Noisome Sunday Flower Walk

Yes, noisone because we couldn't seem to get away from the stench that the southeaster was bringing from the stinky dam of Oude Molen Distillery!

The smell was even stronger than these Helichrysum foetidum, which thankfully are nearly over. They are well named!

Helichrysum foetidum. Hold your nose!

The water level of the dam on the Experimental Farm is dropping, making it easier to get to the Nymphaea nouchali:

Nymphaea nouchali

Here the difference between them and the smaller-leaved yellow-flowered Nymphoides indica can be seen:

Nymphaea nouchali left and Nymphoides indica right

The Buchu Agathosma betulina flowers are shy, just about three on one branch on quite a big bush. However, seeds must be spreading because there are about eight or ten small plants doing well around it.

Buchu Agathosma betulina flower

We have recorded six healthy Roella incurva plants, far away enough from the ones in danger of being washed away.

Roella incurva, a safe distance from the wash-away

We had another look at the Butterspoon, Rooi Els Cunonia capensis we found last week. The new growth looks vigorous and healthy.

Butterspoon Cunonia capensis Rooi Els

The 'spoon' is slightly hollow on one side and the other is veined like this. The next two are forming in the axils on each side.

Detail of the back of the 'spoon'

This year's flowers are forming on the Brunias, last year's are turning brown.

Brunia, new flowers and old

All year we've been watching for this Erica to flower. It has us stumped.

Unknown Erica

Another view:

Unknown Erica

The flowers are like E. coccinea, but the leaves are not, as can be seen from this one growing close by. Its leaves grow distinctly in tufts and the new flowers are not so advanced:

Erica coccinea

Another large Campylostachys cernua we haven't seen before:

Campylostachys cernua

Pity we didn't find it before, it must have been impressive covered in flowers. There were just a few left. Campylo means bent over, that must refer to the flowers, but stachys means grain, as in wheat:

Campylostachys cernua flowers

Looking up from that, I saw a mass of blue! No less than 22 flowers on this group of Agapanthus walshii!

22 Agapanthus walshii flowers!

One might wonder why they're so rare, but look at this, it seems that there is only one viable seed on each flower, the rest don't seem to have formed, or are completely missing.

.... but very few seeds!

We were on a road we haven't checked for many weeks. The pink Ericas there form large patches of colour in the veld.

Pink Ericas colouring the veld

What is this, with its long bare stalks and tiny five-petalled flowers?

What is this?

Flower detail from the top:

Flower detail

... and from the side, and a spent flower:

Flower and spent flower from the side

Another happy-looking bunch of Agapanthus walshii, with eight flowers. I remember this one from before, it may have had one or two flowers maximum.

Eight Agapanthus walshii flowers

The Watsonia schlechteri are past their best now, we seem to have missed the peak flowering season in this area, while we were concentrating on them on the other side.

Watsonia schlechteri

Flower on the tip:

Flower detail

This Erica pulchella was worth stopping for!

Erica pulchella

Another healthy looking group of Agapanthus walshii, on the way down in an area we haven't seen them flowering before.

More Agapanthus walshii!

From yesterday, on the way to the Water-Mill in Bot River, on Houw Hoek Pass, the Aulax umbellata are in flower!

Aulax umbellata in Houw Hoek Pass

Detail of the male flower:

Male Aulax umbellata flower

:-) A

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