The Gouritz Biosphere meeting on Tuesday in Oudtshoorn was fascinating. It was also incredible to see what a few passionate people can achieve. All the talks were interesting, but Wendy’s detailed story of the Projects that have been undertaken and planned by GCBR was nothing short of miraculous. Lots of jobs are being created and whole communities have been lifted out of despair. And all these things have been done by a mere handful of people with a vision. It is awe-inspiring! Annelise also talked about the changes to Anysberg, where large tracts of land have been added to this magnificent Reserve. It is teeming with new species and Rares. There is no question that Jan and Annelise Vlok have been the drivers of this wonderful Anysberg initiative.

Jan was at the meeting and we chatted about our visit to Cyrtanthus debilis which is a Fire Ephermeral. You will remember from a previous Reportback, that Jan challenged us to find the pollinators. “If you are successful”, he said, “You can dress yourselves in Peacock Blue”. We found, a long-nosed fly, 2 different species of Ants and a predatory green Crab Spider. Surely this was enough to qualify? Well Jan didn’t think so. “I am not convinced, but by all means present your evidence to Steve Johnson of Natal University”. Oh dear, so for now, no Peacock Blue for the Outramps!

With a number of WAGS members on the Canoe Trail at Whiskey Creek, it was a fairly small party that arrived to walk from Myoli Beach to Oysterbeds on the Goukamma Beach on Wednesday. The mist was thick on the ground and stayed that way for the whole hike. Bill and I took off early on a fairly high tide. For a short stretch, we had to abandon the beach and plough through the thick sand, as the waves pounded the banks, which are eroding away. We stopped at Platbank and the rest of the party walked to Oysterbeds before turning round. Between Myoli and Platbank, we were looking for the Pleistocene aeolianites , which were featured in a recent article published by the SA Journal of Science. I am hoping that the photograph featured in the Album is one of them. No doubt, someone will be able to confirm or deny the id.

On Friday, five of us went up to Tierkop to see if Disa gladioliflora was in flower above the Hut and beyond Erica georgica Hill. This was because of a query from Steve Johnson to Jan Vlok. They are looking to research the pollinators and need fairly large concentrations of this beautiful Disa to do the work. There was no sign of the plants. We were on the early side, although we have seen them from early January to mid-April. Despite this setback, Tierkop never disappoints. Erica densifolia was in profuse flower, painting whole banks pink. There were also lots of other Ericas in bloom, as you will see from the Album. The magnificent Syncarpha eximia (Strawberry Everlasting) was stunning. Psoralea trullata (Rare) was dainty, scattered along the trail on the higher reaches.

The Forest stretch just after leaving the cottages is home to a number of Ozzie Invader Ferns (Spaeropteris cooperi) and there is one happily ensconced next to the water tank at Tierkop Hut. They always remind me of John Wyndham’s famous science-fiction novel, “The Day of the Tryffids”. We have repeatedly reported their presence to Cape Nature, Early Alien Plant Detection and a host of other people. They are for sale in nurseries all over the country and most suburban homes in George harbor a couple. They are not even listed on the Problem Plant lists. Don’t say, “You didn’t tell us” or “We didn’t know”! In the forseeable future this fern will have colonized the banks of all the rivers and streams in the Southern Cape and the beautiful Alosphila capensis (Cape Tree Fern) will have ceased to exist.

The LOT trip on Thursday was organized by Priscilla Burgoyne. Here is her story.
Klipfontein 22/2/2018
The day dawned clear and sunny and we set off to explore ±275 ha of a property north of Still Bay that had burned in the beginning of 2017.

After arriving, we were met by one of the co-owners and then proceeded off to explore. When the farmers say 4x4 only, you listen and Suzy promptly got stuck in the deep sand. No sweat, we proceeded on foot to find a host of interesting plants on sandy spits between a series of limestone hills (Canca Limestone Fynbos). The rainfall had been sparse but there were many interesting things flowering.

We picked up quite a few species of Centella of which Centella calcaria (NT), was a new one for us. Carpobrotus muirii (NT), Leucadendron galpinii (VU), Lebeckia gracilis (Endangered) and Delosperma inaequale (DDD) were a few of the red-listed plants that we came across. Bulbs had flowered and were in seed. Herbarium specimens were collected and these will be named in due course.

Our reputation for a meter a minute was earned when as we were driving out. Dave spotted the rare Agathosma eriantha (VU) with only a few plants in one patch, and we popped out to do a quick site sheet. Can’t go 50 meters without stopping for something! Also on our way out we spotted a few Leucospermum praecox (VU) in old lands. With an open invitation, all in all a spot to return to, especially when the bulbs are in flower.
Prix
We would love to see Protea venusta (Endangered) in flower. So if weather permits, SIM will head for Waboomsberg in the Swartberg on Friday. On Thursday, LOT is planning to collect a Selago burchellii specimen for the Herbarium at Villa Castollini. But with the long-term forecast looking iffy, there could be a change of plan on the day.
Between the Gouritz Biosphere Reserve and President Ramaphosa, (one is almost tempted to give him Rare and Endangered status) there is much being achieved in our beloved country on a daily basis. Hope Springs!
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie
The Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Christopher Whitehouse, Derek Tribble, Adriaan Grobbler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Damion. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support. The South African community is busy migrating to iNaturalist and we will soon have projects etc. up and running. When they are ready, I will provide you with the links.

Abbreviations Glossary
MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”. Now seldom seen
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa

Posted on February 26, 2018 04:10 AM by outramps-tanniedi