnostachys. Mauve flowers in dense terminal spikes. Marshes at Giant’s Castle. Rabdosiella calycinus Upland Fly Bush. Coarse herb with dense leafy spikes of cream flowers tipped purple. Giant’s Castle. Stachys aethiopica White to pink flowers. Giant’s Castle. Stachys tubulosa Mauve Sage. c.12mm pink flecked mauve flowers. Scattered forest records. Syncolostemon parviflorus Small-flowered White Plume. To 1m, white to pinkish flowers. Howick.

Lentibulariaceae Utricularia livida Flowers mauve. Port Edward.

Linaceae Linum thunbergii Yellow flowers. Scattered records e.g. Witsieshoek and Golden Gate.

Loganiaceae Gomphostigma virgatum River Stars. Giant’s Castle riverside.

Malvaceae Hermannia are shrublets or perennials with small yellow, red or pink flowers with spirally twisted petals and globular to bell-shaped calyces. A very complex genus with many recently discovered and undesribed species. Hermannia woodii Flowers few on long stalks, pink, red, or creamy yellow. Witsieshoek, Giant’s Castle and Sani. Hibiscus aethiopicus Common Dwarf Wild Hibiscus. Flowers creamy yellow. West of Underberg. Hibiscus tiliaceus Lagoon Hibiscus. Small tree with large yellow flowers. Coast. Hibiscus trionum Bladder Hibiscus. Flowers cream-yellow with red centre. Scattered records, e.g. Golden Gate NP. Modiola carolinianum Annual herb with red flowers. Day 6. Sida rhombifolia

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Melastomataceae Dissotis canescens Pink Marsh Dissotis. Shrub with striking magenta flowers. Marshes at Howick and Port Edward.

Meliaceae Melia azedarach Persian Lilac. Trichilia dregeana Forest Natal Mahogany. Port Edward area. Turraea floribunda Honeysuckle Tree. Lunch spot Day 9.

Melianthaceae Trees or shrubs. Racemes of green, brown or red flowers. Sepals 5, petals 4 or 5. Melianthus villosus Maroon Honey-flower. Densely hairy leaves, fruit inflated and 4- angled. Witsieshoek and Giant’s Castle.

Molluginaceae Psammotropha obtusa Small mats with leaves crowded in rosettes at branch tips. Witsieshoek. Psammotropha sp. Another species at Giant’s Castle.

Moraceae Ficus sur Cape Fig. Day 9.

Myricaceae Morella serrata Lance-leaved Waxberry. Shrub with narrow leaves with entire to deeply serrate margins, yellow gland dots beneath, aromatic. Giant’s Castle.

Myrsinaceae Myrsine africana Cape Myrtle. Scattered records, e.g. Golden Gate and Giant’s Castle. Rapanea melanophloeos Cape Beech. UMN.

Myrtaceae Psidium guajava

Oleaceae Olea europaea ssp.africana

Oliniaceae Olinia emarginata Mountain Hard Pear. Giant’s Castle.

Onagraceae Epilobium capense Flowers white, stigma 4-lobed. Lesotho marshes. Epilobium salignum Flowers white turning pink after pollination. Stigma entire. Giant’s Castle riverside. Oenothera rosea Rose Evening Primrose. Small pink flowers. Alien. Widespread. Oenothera sp. An evening primrose. Large yellow flowers.

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Orobanchaceae Harveya pulchra Parasitic herb. Pink flowers. Gone over at Sani. Harveya speciosa Tall White Ink-flower. Parasitic herb. White flowers. Scattered records, e.g. Witsieshoek, and Giant’s Castle.

Oxalidaceae Oxalis depressa Hairless, leaflets often purple below, flowers pink or white. Giant’s Castle. Oxalis obliquifolia Oblique-leaved Sorrel. Leaflets broader than long with long hairs near base of stalk. Solitary pink flowers. Rather widespread e.g. Witsieshoek and Golden Gate. Oxalis smithiana Narrow-leaved Sorrel. Deeply divided leaves with narrow lobes. In leaf in grassland near forest en route to Underberg.

Papaveraceae Papaver aculeatum Orange Poppy. Scattered records.

Plantaginaceae Plantago lanceolata Scattered records.

Plumbaginaceae Plumbago auriculata Rather common on Day 9.

Polygalaceae Polygala hottentotta Small Purple Broom. Perennial with pink flowers. Scattered records. Polygala ohlendorfiana Slender herb with deep pink flowers. Giant’s Castle and Day 7. Polygala refracta Day 9. Also this species at Port Edward? Polygala virgata Purple Broom. Shrub with large pink flowers. Giant’s Castle and Sani.

Polygonaceae Persicaria lapathifolia Persicaria serrulata Marshy area at Howick. Rumex sagittatus Climbing Dock. Rumex woodii Scattered records, e.g. Giant’s Castle.

Proteaceae Trees or shrubs. Sometimes dioecious. Inflorescence often with colourful bracts. Sepals 4, petals absent. Ovary superior. Fruit a woody nutlet, often aggregated into a cone. Grevillea robusta Australian Silky Oak. Alien. Protea are shrubs or small trees, with flowers in terminal heads, surrounded by large colourful bracts. Protea caffra Common Protea/Sugarbush. Small tree, light green leaves, bracts pink or cream, flowers white. Locally dominant Giant’s Castle and Sani. Protea dracomontana Drakensberg Dwarf Protea/Sugarbush. Dwarf shrub with flowers 40 to 60 mm, creamy yellow, pink, to red. Locally dominant with a few in flower on lower Sani Pass road.

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Protea roupelliae Silver Protea/Sugarbush. Small tree, dark bluish green leaves. Inner bracts spoon-shaped and deep pink, flowers densely hairy and pink to red. Widespread and locally common, Golden Gate, Giant’s Castle, Sani. Protea subvestita Lip-flower Protea/Sugarbush. Small tree, leaves grey, flowerheads narrow, bracts creamy white, pink, to carmine, tips of inner bractsfolded back. Some in fine flower along lower Sani road.

Ranunculaceae Clematis brachiata Widespread, some in good flower. Ranunculus multifidus Leaves deeply divided. Giant’s Castle etc. Thalictrum rhynchocarpum Herbaceous shrub. Giant’s Castle etc.

Rhamnaceae Phylica are shrubs or small trees. Leaves ericoid, flowers often grouped in heads, calyx woolly or hairy outside. Phylica thodei Rigid small shrub, sepals densely covered in white woolly hairs. Witsieshoek. Phylica spp. Other species unidentified Rhamnus prinoides Glossy-leaf.

Rosaceae Agrimonia procera Day 9 roadsides. Alchemilla sp. Lesotho. Duchesnea indica False Strawberry. Alien. Forest Day 9. Geum capensis Noted in leaf in Lesotho. Leucosidea sericea Oldwood. Small tree, flaking bark, greyish white leaves. Widespread and often dominant in scrub. Rubus cuneifolius American Bramble. Alien. Scattered records. Rubus ludwigii Silver Bramble. Underside of leaves white-woolly. Scattered records.

Rubiaceae Anthospermum are shrubs or herbs with narrow often whorled leaves. Flowers small. Anthospermum hispidulum Port Edward. Burchellia bubalina Tree. Howick. Canthium inerme Turkey-berry. UMN. Conostomium natalense Wild Pentas. Port Edward. Galium capense Scrambling glabrescent perennial. Leaves in whorls of 6 to 10. A few records, e.g. Witsieshoek. Pentanisia angustifolia Almost hairless, narrow leaves. Day 9. Pentanisia prunelloides Broad-leaved Pentanisia. Leaves hairy to hairless. Dense inflorescence of purplish flowers. Howick etc. Psydrax obovata Quar. Zizi Lodge.

Rutaceae Trees or shrubs. Often aromatic. Frequently ericoid. Leaves dotted with oil glands. Flowers mostly white to pink. Sepals and petals 5 (rarely 4). Ovary superior. Zanthoxylum davyi Forest Knobwood. Forest on Day 7.

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Salicaceae Populus x canescens Grey Poplar. Alien. Widespread. Populus nigra italica Lombardy Poplar. Alien. Salix babylonica Weeping Willow. Alien.. Salix mucronata Small-leaf Willow. Native. Near Giant’s Castle.

Santalaceae Osyris lanceolata Hemiparasitic shrub. Witsieshoek. Thesium are hemiparasites with perianth lobes and stamens 5. Thesium pallidum This species seen? Thesium spp. Other species probaly seen too.

Sapotaceae Sideroxylon inerme White-milkwood.

Scrophulariaceae Alectra sessiliflora Hemiparasitic herb with yellow flowers. Toothed leaflike bracts. A few records, e.g. Port Edward. Bowkeria verticillata Southern Shell-flower. Small tree. Giant’s Castle. Buchnera are pernnial herbs, often parasitic, with regular flowers. Buchnera dura Flower tube softly hairy. Port Edward. Buchnera simplex Leaves basal, heads of small blue to lilac flowers. Flower tube +/- hairless. Cycnium are perennial parasitic herbs with large nearly regular flowers. Cycnium racemosum Large Pink Ink Plant. Large pink flowers turn black when bruised. Witsieshoek and Sani. Cycnium tubulosum Marshy ground, less robust than previous species. Port Edward. Diascia have mostly purple flowers with bright yellow windows, lower petal with pouches or spurs. Diascia anastrepta Upturned Twinspur. Flowers pink with concave window, conspicuous spurs spread wide, tips upturned. Sani. Diascia barberae Large pink flowers, two patches of dark glands on palate, conspicuous incurved spurs. Diascia integerrima Flowers pale pink. Spurs incurved at tips, pointing downwards. Witsieshoek and Sani. Diclis reptans Dwarf Snapdragon. Sprawling herb with white flowers with violet spots, palate yellow, spur slender, violet. Giant’s Castle. Diclis rotundifolia Has shorter and broader spur than previous species, less toothes leaves. Giant’s Castle. Glumicalyx are perennial herbs or shrublets with cylindrical flowers in nodding inflorescence. Genus endemic to Eastern Mountain Region. Glumicalyx goseloides Flower tube 20 to 29mm. Sani. Glumicalyx nutans Flower tube 12 to 16mm. Sani. Halleria lucida Tree Fuchsia. Small tree with orange flowers. Giant’s Castle. Hebenstretia have sessile flowers in dense spikes, white usually with orange fleck at the base of petals. Hebenstretia cooperi Soft wooded shrub. Sani. Hebenstretia dura Perennial herb. Sani. Jamesbrittenia are shrubs or herbs with glands. Corolla regular. Jamesbrittenia aurantiaca Red or orange flowers. Service station stop on the arrival day! Jamesbrittenia breviflora Large brick-red flowers. Sani.

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Jamesbrittenia pristisepala Dwarf shrublet with lilac flowers. Witsieshoek, Lesotho, Sani. Limosella are aquatic herbs, flowers among leaves. Limosella longiflora Leaves needle-shaped. Leaves very pale blue to pink. Sani. Limosella vesiculosa Leaves roundish, flowers white, calyx tube wrinkled from bladdery swellings. Lesotho and Sani. Nemesia have strongly 2-lipped flowers, rather snapdragon like. Nemesia rupicola Clustered white to mauve flowers, palate yellow. Sani. Nemesia sylvatica White Forest-Nemesia. Large white flowers. Day 9. Phygelius are shrubs. Phygelius aequalis Tubular red flowers with equal mouth. Sani. Phygelius capensis Tubular red flowers with oblique mouth. Lesotho and Sani. Selago are shrubs or herbs with small flowers often in many flowered heads. Selago densiflora Clusters of white flowers. Scattered records. Selago galpinii Heads of blue-violet flowers. Witsieshoek, Lesotho, etc. Selago tarachodes Compact inflorescence of white flowers. Port Edward. Sopubia cana Silvery Sopubia. Parasitic herb. Silvery grey with pink flowers. Witsieshoek, Golden Gate, Giant’s Castle, etc. Sopubia simplex Nearly hairless. Port Edward. Striga are parasitic herbs. Striga asiatica Red flowers. Day 7 roadside. Striga bilabiata Lilac 2-lipped flowers. Golden Gate and Giant’s Castle. Sutera floribunda Aromatic perennial herb with many white flowers. Giant’s Castle. Sutera patriotica Pink flowers with yellow-orange tube. Sani etc. Zaluzianskya, Drumstick Flowers, have flowers with 5 more or less similar lobes, the lobes often notched or forked. Zaluzianskya microsiphon Short-tubed Drumsticks. Flower has two upward facing lobes and three downward, pink outside, white inside. Witsieshoek. Zaluzianskya ovata Corolla limb held horizontally. White inside, pink outside. Sani.

Solanaceae Physalis viscosa Wild Gooseberry. Alien, day 7. Solanum mauritianum Bugweed. Alien. Scattered records.

Thymelaeaceae Small trees or shrubs, often ericoid. Inflorescence a spike or head. Flowers white, yellow or pinkish, tubular, sepals 4 or 5, petals replaced by 4, 8, or 12 scale-like appendages. Ovary superior. Gnidia are often ericoid, flowers usually in heads, usually white or yellow, membranous or fleshy petal scales in the mouth of the fused sepal tube. Gnidia anthylloides Flowers bright lemon yellow. Port Edward. Gnidia polyantha Silky subshrub with crowded heads of bright yellow flowers. Giant’s Castle and Sani. Gnidia triplinervis Flowers yellow, calyx tube silky. Port Edward. Passerina has small cream or reddish flowers. Passerina montana Small creamy flowers in profusion in terminal clusters. Lesotho and Giant’s Castle.

Tiliaceae Grewia occidentalis Cross-berry Raisin.

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Urticaceae Urtica sp. Forest on Day 7.

Verbenaceae Lantana camara Alien. Phyla nodiflora Alien. Port Edward. Verbena aristigera Fine-leaved Verbena. Alien. Widespread. Numerous at Spionkop. Verbena bonariensis Tall Verbena. Alien. Very widespread.

Violaceae Hybanthus enneaspermus Lady’s Slipper. Pink flowers with lowest petal pouched at base. Port Edward.

Vitaceae Rhoicissus tridentata Bushman’s Grape. Giant’s Castle.

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Systematic List Number 2 Birds

Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Widespread. Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis Day 9. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Spionkop. White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata Scattered records. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Clarens. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca Scattered records. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Widespread in small numbers. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Sterkfontein Dam. Black Stork Ciconia nigra 4 near Giant’s Castle. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Howick. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Scattered records, e.g. Sani. African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Widespread in small numbers. Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus Near Giant’s Castle, and Day 3. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash Common and widespread. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus South of Johannesburg. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Widespread and reasonably common. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala Widespread singletons. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Scattered records. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Scattered records. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Scattered records. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Day 3. Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus Reasonably common. White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus Day 7. Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius 2 at Golden Gate. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus Scattered records. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius Scattered records, widespread. Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) Gypaetus barbatus Golden Gate and Sani. Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres Golden Gate. African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus A few records. Common (Steppe) Buzzard Buteo [buteo] vulpinus Widespread and common. Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Scattered records. Wahlberg’s Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi 1 on Day 9. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis A few records, mostly Underberg area. Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus Golden Gate etc.. Amur Falcon Falco amurensis Widespread and abundant. Blue Korhaan Eupodotis coerulescens Near Clarens. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata Scattered records. Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum Underberg area. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Day 1. Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus Widespread. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Scattered records. White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus Day 9. Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua Quiver Tree Forest and Karoo 2009. 2012 heard at Nieuwoudtville. Common Pigeon Columba livia Feral Pigeon, towns, common and widespread. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea Scattered records. African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix Afromontane forest.

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Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Widespread. Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola Widespread and common. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Widespread. Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus 9+ seen superbly in afromontane forest on Day 7. Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix Afromontane forest on Day 7 and Day 9. Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius Heard at Golden Gate and Spionkop etc. African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus Heard in afromontane forest. Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius Giant’s Castle (PGC), and heard elsewhere. Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus Seen at the Galtonia candicans site. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Scattered records, rather widespread. Common Swift Apus apus De Hoop 2011. African Black Swift Apus barbatus Widespread and locally common. Little Swift Apus affinis Scattered records. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Widespread. Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus Giant’s Castle. African Hoopoe Upupa africana Spionkop. Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus Heard at the first Lesotho border post. Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis Seen at Underberg. Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus 2 in Lesotho. Cape Batis Batis capensis Forest at Giant’s Castle. Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus Heard in forest on Day 9. Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus Scattered records. Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus Heard at Giant’s Castle. Common Fiscal Lanius collaris Widespread. Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus Scattered records. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis Widespread. Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas Heard in forest on Day 7. Cape Crow Corvus capensis Widespread and reasonably common. Pied Crow Corvus albus Widespread and very common. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis Scattered records. Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius Lesotho and Sani. Southern Black Tit Parus niger Day 9. Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana Spionkop, Howick. Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota Spionkop. Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata Day 1. Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris Heard in Lesotho. African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans Golden Gate. Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor Widespread and common. Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus Heard in afromontane forest. Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris Afromontane forest on Day 7. Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera Giant’s Castle. Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola Day 1 etc. Banded Martin Riparia cincta Widespread. White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis Scattered records, e.g. Golden Gate. Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cucullata Widespread and very common. Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula Widespread. South African Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon spilodera Day 1 etc. Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia Heard in forest on Day 7. Dark-capped Yellow Warbler Iduna natalensis Heard at Giant’s Castle.

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Fan-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola brevirostris Heard at Giant’s Castle. Barratt’s Warbler Bradypterus barratti Heard at various sites, e.g. Giant’s Castle. Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans Howick. Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais Common and widespread. Levaillant’s Cisticola Cisticola tinniens Golden Gate. Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis Heard at Howick. Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapill Heard at Howick, and in Lesotho. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Scattered records. Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus Heard in Underberg area. Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii Scattered records. Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha Scattered records, reasonably common. Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica Heard at Giant’s Castle. Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura Heard at Howick. Yellow-throated Woodland Phylloscopus ruficapilla Giant’s Castle. Warbler Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer Widespread, mainly heard. Bush Blackcap Lioptilus nigricapillus Seen very well at Giant’s Castle. Cape White-eye Zosterops capensis Scattered records. Gurney’s Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi Very good views at Giant’s Castle and Sani. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Around habitation. Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor Widespread and common. Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens Spionkop. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio Widespread and very common. Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus Spionkop. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus Underberg area. White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata Heard in forest on Day 7. Cape Robin-chat Cossypha caffra Widespread and reasonably common. Chorister Robin-chat Cossypha dichroa Giant’s Castle, forest on Day 7. White-browed Scrub-robin Eryhtropygia leucophrys Heard at Spionkop. African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus Widespread and common. Sickle-winged Chat Cercomela sinuata Lesotho and Sani. Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris Golden Gate and Spionkop. Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora Recorded. Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris Giant’s Castle. Sentinel Rock Thrush Monticola explorator Lesotho and Sani. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta Giant’s Castle. Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina Howick. Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa Scattered records. Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer Giant’s Castle. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Widespread. Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus Widespread. Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus Common. Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons Howick. Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis Widespread. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus Common. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus Howick. Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer Scattered records. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix Widespread and reasonably common. Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis Giant’s Castle. Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris Umgeni etc.

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White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Spionkop. Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens Widespread and reasonably common. Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne Common. African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata Giant’s Castle and Day 9. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Giant’s Castle. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Scattered records. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis Reasonably common. Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis Golden Gate. Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi Lesotho. African Rock Pipit Anthus crenatus Heard in Lesotho. Cape Canary Serinus canicollis Scattered records. Forest Canary Crithagra scotops Forest on Day 7. Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica Umgeni. Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris Lesotho. Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata Giant’s Castle. Streaky-headed Seedeater Crithagra gularis Day 8. Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi Lesotho and Sani. Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis Lesotho and Sani.

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Systematic List Number 3 Mammals

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

Sloggett’s Ice Rat Otomys sloggetti Seen very closely at Sani Pass. Porcupine Hystrix africaaustralis Quills at Howick. Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis Much in evidence at Giant’s Castle. Burchell’s Zebra Equus burchelli Rather widespread in small numbers, Golden Gate, Spionkop, Giant’s Castle, Howick. Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus Spionkop and Howick. Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Spionkop. Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou Seen very well at Golden Gate. Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus Spionkop. Tsessebe Damaliscus lunatus Golden Gate. Blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi Widespread and often numerous. Golden Gate, Spionkop, Howick. Impala Aepyceros melampus Spionkop and Howick. Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis Golden Gate and Day 9. Common Reedbuck Redunca arundinum Giant’s Castle and Underberg. Eland Taurotragus oryx Herds at Giant’s Castle and Spionkop. Nyala Tragelaphus angasii Howick. Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas Heard near Underberg. Some splendid hats worn by herders at Sani made from this species! Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea Lesotho. Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata Spionkop. Small Grey Mongoose Galerella pulverulenta Sani. Chacma Baboon Papio cynocephalus ursinus Scattered records, e.g. Golden Gate, Giant’s Castle, Sani. Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops Port Edward area. Aardvark Orycteropus afer A burrow at Howick. Bat spp. Several seen but unidentified.

Systematic List Number 4 Amphibians and Reptiles

Bush Squeaker Arthroleptis wahlbergi Heard at Zizi Lodge. Bushveld Rain Frog Breviceps adspersus Heard at Witsieshoek. Plaintive Rain Frog Breviceps verrucosus Heard at Witsieshoek and forest on Day 7. Guttural Toad Amietophrynus gutturalis Hella and Port Edward. Raucous Toad Amietophrynus rangeri Underberg. Painted Reed Frog Hyperolius marmoratus Heard at Zizi Lodge. Drakensberg River Frog Amietia dracomontana Lesotho. Natal Midlands Dwarf Bradypodion thamnobates Seen one evening in Underberg. Chameleon

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Systematic List Number 5 Butterflies

The standard work is ‘Pennington’s Butterflies of Southern Africa’ second edition 1994, edited by Pringle et al. The excellent and much more portable ‘Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa’, by Steve Woodhall, Struik 2005 was used in the field. I have included foodplant (FP) details.

Papilionidae Papilio demodocus Citrus Swallowtail Scattered records, e.g. Giant’s Castle, Spionkop. FP: citrus, Toddalia asiatica, Calodendrum capense, Zanthoxyllum capense, Foeniculum vulgare, etc. etc. Papilio dardanus cenea Mocker Swallowtail Day 9. FP: Xymalos monospora, Oricia swynnertonii, Teclea spp., Clausena anisata, Vepris lanceolata, Toddalia asiatica. Papilio ophidocephalus Emperor Swallowtail Forest on Day 7. FP: Clausena anistata, Zanthoxylum capense and Calodendron capense.

Pieridae Eronia leda Autumn-leaf Vagrant Several on Day 9. FP: Capparis tomentosa. Colotis auxo Sulphur Orange Tip Day 9. FP: Cadaba spp. Belenois creona severina African Common White Day 9. FP: Boscia spp., Maerua spp., Capparis spp. Belenois gidica abyssinica African Veined White Day 9. FP: Capparis sp. Dixeia charina African Small White Day 9. FP: Capparis sepiaria. Pontia helice Meadow White Widespread. FP: Heliophila spp. and other crucifers. Mylothris agathina Common Dotted Border A few records. FP: Tapinanthus oleifolius, Ximenia caffra, Osyris lanceolata, Colpoon compressum etc. Catopsilia florella African Migrant Widespread. FP: Senna spp. Eurema hecabe solifera Common Grass Yellow A few records. FP: Hypericum aethiopicum and Chamaecrista mimosoides. Eurema brigitta Broad-bordered or Small Spionkop. FP: Hypericum aethiopicum and Grass Yellow Chamaecrista mimosoides.

Lycaenidae Lycaeninae Cacyreus tespis Water Bronze Giant’s Castle riverside. FP: Geranium spp. and Pelargonium spp. Cacyreus marshalli Geranium Bronze Howick. FP: Geranium spp. and Pelargonium spp. Lampides boeticus Long-tailed Blue Giant’s Castle. FP: Fabaceae. Harpendyreus noquasa Marsh Blue 1 at Giant’s Castle. FP: Alchemilla capensis. Lepidochrysops ketsi leucomacula Ketsi Blue 1 at Port Edward. FP: Selago spp. A very local endemic. Actizera lucida Rayed Blue Several at Howick. FP: Oxalis spp., Argyrolobium spp., Rhynchosia spp. and Crotalaria lanceolata.

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Zizeeria knysna Sooty Blue A few records. FP: Tribulus terrestris, Oxalis spp., Amaranthus deflexus, A.viridis, Medicago sativa, Zornia spp. Azanus natalensis Natal Spotted Blue Several at Howick. FP: Acacia spp. Chilades trochylus Grass Jewel Port Edward. FP: Indigofera cryptantha and Heliotropium spp.

Nymphalidae Danainae Danaus chrysippus African Monarch Widespread. FP: Asclepiadaceae. Amauris echeria Chief Day 9. FP: Cynanchum chirindense and Tylophora anomala.

Satyrinae Bicyclus safitza Common Bush Brown Day 9. FP: Grasses. Aeropetes tulbaghia Table Mountain Beauty or Pleasingly widespread, e.g. Golden Gate, Mountain Pride Giant’s Castle, Lesotho. FP: Grasses. Paralethe dendrophilus Bush Beauty or Forest Beauty Several at Giant’s Castle. Scattered elsewhere. FP: Grasses. Serradinga bowkeri Bowker’s Widow Oxbow, Lesotho. FP: Grasses. Cassionympha cassius Rainforest Brown Giant’s Castle. FP: Grasses. Pseudonympa paludis Paludis Brown Marsh in Lesotho. FP: Grasses. Pseudonympha machacha Machacha Brown Locally common in Lesotho. FP: Grasses. Stygionympha scotina Eastern Hillside Brown South African side of Sani. FP: Grasses.

Heliconiinae Acraea horta Garden Acraea Giant’s Castle etc. FP: Kiggelaria africana and Passiflora spp. Hyalites esebria Dusky Acraea Howick and Day 9. FP: Urtica spp., Laportea peduncularis, Urera spp., Obetia tenax, Pouzolzia parasitica. Pardopsis punctatissima Polka Dot Port Edward. FP: Hybanthus capensis.

Charaxinae Charaxes varanes Pearl Emperor 2+ on Day 9, also Port Edward. FP: Allophylus spp. and Cardiospermum halicacabum.

Limenitinae Neptis laeta Common Sailer Day 9. FP: Dalbergia spp., Albizia adianthifolia and Acalypha spp.

Biblidinae Byblia anvatara acheloia Common Joker Several on Day 9. FP: Tragia glabrata and Dalechampis capensis. Byblia ilithyia Spotted Joker Spionkop. FP: as previous species. Eurytela hiarbas angustata Pied Piper Day 9. FP: as previous species, plus Ricinus communis.

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Nymphalinae Hypolimnas misippus Common Diadem Day 9. FP: Asystasia gangetica, Portulaca spp., Talinum spp., and Ageratum houstonianum. Catacroptera cloanthe Pirate Spionkop. FP: Acanthaceae. Precis octavia sesamus Gaudy Commodore Giant’s Castle etc. FP: Plectranthus spp., Rabdosiella calycina, Pycnostachys spp. Precis ceryne Marsh Commodore Howick. FP: Pycnostachys reticulata, Plectranthus spp. Precis archesia Garden Commodore Day 9. FP: Plectranthus spp. Junonia hierta cebrene Yellow Pansy Giant’s Castle etc. FP: Acanthaceae. Cynthia cardui Painted Lady A few records. FP: Asteraceae etc.

Hesperiidae Pyrginae Celaenorrhinus mokeezi Large Sprite Several in afromontane forest, e.g. Giant’s Castle. FP: Isoglossa woodii. Tagiades flesus Clouded Flat Day 9. FP: Dioscorea cotonifolia. Spialia sp. Sandman sp. 1 at Giant’s Castle.

Hetropterinae Metisella malgacha Grassveld Sylph A few at Sani. FP: Ehrharta erecta.

Hesperiinae Swift sp. Spionkop. Gegenes niso Common Hottentot Skipper Day 9. FP: Grasses.

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