Rare orchid found

Mountainlands recently delighted yet another enthusiastic group of greenies. The field trip arranged by the Mpumalanga Plant Specialist Group (PSG) was also attended by members of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) Programme. The trip yielded a couple of unexpected and rare plant finds.

One of the highlights was Eulophia chlorantha. This green flowered orchid is recorded from only a few localities and was last spotted in the area in the 1960’s. Finding Helichrysum calocephalum caused another ‘goosepump moment’. These slender plants with pinkish, clustered flower-heads were spotted at several places in the reserve.

The group also searched for Hypoxis patula which is now a synonym for Hypoxis henerocallidea. Little is known of this plant which is only known from the Saddleback Mountain on the reserve. Although they did not find this specific plant, seven other Hypoxis were identified.

Eulophia chlorantha

 

Come rain or shine, PSG members push on in the search for rare plants.

 

 

Services arriving

The construction of the electricity supply to Mountainlands Estate is progressing well. Bulk electricity is brought to the Estate by an overhead line and then distributed internally through an 11km underground network, along with the water reticulation. Water is drawn from two perennial springs. This will supply three phase electricity and potable water to each site.

The overhead line coming onto the reserve before going underground.

Contractor installing the electricity mainline.

Detailed geological map welcomed

(from right): Prof Christoph Heubeck discussing the geological map and report with Nico Oosthuizen, Sandy Ferrar and local ecologist Tony Ferrar.

In 2010 we reported on this blog about field research and detailed mapping being done by geology student Jonathan Engelhardt from the Free University of Berlin, Germany which included the southern parts of Mountainlands (See: Germans map geological features). His focus was on the farms Dycedale, De Bilt, Twello and Wonderscheur.

Recently his tutor, professor Christoph Heubeck, who Jonathan describes as a sedimentological guru, presented the final student report and map to the reserve. His study area mainly consisted of the Moodies Group (ca. 3.23 billion years old) of rocks, which include, among others, terrestrial and shallow-marine conditions.  We extend our appreciation to both Jonathan and Prof Heubeck as this report is a welcome addition to understanding the geology of the reserve.

A principle agreement was also reached for the Free University of Berlin to conduct further long term research in the reserve. The aim of this is to expand the knowledge of the unique geology of the central and northern sections of the Tentatively Listed World Heritage Site.

Grass aloes

Mountainlands is a sanctuary for several aloe species that occur from the low lying riverine forests into the higher lying grasslands. Grass aloes are some of the reserve’s special plant treasures and are so named because of their long, narrow leaves that have a grass like appearance and not because of their habitat.

Grass aloes are protected in South Africa and may not be disturbed nor may their seeds be collected, unless one is in possession of a permit issued by a conservation authority.

Aloe albida and Aloe chortolirioides are two of the grass aloes that prefer mountain summits, rocky grasslands and being in the mist belt. Aloe albida is a tiny plant with the inflorescence growing up to 16cm high. Its white flowers are relatively rare among aloes. The best way to find these little guys is to make yourself comfortable on a rock in their preferred habitat and comb through the grass, with the hope of spotting the leaves which can grow up to 150mm and are only 5mm wide.

Aloe albida occurs from Barberton to Swaziland and is listed on CITES Appendix 1 and wild plants may therefore not be internationally traded. It is also classified as Near Threatened on the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Red list, which indicates it is likely to become at risk of extinction in the near future.  South Africa uses the internationally endorsed IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria to classify plants as this system is designed to measure species’ risk of extinction and to highlight those urgently in need of conservation action.

Aloe chortolirioides is another unusual aloe and it takes a trained eye to distinguish it from the various grasses.

Aloe chortolorioides

Aloe albida

 

They form dense tufts of branches and it’s more likely that you will stumble over one before you recognize it as an aloe due to the very thin leaves through which it blends into its environment.  These sturdy plants usually flower in response to fire and flowering may occur from March to September.  It is easy to spot them then as their reddish colour forms a sharp contrast against the charred landscape. Although their distribution area includes Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province, it’s classified as Vulnerable on the SANBI Red List which indicates it’s facing a high risk of extinction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listed as threatened ecosystem

Mountainlands Nature Reserve forms part of an ecosystem which was recently listed by the Department of Environmental Affairs as vulnerable and in need of protection.

The first national list of threatened terrestrial ecosystems was gazetted on 9 December 2011 (National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act: National list of ecosystems that are threatened and in need of protection, (Notice 34809 in Government Gazette 1002), 9 December 2011).

In terms of this the 70 000 hectare Barberton Mountainlands ecosystem was listed as vulnerable. This means the ecosystem has a high risk of undergoing significant degradation of ecological structure, function or composition as a result of human intervention, although it is not a critically endangered ecosystem. Threats include commercial afforestation, mining, farming practices, invasive alien vegetation, over-grazing and the misuse of fire.

The Barberton Mountainlands ecosystem includes 37 threatened or endemic plant and animal species and is part of the Barberton Centre of Plant Endemism. It also includes important sub catchments; provides an escarpment corridor and is important for grassland and forest processes. Approximately 52% of the ecosystem is protected in Barberton Mountainlands Nature Reserve, Barberton Municipal Nature reserve, Cynthia Letty Nature Reserve, Ida Doyer Nature Reserve, Nkomazi Wilderness, Queens River Primary Conservation Area, Songimvelo Nature Reserve, Tienie Louw Nature Reserve and Thorncroft Nature Reserve.

Fortunately ecosystems in the surrounding area were also listed, which includes the Noordkaap Greenstone Bushveld ecosystem, the Kaapsehoop Quartzite Grasslands, the Badplaas Mountainlands and the Crocodile Gorge Granite Mountainlands.

For more information visit the South African National Biodiversity Institute page.

Integrated Management Plan – 2012

Nature reserve management plans are dynamic and are typically reviewed every five years. The current Integrated Management Plan (IMP) was completed in June 2012 and compiled by leading specialists in protected area management.

Download the new IMP here …

Painting completed

A while back mother and daughter artists, Leonora Everard Haden and Nichola Leigh spent a day on Mountainlands to draw rough sketches of the scenery with the aim to paint it (see blog post 2010-11-13). Nichola was kind enough to send us a photo of her 90cm X120cm oil on canvas painting that will be exhibited at the Everard Read gallery in Johannesburg from 3 May 2012 to 27 May 2012.  To learn more about these two renowned artists, visit www.everard-group.com. Both their oil paintings are now available for sale at the Everard Read Gallery in Johannesburg.

Contact them on Tel +27 (0)11 788-4805 or E-mail: gallery@everard.co.za or visit www.everard-read.co.za.

Mauve flower splendour

Tinnea barbata

There are always plants flowering on Mountainlands and Tinnea barbata is putting on a display right now. According to the book “Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park” the Blue Tinnea is endemic to the mountains between Barberton and Swaziland.

Botanical Society visit

Members of the Lowveld Botanical Society recently visited Mountainlands. The genus Pavetta was looked at and the floral kingdom, animals with their young and good weather formed an excellent backdrop to the outing organized by Ina Georgala (left on the photo).

Many little hooves

Summer is when most of the ungulates are having their young. Impala lambs, zebra foals and blue wildebeest calves are the majority of little ones that can currently be seen.