outramps-tanniedi's Journal

The Beardless Wonder

Outramps CREW Diaries
Tuesday
1st October 2019

"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice."

Bethany Hamilton, American surfer

ALBUM 1st October 2019
For captions or info click on i on the top right-hand side. A good way to go - the slideshow is found at the top of the page on the rt hand side by clicking on the 3 dots. Featured today – Central Kammanassie, Kleinmond, Ruitersbos, Harkerville and Out and About in the Southern Cape.

For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Diaries - see the Album.

For earlier versions of the Outramps CREW Diaries

https://us17.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=be2accf3de565e1297257f79e&id=8113ba68c6

HAT Evie in the central Kammanassie Mountains
I joined the South Cape section of the MCSA on an adventure into this remote corner near the head of the Kleusrivier. An area of deep gorges, rocky peaks and ridges, steep ascents and descents. Scenically it was wonderfully rewarding and some of the plants are unique to these mountains. This mountain range is relatively unknown - its make-up is a short chain running parallel, between the eastern Groot Swartberg and the Outeniquas.

Our group back-packed into the mountains to set up camp near the Kleusrivier. We set off with a bit of trepidation, as the local farmers had warned of very dry conditions and very little water coming off the mountain. Luckily, the 3 small streams at the head of the Kleusrivier were still flowing. Initially, a jeep track (on higher ground lined with gorgeous pink Agathosma ovata) helped us gain the upper slopes with relative ease. I say “relative”- a heavy backpack is never ideal! After this there were no further paths. It proved to be a great deal easier to hike, as a fire 20 months previously had cleared the original waist to shoulder-high Fynbos that we had encountered on previous trips in both 2015 & 2016! For the record, an archive photo is included on the Album
.
From our base camp, we had 2 full days in which we were able to climb Perdeberg (1837m), as well as explore the ridgeline westwards towards Kammanassie Peak. Luckily, on the very dry dusty ground, I could recognize some of the resprouting and reseeding plants. On the upper rocky crags a few unburnt Fynbos pockets remain in good shape.

Many thanks to my fellow hikers for joining this trip, and for both their patience and interest in the plants, which are gradually making a comeback. My big hope is that there will be some good rains, and not floods in the future. The area could see serious erosion

Plants seen at high altitude include:
Protea punctata
Ground Protea tenax
Leucadendron spissifolium subs. fragrans
Leucadendron album
Numerous clumps of a spreading Phylica sp. (needs an ID)
Phylica meyeri
Old flowers on Syncarpha montana (R)
Pretty yellow Oedera decussata (R)
Agathosma pungens
Agathosma venusta
Dominant, colourful, resprouting Podalyria burchellii
Striking Anemone tenuifolia

Psoralea sp (? reseeder) in great abundance on the dry open ridges - currently had only empty flower heads.
Corymbium africanum is everywhere - flowers over.
Some of the Ericas seen
Erica discolor - as shiny, bright and sticky as ever.
New pockets of Erica strigilifolia in between rocky outcrops
Erica rosacea
Erica hispidula
Erica inamoena (R)
Erica andreaei
Old flowers on possibly Erica glandulipila (R)
Erica nervata; as well as a few I do not recognize!

Evie

Outramps explore Kleinmond
Kleinmond: A Feast of Fynbos and an Arctic Fox

9/13 September 2019
Kleinmond lies in the embrace of the Bot River wetland to the east and the Palmiet river to the west. The coastal plain is flat and narrow. The dramatic backdrop behind and to the north of the town is the Three Sisters (634m) which runs parallel to the coast. Here, the north-south Cape Fold Mountains form a right-angle with the east-west range. Moreover, the Palmiet River valley and its rugged mountains form the unspoilt heart of the Cape Floristic region: It is known as the Kogelberg Nature Reserve.

The landscapes are magnificent and the plant diversity extraordinary. A large range of trails in the greater area allow for the delight of infinite exploration. Magriet Brink of Kogelberg CREW was invaluable in orientating us to the nature of the walks and plants to be encountered. We walked the Contour Path below the Three Sisters to Fairy Glen and explored the Palmiet marsh with Magriet; a short section of Rod’s Trail west of Betty’s Bay; the Three Sisters circuit and various ambles in and around the town and the coast.

To say that we literally tripped over interesting and Red Listed plants all the time would not be an exaggeration. The number of Red List plants noted is growing – twenty-six and counting.

The ‘Broadway Can Can – There’s-no-business-like-show-business-accolade’ goes to Mimetes hirtus (VU). It is a range restricted plant and under serious threat of urban expansion and civil unrest. The neighbouring community has set fire to the site before. These plants could not have stated their case more beautifully and eloquently to us. A stand of single-stemmed plants in full flower. Growing alongside - its ever-photogenic sister, Mimetes cucullatus is grinning from ear to ear. Can the zonation for this site be changed to allow for protection?

Other plants that stopped us dead in our tracks: Paranomus sceptrum-gustavianus (NT), Erica patersonii (EN), Brunia microphylla, Aulax cancellata, Erica retorta, Sonderothamnus petraeus (Rare), Lachnaea densifolia (NT), Leucospermum oleifolium.

Love at first sight: Erica bruniades, Diastella fraterna (Rare), Osmitopsis parvifolia (Rare), Erica holosericea, meadows of the russet restio Elegia stipularis, stands of Protea compacta (NT), Erica cristata, dainty Gladioli - Gladiolus bullatus & G. debilis, Geissorhiza ovata, Trachyandra hirsutiflora and Erica spumosa.

Magriet and Kogelberg CREW:
When Magriet came to tea it turned into a mini CREW workshop, exchanging ideas (interacting with municipalities - road verge mowing came up too!) and an impromptu iNaturalist demo. A photo of Ann’s Pomeranian Squiffus was used for an upload. Without a blink, mischievous iNaturalist identified Squiff as an Arctic Fox!

The past six years Magriet has made an incredible contribution in the Kogelberg area as a member of CREW. She mentioned that interest in this group is growing, given a boost by iNaturalist and Cape Town’s participation in the City Nature Challenge earlier this year. She is an enthusiastic member of the Caterpillar Rearing Group, they study and document the life histories of the insects for science. More information about this: https://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=projects&s=crg and https://www.facebook.com/groups/caterpillarrg/

Sandra with Jenny and Ann

Ruitersbos
Jan Vlok let us know that Leucospermum formosum (Endangered) was in bud and suggested that we make haste to see it. The Red List has this to say about this exquisite Catherine-Wheel Pincushion, "Three out of six known subpopulations are already extinct, and climate change models (Bomhard et al. 2005) predict a further population reduction of at least 50% by 2025". So we took our chances and headed for Ruitersbos on Friday 13th September. It proved to be our lucky day. Richard James from the Ruitersbos office came with us to have a look at this very special plant.

There was only 1 adult plant to be seen and it was in full flower. What was very encouraging - all the young plants in a radius of about 50x50m were approaching 50cm high. With luck and some decent rain, they should be flowering in about 2 years. What a show that's going to be.

Other rares seen on the day
Aspalathus digitifolia (Vulnerable)
Serruria fasciflora (Near Threatened). There were a number of adult plants, but stacks of babies coming up
Erica unicolor subsp. mutica (Endangered)
Protea coronata (Near Threatened)
Psoralea asarina (Near Threatened)

Thanks Jan for pointing us in the right direction. We had a simply marvellous day and many thanks to Richard for joining us for part of the day. It was great meeting up with you again.

tanniedi

Harkerville - The Beardless Wonder
A couple of years ago, Johan Baard of SANparks was risking life and limb on the daunting cliffs of Harkerville hunting for a Bulbine. He was very surprised to come across a Gasteria perched perilously on a ledge on a vertical cliff-face. It was nothing like anything he'd seen before. He enlisted the aid of Ernst van Jaaarsveld, who confirmed it as a new species, described it and called it Gasteria barbae in honour of Johan.

Originally he discovered less that 10 plants, but after the 2017 Knysna fires, he could only find one plant. We met him at the Garden of Eden on Friday and then drove to the Harkerville cliffs to have another look. It was not ideal country for the crutcherati, although some of the others managed to do a fair bit of clambering. Still, they only found the one plant. I am wondering if our HAT and their rock-climbers in particular, shouldn't be enlisted to see if we can find more plants on those inhospitable cliffs. The plant is not yet on the Red List, but it will certainly be categorised as Critically Endangered, even if we find a few more.

It was great to see Johan again. Over the years, he bas been a great help to us. He is aways encouraging and his marvellous sense of humour is very entertaining. Dankie Johan for giving us the opportunity.

tanniedi

Out and About in the Southern Cape
Waboomsberg
Clear weather and balmy temperatures are unusual on this mountain. We thoroughly enjoyed the conditions, although the northern side was hot towards the end of the day. As always, the views from the summit were mind-blowing. It is one of my favourite places on earth.

Disparago kolbei was stunning in pink and it was great to see the brilliant blue of Nivenia binata in full flower. HAT Evie captured a lovely photo of Syncarpha milleflora, which had escaped the burn. A vivid pink Indigofera was eye-catching, as it hugged the sandstone rocks. The regeneration of the vegetation has been very slow post-fire. This is no doubt due to the ongoing drought, which is choking the life out of the Klein Karoo.

Goukamma
Do yourself a favour and get there. I have been hiking Goukamma since 1970 and I have never seen it so beautiful. Magenta-flowering Dipogon lignosus is festooned over every black stump and burnt tree. Adding to the spectacle, you have deep-pink Senecio elegans and the pale lilac of Felicia echinata. Bursts of sunshine-yellow are provided by Osteospermum moniliferum and Ursinia anethoides and chrysanthemoides.

Doing the boat-thing across the Goukamma River in a howling southeaster was quite an adventure, as we rode the waves whipped up by the gale-force winds. It was wonderful to see Thulani and Thabego (? spelling) and to send love to Melissa and Thubani, who we were sad to miss.

tanniedi

Let’s magnify Greta’s girl power
As humans and Climate Change tangle in a "for better or worse" scenario - I am buying into the the positivity of the rapidly growing South African tsunami of #ImStaying and marvel at the courage and outrage of 16-year old GretaThunberg, as she speaks for the Earth at the UN Climate Action summit in New York. Many scoff at her endeavours, but she is right of course. It takes 7,7 billion humans to apply brakes. I simply have to believe that even my everyday contributions, times 7.7 billion, make a difference. Please buy in and do what you can too.

Sandra

Field Trips
The Ballots Bay trip had to be postponed because of heatwave conditions last Friday. Instead, we will be going there on Friday 4th October. The residents are very keen that we put up a Place on iNat for Ballots Bay and that we populate it with Observations. We are hoping to visit Towerland near Herbertsdale the week thereafter.
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
South Africa

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, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans, Malthinus and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.

Outramps CREW Stellenbosch HAT node
Jonkershoek created by Vynbos - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/jonkershoek-cv
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mont-rochelle-nature-reserve
Papegaaiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/papegaaiberg

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist

Outramps CREW Group - all postings
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/outramps-crew-group
Ericas of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ericas-of-the-southern-cape
Fungi of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fungi-of-the-southern-cape
Geraniaceae of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geraniaceae-of-the-southern-cape-of-south-africa
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo
Veg Types of South Africa (Tony Rebelo)- https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Flowers of the High Drakensberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/flowers-of-the-high-kzn-drakensberg

Outramps CREW Group - iNaturalist stats
59 138 observations
8381 species

(Updated Monthly)

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 and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
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
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
SA - Stay Attractive is Google's translation of "Mooi Bly"
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly
DFKIAA - A very funny video in Afrikaans is doing the rounds. It refers to the recent power outages.

Walkie Talkies - Botanical walks that include more talking than walking

Posted on October 1, 2019 04:21 AM by

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The Rains Came - Briefly

The Rains Came
(briefly)
Outramps CREW Diaries
Tuesday
15th October 2019

“If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.” – Henry David Thoreau

ALBUM 15th October 2019
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMfjW9VKVHyLzFuYtGcNiyTc6tv8FKo2vxvxsVYXOWH0M9YXlJZUF2O73sQ4dCIXg?key=YlJmbFpxMjBlR0g4eXVYTEZ1MDJXYVRiZ2xKc2J3

For captions or info click on i on the top right-hand side. A good way to go - the slideshow is found at the top of the page on the rt hand side by clicking on the 3 dots. Featured today – Romanskraal in the Langeberg, Robinson Pass and Attakwaskloof in the Outeniquas, Nicky and Fred go west, Giant Kingfisher, Pepsi Pools and Ballots Heights on the Southern Cape Coast.

For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Diaries - see the Album.

For earlier versions of the Outramps CREW Diaries

https://us17.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=be2accf3de565e1297257f79e&id=8113ba68c6

HAT Evie in Romanskraal, eastern Langeberg Mountains
The South Cape section of the MCSA led by HAT Derek spent 3 nights over the heritage weekend in September backpacking in this part of the Langeberg. There was an attempt to climb to the very top of Spitskop/Perdeberg, below which horses were pastured during the Boer War. We also paid a visit to a San Rock Art shelter, so I feel we achieved a real, live heritage weekend, while enjoying some of South Africa’s best natural areas. Some much needed rain, accompanied by gusting winds arrived on one of our nights - a good time to put our tents to the test! Thank goodness Tony B and Evie had done some improvements to the backpacking tent and we were warm and dry on the inside.

On my previous visit in 2016 the Fynbos was almost a “no go” on the hikes off the jeep track. This time the access was easy due to burning about 2 years ago. We did explore a very different area to our previous trip. In the lower areas numerous Ericas were on display. They included Erica grata (R) and there were some E. melanthera and E. curviflora in flower on the high terrain. E. versicolor was dominant all over and interestingly, all plants had 4-nate flowers.

Other plants returning post-burn are resprouting Protea cynaroides; resprouting Leucospermum cuneiforme; young Leucospermum winteri (NT) - I noticed only one sheltered tree in flower. Berzelia and Brunia plants are popping up all over and scores of Psoralea shrubs are enjoying the lower, wetter areas. We found a dense pocket of Cyclopia bowieana at high altitude next to a seep area. It is a Langeberg/Outeniqua endemic. High up on the escarpment with views over the Klein Karoo, to my surprise I saw a few small trees (? single stem) of Hypocalyptus sophoroides at an altitude of 1309m. These trees are growing in rocky, arid conditions in the worst wind possible – literature generally says they like to grow near streams?? Also on the high ground, pretty carpets of purple Indigofera concava were interspersed with yellow Ursinia trifida. I noticed an unusual “Lobelia carpet” in a little overhang on one of the ridgelines we climbed and then noticed the same in the more open “Rock Art shelter”. It could well be Lobelia dasyphylla (R).

A wonderful trip, great company and next time the hardier types will need to carry some climbing gear – so that the top of Spitskop, our heritage peak can be achieved.

Evie

Robinson Pass in the Outeniquas
The mountains were hazy on Friday on the Robinson Pass and the forecasts were talking of significant rain for the weekend that lay ahead, as SIM set out on the Kouma Trail. With the bone-crunching drought persisting, the possibility of some relief was the main topic of conversation on the field trip. For once, the plants took second place.

But even second place is better than a "kick in the pants". The crowd-stopper for the day was the stunning magenta Hypocalyptus coluteioides, which is so, so beautiful. Aspalathus digitifolia (Vulnerable) was growing in sheets on the mountainside, with aspects ranging from true south to dead north. It is loving the lack of competition on the recently burnt slopes. Helichrysum felinum was in shades from white, pink to maroon and Orchids of various shapes and sizes were plentiful.

And on Saturday and Sunday, the rain came down and we were lucky enough to get 55mm. Chatting to Jan Vlok, even Oudtshoorn managed to get into double figures for the first time in ages.

tanniedi

Ruitersberg Eastern Buttress
Being the lone representative of the High Altitide Team, I had the steep ascent to the Eastern Buttress of Robinson Pass to myself on Friday. It's bundu bashing all the way to the 1330m peak, but the going is fine as the vegetation is still pretty low after the 2017 fires.

The scenery is spectacular from the top and there is a narrow ridgetop trail made by generations of klipspringers. The mountain is dry and many of the reseeders, along with orchids and bulbs have yet to put in an appearance. Flowers of interest include:
Wurmbea punctata - according to redlist and iNat, all previous records are west of Swellendam
Cyclopia bowieana - (on peak)
Indigofera sarmentosa simplicifolia subsp. nova (id Mr Fab)

Dave

HAT Evie Attakwaskloof ridgeline
While the Outramps explored areas off the Robinson on Friday 27 Sept, HAT Evie joined the South Cape MCSA on a hike nearby on the following day. We explored the Attakwaskloof ridgeline, which runs parallel to the Western Outeniqua Range of mountains. A very interesting, rocky hike with constant views of both the Outeniquas on the northern side, while to the south the remaining Attakwas hills unfold.

Mostly it seems I saw similar plants to the Outramps group - the normal rares of the area are slowly returning after the fire 19 months ago. Here and there in rocky pockets a few plants remain unscathed by burning.

Rares seen; several new small plants of Acmadenia tetragona (NT); down in the valley Aristea nana (R) ; Serruria fasciflora (NT) )were mostly new plants; Erica unicolor subsp mutica (EN) surviving in a few rocky spots on top of the ridgeline; Brunsvigia josephinae (VU) with several new bulbs in their green-leaf stage appearing on one of the slopes.

Numerous yellow daisies id'd as Ursinia trifida gave a general golden glow all over, while Erica viridiflora was iridescent in vivid, emerald-green up on the high ridge. On the ridge tops and on the higher northern slopes there were many new flowering Psoraleas making a big display - possibly 4 different varieties, or will the experts say, ”all are new hybrids of each other”! The very warty Psoralea I saw across the valley on the Western Outeniqua Mountains last year was not apparent during today’s hike.

Evie

Nicky and Fred go West
Fred and I decided to do some detours on our way to Cape Town to visit family. Our first stop was a walk along a valley in Groenefontein, part of the Gamkaberg Conservation Area. It was very dry with very little in flower. Crassula hemisphaerica (LC), Cadaba aphylla (LC) and Pachypodium succulentum (LC) did provide some colour, but this time around, I took more photographs of fossils and lichens than flowers.

The next day we did part of the Cogmanskloof Trail, which winds through South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos on the outskirts of Montagu. The fynbos was beautiful, the positive result of a fire a few years ago. I photographed some plants new to me, and Mike Bate identified the Longhorn Beetle in my pictures as Clavomela ciliata – a first for iNaturalist.

On Wednesday we took the tourist tractor ride up to the hut at the base of Arangieskop and walked down the road back to our car. An icy wind howled at the top, making photography very difficult, but once we started down the northern slope the weather was perfect. The long downhill was hard on my knees, but the North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos was a great distraction, having burnt in March 2017.
Stop Press: Damionjp has just identified the Pelargonium I thought was a colour variant of P. tricolor, as the rare Pelargonium burgerianum !

On Thursday, we dropped in at the Karoo Botanical Gardens, where we earned our lunch by walking the Shale Trail in 34 degrees Celsius. The Vygies were looking magnificent!

A walk along the base of Lion's Head, before we left Cape Town provided the last bit of botanizing for this trip. It is also recovering from fire. Moraea bellendenii, Wachendorfia paniculata, Pelargonium triste, P. capitatum, P. althaeoides, P. myrrhifolium and elongatum, Ornithogalum thyrsoides, Berkheya armata and Salvia africana-caerulea were some of the plants providing colour to the burnt landscape.

I have taken lots of photographs, so have plenty of memories of a great trip west and enough to keep me iNatting for a while!

Nicky

Ballots Heights
Henry Paine is one of the top Laser sailors at the George Lakes Yacht Club. He has the boat shed next to ours and he and his wife Sally live at Ballots Bay. With the prevailing drought, there has been lots of discussion over the last couple of months about fire and fire-prevention. Ballots Bay has wooden houses and lots of senescent Fynbos turning into Thicket. They have undertaken some clearing and stacking and are waiting for the right conditions to do a controlled burn. In the meantime, lots of plants are coming up in the cleared areas. An invitation to the Outramps to come and have a look proved irresistible.

The usual SIM members, Nicky, Sandra, Ann, Jenny and Di were augmented by Jo-Anne, Rebecca and Brittany. Rebecca and Brittany are students at NMU and Jo-Anne is the youthful chairman of the Garden Route Branch of the Botanical Society. Having survived the drive up the death-defying entry road to Ballots Heights, we were met by Sally and Henry, who showed us where the clearing had been done. We combed through the area with cameras at the ready. Our aim was to catalogue all the plants seen on iNaturalist. Nicky and Fred have created a Place on iNat and it is already populated with lots more to come.
Ballots Heights - : https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ballots-heights Click on Observations and your will see some of the plants and insects that reflect the biodiversity of the area. We also created an album Ballots Heights October 2019

We are hoping to return at the change of seasons for the next year or so, so that we can have a comprehensive picture of what grows and lives there. We would like to hold a mini iNat course for the residents, so that they too can contribute to the biodiversity catalogue for Ballots Heights. And if the controlled burn comes about, there will be even more reason to return. Thanks to Sally and Henry for giving us this wonderful opportunity.

tanniedi

STOP PRESS
A snippet which came in from Brian/The Boy/Mr Fab
This Otholobium was first found by Jan Vlok way back, then the Outramps went back to the area and re-found it in November 2013. It had never been collected in flower, until I found a few flowers last week. Prof Charlie and I are now working to describe the species asap. The population consists of over 100 plants sprouting after the fire, but they are threatened by Hakea sericea, which is germinating all over the slope. It is going to be called Otholobium outrampsii.

Mr Fab

Out and About in the Southern Cape
Bosduif Loop on Giant Kingfisher Trail
The forest is recovering after the recent rains and the banks were covered with flowering Crassula orbicularis. After completing the high Bosduif Loop, we took the track that leads to the stepping stones up-river of the pont. The going was surprisingly tricky, but we had loads of fun watching some young German tourists crossing the strongly-running Touw River. They got their feet wet.

Pepsi Pools
It was a pleasant walk on a blustery, showery day with WAGS. We had a top-up of 12mm to add to the 55mm over the weekend. The stunning bronze/pink leaves of Blechnum attenuatum were the highlight of this very attractive hike. Wet and cold, we were pleased to huddle in front of the fire at Platforms, where we met after the hike for a drink and a bite to eat and a mini celebration of Bill's 85th birthday.

tanniedi

Field Trips
Friday 18th - SIM has never done Flanagans Rock, although we do it often with WAGS. After the recent rain, the slopes on the northern side of Cradock, should be looking spectacular. The week after that, we will probably go and check what Spring and some rain have produced in Camferskloof.
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
South Africa

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, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans, Malthinus and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.

Outramps CREW Stellenbosch HAT node
Jonkershoek created by Vynbos - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/jonkershoek-cv
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mont-rochelle-nature-reserve
Papegaaiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/papegaaiberg

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist

Outramps CREW Group - all postings
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/outramps-crew-group
Ballots Heights - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=143599
Ericas of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ericas-of-the-southern-cape
Fungi of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fungi-of-the-southern-cape
Geraniaceae of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geraniaceae-of-the-southern-cape-of-south-africa
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo
Veg Types of South Africa (Tony Rebelo)- https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Flowers of the High Drakensberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/flowers-of-the-high-kzn-drakensberg

Outramps CREW Group - iNaturalist stats
59 827 observations
8450 species
19 Observers

(Updated Monthly)

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 and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
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
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
SA - Stay Attractive is Google's translation of "Mooi Bly"
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly
DFKIAA - A very funny video in Afrikaans is doing the rounds. It refers to the recent power outages.
Walkie Talkies - Botanical walks that include more talking than walking

Posted on October 15, 2019 11:19 AM by

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Slithery Encounters

Outramps CREW Diaries
Tuesday
29th October 2019

“Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.” ― Anatoli Boukreev

ALBUM 29th October 2019
For captions or info click on i on the top right-hand side. A good way to go - the slideshow is found at the top of the page on the rt hand side by clicking on the 3 dots. Featured today – Rabiesberg, IUCN Leaders' Meeting, Herbertsdale West, Van Kerwelsvlei at Ruigtevlei, A Thesium for Daniel and the Swellendam Hiking Trail.

For names and captions of the photos used on this version of the Diaries - see the Album.

For earlier versions of the Outramps CREW Diaries

https://us17.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=be2accf3de565e1297257f79e&id=8113ba68c6

Rabiesberg
The Sore-Edge Subarbush:
For years I've wanted to see Protea holosericea (Saw-Edge Sugarbush - Endangered) and given that it flowers during September and October, it is the perfect Protea to be hunting for one's 24th birthday!

MO, Werner and myself (upon recommendation of the Worcester MCSA) decided to climb Rabiesberg, rather than Saw-Edge peak. We had been told there are a number of plants on Rabiesberg, as well as a path halfway up the mountain. We set off on the Saturday into Smalblaarkloof, which is a narrow and overgrown kloof to the south of Rabiesberg. We struggled to find the path out of the kloof and managed to waste a great deal of time scrambling up a somewhat dangerous scree slope. Finally, we found the path which led us to the ridge below Rabiesberg. This ridge turned into something of a nightmare!

With no extra water and a boulder-strewn ridge, we struggled up the mountain in scorching heat. We had been warned that there was no water on the mountain, so the excess of water in our packs didn't make the trip any easier. After many hours and an ever increasing slope, we reached the ridge leading to the peak. With the slope being less steep and the boulders and vegetation clearing, we decided to set up camp. Exhausted, we enjoyed the sherry Werner had carried up, with a spectacular sunset marking the end of being 23.

The next morning the 2km to Rabiesberg was easy going and we successfully found one measly Protea holosericea in flower. This lifted our spirits and set us on a mission to get back down as soon as possible. Along the way we saw Gladiolus debilis, Serruria dodii, a beautiful Lachnaea and the striking Hypocalyptus sophoroides. To end off the trip, we had well-earned burgers at the Saggy Stone brewery, with MO deciding the name of P. holosericea should be changed to the Sore-Edge Sugarbush, for all the sore edges you have after climbing up Rabiesberg!

Peter

IUCN Leaders' Meeting

SSC Deputy Chair, Dr Domitilla Raimondo
Domitilla Raimondo is the Threatened Species Programme Manager at the South African National Biodiversity Institute. She is responsible for the species assessments for South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment and has extensive experience assessing the threat status for South Africa’s animal and plant species. Domitilla is the lead author of the “Red List of South African Plants” (2009) and has co-ordinated the Red List assessments for many animal groups. She is dedicated to ensuring that species information feeds into landuse decision-making. Domitilla is also involved in species conservation work internationally and serves as Deputy Chair on the IUCN SSC Red List Committee.

Tilla started the CREW Programme in 2003 as part of the Threatened Plants Programme and the Outramps were conscripted in 2004. The rest is history.

Van Kervelsvlei in Ruigtevlei Plantations
From the first day that we saw it, we were fascinated by Van Kervelsvlei. There didn't seem to be a water-source and it was filled with grass. In one of the Diaries, I mentioned that we would be very interested to know more about it. Heine Muller is the manager of the Ruigtevlei plantations and he picked up on the query. Recently, there has been a lot of research done on the vlei and Heine sent me the scientific papers. These were duly passed on to Mike Cameron, with the request that he turn it into a readable article. Below is the result
tanniedi

A hydropedological assessment of the van Kervelsvlei wetland
Van Kervelsvlei wetland is situated about 2.5 km north of the N2 on the Ruigtevlei plantation managed by PG Bison. After the 2017 fires, which burnt most of the plantation, concerns were raised by the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation re the replanting of the area surrounding the vlei. They suggested that a hydropedologic assessment be done to determine future management of the vlei (study of the interface between soil and water relations). PG Bison appointed a team of scientists to carry out this assessment.

The following questions were raised:
Where does the water in the vlei originate?
What are the boundary limits of the vlei?

What is the importance of the vlei?
What was the effect on the vlei of aerial spraying of herbicide on the surrounding areas to be re-established with plantations? The vlei itself was not sprayed.
How should the vlei and its surrounds be managed in the future, especially regarding re-establishment of plantations?

The assessment determined the following:
The vlei is formed by a sealed base of CaCO3 and peat in a basin filled with about 11 m of peat formed over thousands of years. The environmental history of the vlei and its surrounds can be analysed using e.g. the very rich pollen records.

The team used a series of soil pits and auguring, as well as instruments to measure water inflow. The inflow into the vlei is only from precipitation and from the immediate catchment of old dunes surrounding the vlei and not from underground water sources, making it a perched vlei and not an aquifer. The water in the vlei will fluctuate in depth and leave chemical clues to the extent of the vlei boundary
.
This type of wetland is rare in South Africa and van Kervelsvlei wetland is environmentally near pristine, with relatively little human interference. This rarity and the historical significance make it of high conservation importance. Chemical analysis of the water in the vlei showed no traces of any herbicide (glyphosate and its carrier AMPA).

Future management
The team used a combination of aerial photography, presence of vlei specialist plants and chemical soil indicators to delineate the wetland margin. They suggest an additional 30m buffer zone where all but the most important management roads can rehabilitate to their natural state.

All invasive and alien plant species present are to be removed from the vlei, its edges and the buffer zone using methods which will cause minimum disturbance, yet still adhering to safety precautions. The water flow should be monitored and all alien species invading the vlei and its buffer zone should be removed.

PG Bison will manage the vlei and the buffer zone as a conservation management area, thus ensuring it maintains its high conservation status.

Mike Cameron

Herbertsdale West
Die Stappers at Herbertsdale, 11 Oct 2019
‘Die Stappers!’ – is how Dewald greets us when we meet at Herbertsdale. He leads us west to a private nature reserve in the foothills of the Langeberg. The Fynbos is mature and dense, so this does not allow for off the path exploration. I’m a little alarmed when I hear crackling sounds coming from the thick stand of Protea neriifolia as we start our walk! Nicky and Ann walk west towards the stream. Nicky finds Dioscorea burchellii (VU) and Ann finds a well camouflaged Western Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus occidentalis). Its belly is bulging with a recent meal.
Trail-running Dave crosses the stream to explore the top of a hill and reports back that the pink tinge on the higher slopes is Erica melanthera. He also finds Acmadenia trigona, Leucadendron spissifolium ssp. fragrans, Watsonia fourcadei, and Moraea bulbullifera ssp. bulbullifera.

Seen as splashes of pink all over the site is Acmadenia tetragona (NT), often with Erica copiosa and Erica unicolor subsp. mutica (EN) closeby. Jenny and I hike the circuit trail which follows the stream. Here Serruria fasciflora (NT) is flourishing and Psoralea asarina (NT) creeps onto the path from under the plant cover. The landscape is quite beautiful and tall trees of Leucadendron eucalyptifolium are a feature of the mountain slopes. Some of the male plants are in flower. They are magnificent and we stop to admire them.

As Jenny yelps and leaps backwards, a snake flies off the path and into a protea bush. Its charcoal back matches the size and colour of the branches exactly. So much so, that I struggled to find it in my photographs later. Jenny breathes out ‘cobra’ and with that the snake lifts its head and turns, giving us a big-eyed, indignant glare before slipping down into the undergrowth. There is a last glimpse of the barred underside. Unmistakably a boomslang (Disphilidus typus ssp. typus).

We are chuffed with the Erica haul: Erica caffra var. caffra, E. cubica, E. curviflora, E. glandulosa subsp. glandulosa, E. glomiflora, E. imbricata, E. nutans, E. quadrangularis and E. triceps. Some other plants: Aspalathus florifera, Psoralea arborea, Empleurum unicapsulare, Protea nitida, Protea cynaroides, Mimetes cucullatus, Leucadendron salignum, Disa sagittalis, Holothrix cernua, Agathosma bifida and Cliffortia graminea.

At the end we all arrive at the car together. The usual excited plant chatter is somewhat elbowed out by nervous snake encounter jabbering this time, although the plants win soon enough

At Fynbos Forum Gregory Nicolson suggested this as a fieldtrip. Thank you to Greg and his family for the arrangements, Sue Davidoff for permission and Dewald for taking us there.
Sandra

Although there are lots of snakes on Strawberry Hill, we don't often see them. But in the last 10 days, we have had close encounters with 2 huge boomslangs that shot across the path straight in front of us, 2 monstrously big Puffies, a Night Adder and a Slugeater. Needless to say, we are watching where we put our feet. -Ed

A Thesium for Daniel
There was a brief flurry of excitement when Prof Charles Stirton saw a photo of a tall Thesium growing in the Ruitersbos area in a recent Album. He suggested that we get a specimen for Daniel, who is doing a Ph.D revising the Thesium genus.

At the same time, Mr Fab had seen this gorgeous tall Thesium at Romanskraal in the Langeberg. He collected a specimen and duly delivered it to Daniel at UCT. The latest news is that it could be Thesium fruticosum and we decided that we'd collect another specimen to make sure that it was the same plant.

We finished early and decided to explore the area near the top of the Pass where Acamdenia rupicola (Vulnerable) grows. But with lots of chatting and my mind genrally occupied with the big move from Strawberry Hill to Bishopslea, I turned down instead of up and only realised the mistake, as we passed Eight Bells. So instead of doing some work, we dropped into the Boerqui Bistro for a quick bite and some drinks.

It was there that we met Kobus and spent a fascinating hour listening to his stories. A retired major in the Police Force, he and his wife decided on a new direction, living and working in the "slow lane". His Boerqui Bistro is a result of this decision. We were enchanted by the place and the people that work there. Do yourself a favour next time you drive on the Robinson Pass and pop in. You will not be disappointed.

It was an interesting, if unusually short day for the Outramps

tanniedi

Swellendam Hiking Trail
HAT Evie - Report on Swellendam Hiking Trail 14 to 18 Oct 2019
This super trail is at last open. We ( South Cape section of the MCSA) have had a booking with numerous changes over the last 18 months. Cape Nature have now completed various rebuilding /upgrades etc. to the trail and the huts. Parts of the trail were badly burnt at least 6 years ago. It is a wonderful trail, has loads of variety and provides a special experience in the Langeberg Fynbos with its numerous endemic plants. The trail lasts for 5 days allowing for a maximum of 10 hikers to participate.

Day 1 was very long, with exhausting uphill sections under the weight of a full backpack, while a very hot day didn’t ease our rather sweaty discomfort! Somehow, I survived. The last 3 days are short in terms of hiking hours - so an easy 2 afternoons to enjoy the surrounds and some river swimming. Along the trail at high levels there were signs of some reasonable ground seepage, however numerous plants are very drought-distressed. At lower levels, the ground is exceptionally dry, while numerous side streams don't even have a trickle of running water. The hiking path is excellent, very well laid out, especially the descent in and out of rocks along the north-facing Langeberg slopes into the Klein Karoo.

It was so enjoyable to be immersed in “real mature “ Erica and Protea Fynbos again, considering that during the past year our field trips have been into many areas in the South Cape recovering from recent burns. Having said that, some of the mature areas are very ready for a new fire.

On the second day, 2 of our group undertook the long ridge walk/climb to reach the top of Misty Point over 1700m. Apparently, they encountered a wonderful high-altitude wetland along the way. A few of us managed to explore a section of this ridge line. There, in a small amphitheatre among the rocks – an enormous stocky Berzelia abrontanoides. This tree must have escaped numerous fires – 4 dense trunks, at least 2 of them well over 12 cm diameter. Also, in a niche of its own, there was an interesting purple Agathosma sp. with axillary flowers. I feel pretty sure it is not yet another A. ovata type!

Returning to the main path, we encountered a rather angry, large Cape Cobra. With a flared chest and few more ‘hisses', it did eventually whip itself off into the thick undergrowth. We literally shivered!! After all, we had just spent the previous 2 hours off the path, bush-whacking in and out of deep soft vegetation.

Some of the plants seen:-
Langeberg rare endemics – Cliffortia grandiflora (R) trees in a few clumps along the trail; Bobartia parva (R) dotted on higher slopes.
Striking buds and flowers on Dilatris viscosa and Satyrium acuminatum.
Proteaceae with gorgeous flowers were: P. speciosa; P. magnifica; P. eximia; P. cynaroides and flowering Leucospermum calligerum, Serruria fasciflora (NT) and Spatella parilis.

Langeberg Ericas seen were: E. ovina; tall pink spikes on E. regerminans, striking red E. vestita, E.daphniflora, E.polifolia, E. dianthifolia and E. ardens.

Evie

Field Trips
Friday November 1st - Nicky will be organising something in Brenton-on-Sea
Friday November 8th - Eastern Ridge from the top of the Swartberg Pass
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie

Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
South Africa

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, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans, Malthinus and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Outramps Places on iNaturalist – You can browse through the observations or refer to the checklist which is in alphabetical order eg. Animals, birds etc.

Outramps CREW Stellenbosch HAT node
Jonkershoek created by Vynbos - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/jonkershoek-cv
Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/mont-rochelle-nature-reserve
Papegaaiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/papegaaiberg

Outramps Projects on iNaturalist

Outramps CREW Group - all postings
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/outramps-crew-group
Ballots Heights - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=143599
Ericas of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ericas-of-the-southern-cape
Fungi of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fungi-of-the-southern-cape
Geraniaceae of the Southern Cape - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/geraniaceae-of-the-southern-cape-of-south-africa
Lianes and Creepers in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo
Veg Types of South Africa (Tony Rebelo)- https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/vegetation-types-of-south-africa

Flowers of the High Drakensberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/flowers-of-the-high-kzn-drakensberg

Outramps CREW Group - iNaturalist stats
59 827 observations
8450 species
19 Observers

(Updated Monthly)

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 and is now the Curator of the Garden Route Botanical Garden
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
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
SA - Stay Attractive is Google's translation of "Mooi Bly"
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly
DFKIAA - A very funny video in Afrikaans is doing the rounds. It refers to the recent power outages.
Walkie Talkies - Botanical walks that include more talking than walking

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CREW Outramps · PO Box 2991 · Mossel Bay, WC 6500 · South Africa

Posted on October 29, 2019 05:10 AM by