Journal of the Cycad Society of South Africa ENCEPHALARTOS Tydskrif van die Broodboom Vereniging van Suid-Afrika No. 104 June 2011 ISSN 1012-9987 A cycad hunting trip to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (KZN) Philip* & Robert Rousseau Kwazulu-Natal plays host to the most cycad species of any province on the African continent—15 including the world-renowned Encephalartos woodii extinct from the Ngoya forest and the only species of Stangeria, S. eriopus (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife 2004). These are spread along the mountain ranges, forest pockets, grasslands and coastal regions of the eastern section of South Africa. Many of the species found within the province are pro- tected in Nature Reserves, one such being the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. The reserve is a short drive from Port Edward around 140 km south from Durban and costs only R10 for day visitors. When entering the reserve from the coast you wind yourself down into the gorge surrounded by pristine forest ending at the bottom in the Umzimkulu river. Driving back up along the gorge we discovered our first cycad when a sudden clearing in the forest gave way to grassland right next the roadside (Figure 1, 2). The immediately identi- fication impression was that of E. caffer unknown to us to occur in KwaZulu-Natal at the time. Closer inspection (Figure 3) however confirmed the identification and sub- sequent literature has confirmed this very rare disjunct population of E. caffer growing in the oribi flats (Grobbe- laar 2002; Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife 2004). What a sight, jammed in between to large rock-slabs competing with various other species two classic grassland form E. caf- Figure 2.—: E. caffer with roadside in background. fer individuals (Figure 4). On the way over too the plants Figure 1.—: E. caffer. *[email protected], Cycad Forum Username: ARTICLES Philip_Rousseau (http://cycadforum.co.za/) Figure 3.—: E. caffer leaf detail. 30 Encephalartos June 2011 No. 104 Figure 4.—: Two E. caffer individuals growing in a rock crevasse. Figure 5.—: S. eriopus camouflaged between grassland vegetation. Figure 8.—: E. natalensis growing on a cliff top. Figure 6.—: S. eriopus grassland form leaf detail Figure 9.—: E. natalensis habit in dense forest habitat. ARTICLES however another cycad was almost trampled on, S. erio- pus (Figure 5). So well disguised was this species that only at closer examination was multiple other individuals discovered in the immediate surroundings. These all dis- played the classic grassland form leaves (Figure 6) and some destroyed but germinated seeds were found. Mov- ing on the next cycad to reveal itself was some specimens of a large stemmed cycad growing along some shear cliffs (Figure 7, 8), by elimination of cycads found in the re- Figure 7.—: E. natalensis growing on a vertical cliff. gion we concluded this must be E. natalensis. Our guess No. 104 June 2011 Encephalartos 31 Figure 11.—: E. villosus numerous individuals in habitat. Figure 10.—: E. natalensis leaf detail. Figure 12.—: E. villosus with long spreading leaves and non-emergent stem. however was quickly substantiated by another roadside discovery peeking out from the dense forest vegetation (Figure 9)—undoubtedly E. natalensis (Figure 10). This colony was found (Figure 16) displaying the truly gigantic individual had multiple suckers with leaves crisscrossing leaves (Figure 17) of the forest form, unfortunately no each other from every direction competing for what little seeds or seedlings were found. This however was the last light the dense forest canopy would relinquish. Moving on cycad found on our trip as no one we questioned knew and taking one of the shorter hiking trails we found our where the E. ghellinckii plants were. next cycad, E. villosus. The trails winds along the gorge in deep very moist but well draining forest. This reserve All in all then a very profitable trip through a pristine boasts a rather large colony spread out over a wide area nature reserve teeming with cycads, a must for true lov- with many possibly hundreds of mature specimens (Fig- ers of cycads in their natural surroundings. And despite ure 11). Plants often had enormous spreading leaves (Fig- the disappointment of not seeing one of the most arrest- ure 12, 13) with a clear subterranean habit (Figure 12, ing cycads in habitat we left the reserve with a sense of 13). Reproduction does occur with some seedling recruit- awe surrounding cycads in their natural habitats. Never ment witnessed (Figure 14). Satisfied we had made good as well presented as their cultivated counterparts, these discoveries we then set out towards information services plants do however inspire a sense of occasion when seen to inquire about the notorious Oribi Gorge E. ghellinckii. in nature. Even the casual and oblivious observer would Once again right at the roadside a flash of fern-like foliage be left with a feeling of witnessing something special. I ARTICLES revealed another form of S. eriopus (Figure 15). A whole can simply imaging the sight and feeling when John Med- 32 Encephalartos June 2011 No. 104 Figure 15.—: S. eriopus found next to roadside. Figure 13.—: E. villosus with initially erect leaves spreading in time. Figure 16.—: S. eriopus forest colony. Figure 14.—: E. villosus with seedlings germinating under parent. ley Wood discovered E. woodii in habitat. What a crime ARTICLES it would be to force future generation to have to do the same with numerous other species. References EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE. 2004. A management plan for cycads in KwaZulu-Natal. Available online: http://www.cycadsg.org/publica- tions/KwaZulu-Natal-Cycad-Management-Plan-2004.pdf GROBBELAAR, N. 2002. Cycads—with special reference too southern African species. Pretoria, South Africa. Figure 17.—: S. eriopus forest form leaf detail. No. 104 June 2011 Encephalartos 33 back cover and inside back.indd 2 6/15/2011 4:21:13 PM.