Sunday 18 December 2016

Agapanthus walshii are Out!

In the last few months we have logged every Agapanthus walshii plant or population we have found, recording GPS co-ordinates and giving them a name. Occasionally in my Fire duties in this sector, which is bigger than the area we walk normally, I have found and recorded more.



The most astonishing population is in an area which was completely forested and near a road we have walked on hundreds of times. If the plants had come up, flowers or not, we would have seen them. With the forest cut down and a fire almost two years ago, the population is the strongest we know of, and incidentally, has come into flower earliest!


This is only a part of this population. The exciting thing is that through doing nothing to those plants we know about, besides plotting them, we know they will survive the next 'crop' of pines now planted in this area, over the coming 20 or more years!


Immediately noticeable is how few flowers are in each bud.

In this immediate area we found for the first time a group of tiny Proteas.


Some have a single flower at the tip.


On others, it looks as if we will be treated to a bunch!


The Purple Powder-puff Pseudoselago serrata which we've been watching develop for months now, are in full flower, and will probably go on flowering for some weeks to come. The purple splashes in the veld are difficult to miss!


The 'puff' up close, as usual, with a bug:


We were walking along the dividing road between 'compartments' of new forest we call 'Therianthus', wondering whether the dry conditions will hold them back, and sure enough, we found some!


This particularly bright, and late-flowering Daisy caused me to get up close!


And on the way I found some Mesembryanthemums also still in flower.


Flower and spent flower detail:


The flowers on the Sour Figs Carpobrotus edulis are over, leaving interesting-looking fruit/seed pods:


Some of the pink-centred Helichrysums have turned black already!


A healthy stand of Rush Iris  Bobartia filiformis:


The Star Grass Ficinia have lost their bright yellow colour, but they are still impressive!


In places, there a good crop of berries on the Teedia (or Oftia?) plants!


We are not sure what this is, a Metalasia, perhaps?


Flowers up close:


We seem to have lost the few specimens of the tall Erica obliqua where we plotted them before the fire. Several hundred metres away, we have found several plants, now about to flower, which we hope might be more.


Bud detail:


:-) Andy

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