New localities for threatened plant species

Expect the unexpected is an appropriate description for two new localities for Senecio triodontiphyllus C. Jeffrey – one in Mountainlands Nature Reserve, Barberton and the other on Wits University’s Pullen Nature Reserve in the Crocodile Gorge Mountains.

One can be excused for thinking the “special” plants always grow in remote, inaccessible corners and not right under one’s nose in regularly traversed areas. With several herbaceous species sporting bright yellow, daisy like flowers in the grasslands and wooded grasslands one would normally not blink twice when looking at them. But this Senecio stands out due to its interesting architecture – large, sweetly scented leaves with double serrated margins growing from the base  up and inflorescences on long stems at the top.

The first collection of this species was made by botanist and banker Ernest Galpin back in 1890 and it was given the name Senecio trifurcatus Klatt which was subsequently changed. According to the Red List of South African Plants it was known from three collections made before 1930. It was rediscovered in 2008 at one of the historical locations and again in the north of Mountainlands Nature Reserve in 2012. It was collected in March 2013 in the Crocodile Gorge Mountains making it the first discovery for that area and of which the details can now be added to the range in which it occurs. The 2018 discovery in Mountainlands makes it the second locality in the reserve for this species endemic to the area between Barberton and Kaapmuiden. Endemic means it occurs nowhere else in the world.

Senecio triodontiphyllus is classified as Vulnerable (VU).  So what does it mean? Threatened species are divided into different categories according to national assessments and this information is contained in the Red List of South African Plants. Vulnerable means that the available evidence indicates that the plant is facing a high risk of extinction as it meets at least one of five IUCN criteria that are used for defining its status. Thus, adding the two new localities is good news for this special plant in need of protection.

Below follow some photos of insects and ectoparasites (ticks) benefitting from the inflorescences

 

What’s in bloom now

It is late winter on Mountainlands Nature Reserve. The golden yellow of the veld has morphed into a light brown and the air is filled with a dry, lulling haze. Back burns have been made and block burns to bring new life to moribund patches. Some plants only flower when stimulated by fire; putting up a showy display against a black backdrop.  When taking a stroll you may come across some of the following:

Tetradenia riparia (Ginger-bush), a semi-succulent multi-stemmed shrub.The crushed leaves have a strong ginger like scent. These plants tend to stick to the rocky hillsides and dry, wooded grasslands.

The Erica drakensbergensis shrubs that grow on Mountainlands don’t read their “when to flower” manual  and can be found blooming in winter and early summer in the grasslands and higher lying forest margins.

Aloe chortolirioides is a striking grass aloe that often flowers in response to fire.

An outstanding feature of  Halleria lucida (Tree Fuchsia) is the flowers that sometimes grow in dense clusters on old wood. The trees can be seen growing along streams or in the higher lying grasslands.

Easy to miss due to their size of about 20cm tall. Drimia depressa in bloom in the grasslands after fire.

Flowering mostly in summer, Asclepias stellifera can also be seen in bloom after grassland fires.

 

Apodolirion buchananii (Natal Crocus)  is a small bulbous plant that is easy to miss. It flowers after burns and colours vary from white to pink.

Cyrtanthus galpinii is exceptionally beautiful and flowers in winter with a preference to partial shade.

Brachystelma pygmaeum subsp. pygmaeam is a low growing herb that occurs in rocky grasslands. Due to its tiny size, its bright yellow colour is best spotted after a burn.

The  brightscarlet flowers of Erythrina  lysistemon (Sacred Coral-tree) appears before the leaves  making the trees stand out in the veld.

Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild pear) seems to prefer a certain elevation on Mountainlands. Many small trees can be seen flowering together wrapping themselves like a white girdle around the mountains.