Flowering fynbos July 2023

Etymology: The derivation of Gnidia is uncertain. One possibility is that it was named after the Greek word for a Laurel. In Greek mythology the pretty nymph Daphne was turned into a Laurel bush. The specific epithet chrysophylla means “golden- eaved”.

Location: Satyrium enclosure site, Wedding Drive, Protea Forest.

Distribution: Kleinmond to Knysna

Notes: There are 120 species of Gnidia, some species can be found as far as Madagascar and India. 45 species are restricted to the Cape floristic region. Gnidia chrysophylla has slender silky branchlets. The floral scales are fleshy and 4 in total, helping to distinguish it from similar species. Although widespread this species continues to decline across its range due to ongoing habitat loss. The vernacular name Saffraanbos refers to early usage of the flowers of some species as a source of dye for leather.

Erica cerinthoides var. cerinthoides

Common name: Common Fire Heath, Red hairy heath.

Rooihaartjie, Klipheide(Afr)

Family: Ericaceae

Status: Protected

Etymology: Erica is derived from the Greek word ereike which means to break. This probably refers to the brittle stems that break easily. Cerinthoides is named after the genus Cerinthe, the Honey wort because of the similarity of the flowers.

Location: Widespread

Distribution: Very widespread from the Cederberg to Mpumalanga.

Notes: Erica cerinthoides is a slender shrub up to 1.2m that resprouts after fire. The inflorescence are 7-10 flowered at the branch tips. The flowers are typically hairy and non-sticky. This species was introduced to England by Sir Francis Masson and appeared in the Botanical Magazine in 1794.

Morella humilis

Common name: Shy Waxberry, Bayberry, Candleberry.

Skaam Wasbessie(Afr.)

Family: Myricaceae

Status: Least Concern

Etymology: Morella most probably comes from the Latin word Morus for Mulberry. The ripe fruits resemble miniature Mulberries. humilis means humble and refer to the low growing habit of the plants.

Location: Widespread in diverse habitats.

Distribution: Western and Eastern Cape.

Notes: This is one of 3 species of Morella on Gondwana. These shrubs resprout after fire and plants are either male or female. Traditionally the waxy layer was boiled off the fruits. The wax was later scooped off for the making of candles, soap and wax. This process was observed and documented by Thunberg in 1772. The wax is in fact not a wax, but a true fat. The berry wax was eaten as food since early times by the Khoi and San.

Indigofera heterophylla

Common name: Diverse Indigo, Coral Flower.

Wilde ertjie (Afr.)

Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)

Status: Least concern

Etymology: Indigofera refers to the blue dye that’s evident when the flowers are pounded up.

Location: Widespread on Gondwana

Distribution: From Namakwaland to the Eastern Cape.

Notes: This is a prostrate spindly shrublet with sparsely hairy 3-foliate leaflets. Indigofera flowers depend on butterflies and other insects with long proboscises to pollinate the flowers. The pods that are produced burst open when ripe and fling the seeds in different directions.

Cheilanthes capensis

Common name: Cape Lipfern

Family: Pteridaceae

Status: Least concern

Etymology: keilo (Greek)=lip, anthos=flower, this refers to the liplike false indusium that covers the sporangia. capensis, refers to the Cape of good hope, where this fern was first collected by Carl Thunberg.

Location: mainly drier areas in rock crevices and

under rock ledges.

Distribution: South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia.

Notes: This species dies back in summer but recover quickly after rain. The pinnae have prominent veins and the margins are recurving protecting the sori underneath. Ferns in the Cheilanthes genus has shown to contain extracts that have anticancer, antigout, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive properties.

 

Erica glomiflora var. glomiflora

Common name: Common Yarn Heath, Lantern heath.

Family: Ericaceae

Status: Protected

Etymology: Erica is derived from the Greek word ereike which means to break. This probably refers to the brittle stems that break easily. glomiflora is derived from the Latin word glomus, meaning ball of yarn, referring to the shape of the flowers.

Location: Only found in one valley west of Suurvlakte.

Distribution: Riversdale to Humansdorp.

Notes: This species is very variable across its distribution range. The beautiful magenta form on Gondwana is unique, it is thus far only known from the Cloete’s Pass north of Herbertsdale. The leaves of Erica glomiflora is 3 nate and the magenta sticky flowers are in groups of 2-3. The anthers are unusual in having hairy tails. This species is pollinated by sunbirds but is likely also pollinated by insects. Plants are killed by fire and only regenerate by means of seed.

Romulea flava

Common name: Greenbract Froetang.

 Geelfroetang, Geelknikkertjie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

Status: Protected

Etymology: Named after Romulus the founder

and first king of Rome. flavus (latin)= yellow.

Location: Gate 1, Eloff, Kwena.

Distribution: Richtersveld to Humansdorp.

Notes: Geophyte with an oblique shaped corm. It has 3 to 4 grass like leaves. The flowers on Gondwana are butter yellow in colour. The peduncles (flower stalks) are highly mobile and bend down after pollination and strengthening to stand upright when the fruits mature. This species has become a weed in parts of Albany and Perth in Australia.

Romulea rosea

Common name: Rosy Froetang, Rosy Sandcrocus, Common onion grass. Perdefroetang, Knikkertjie, Spruitjie (Afr.).

Family: Iridaceae

Status: Protected

Etymology: Named after Romulus the founder and first king of Rome. Roseus (Latin)= rose-coloured.

Location: Widespread on anthropological habitats of Gondwana.

Distribution: Western Cape to Eastern Cape.

Notes: Romulea rosea is a geophyte with a cylindrical corm. It is easily confused with other Romulea species, but the rounded corm with a few scalelike teeth on the one side distinguishes it from similar species. It has a few grooved grass-like leaves. The flowers are variable in colour and range from cream to dark pink. Romulea rosea is a significant environmental weed in Australia, it is common on lawns and pastures. Here parrots have learned to dig them up to such an extent that it causes massive dust

storms. It has a high risk of becoming invasive in California. The ripe fruits are edible and have a mealy taste, in the past kids used to harvest and eat them. Francolins are quite fond of the corms and dig them out on the grassy plains of Gondwana. 

Crassula umbella

Common name: Fairybell Stonecrop

Family: Crassulaceae

Status: Least Concern

Etymology: Crassula is derived from the Latin word crassus that translates to thick. It refers to the thick succulent leaves.

umbella (Latin) =parasol, refers to the inflorescence structure.

Location: Eastern slopes, Nauga.

Distribution: Richtersveld to Humansdorp.

Notes: The genus Crassula consist of about 200 species. Crassula umbella is a tuberous geophyte with kidney shaped soft succulent leaves. The inflorescence consists of small, white nodding star shaped flowers in a cyme. In a cyme the central florets open first. The form originating from the Western part of the distribution range(Niewoudtville area) is known as “wine cup” due to the indented round shape of the leaves. This form is very popular with succulent collectors and sell for around R607 on the Internet.

Crassula rupestris

Common name: Kebab bush, Concertina plant, Baby

necklace vine, Rosary plant.

Sosatiebos, Bergkraaljie, Konsertinabossie (Afr.).

Family: Crassulaceae (Jade plant family)

Status: Least concern

Etymology: Crassula is derived from the Latin word crassus that translates to thick. It refers to the thick

succulent leaves. rupestris means “rock- loving” and

refers to its rocky habitat.

Location: Conglomerate, Hangkrans, Rooikrans, Whitehouse valley.

Distribution: Southern Namibia to the Eastern Cape.

Notes: The plants are variable across their wide distribution range. On Gondwana Crassula rupestris grow as a low growing decumbent lithophyte on rock faces and boulders. The leaves are partially fused at the base and it appears to be strung along the branches. The plants are long lived and can reach an age of 60 years. Plant were collected and taken to Europe in the early 1700’s where they were grown in greenhouses. They are popular in horticulture and ideal for pots and rockeries.

Crassula saxifraga

Common name: Stonebreaker Stonecrop.

Family: Crassulaceae

Status: Least Concern

Etymology: Crassula is derived from the Latin word crassus that translates to thick. It refers to the thick succulent leaves. saxifraga is also derived from Latin and means stone breaker. This refers to the rocky habitat where these plants are located.

Location: On west and mostly east facing

slopes in the Nauga.

Distribution: Namibia to Eastern Cape.

Notes: Crassula saxifraga is a perennial succulent with a small underground tuber. The plants are dormant in summer. These plants are not considered poisonous, but probably contains chemicals that game and even insects dislike as it is never eaten.

Original illustration of Crassula saxifraga, from Cutiss Bot. Magazine 1 Nov. 1873.