in PE...perhaps unusual?
common on alkaline sands near coast
Or maybe Lobelia tomentosa
Disturbed ground
Previously only known from the Type (1938), collected right here, and one other collection (Acocks, 1962, Northumberland Point, some 4km to NE), it is remarkable that this species has remained unknown since then. Erroneously sunk into the very different O subulatum in CP2. This is sure to be Africa's most southerly endemic, occurring only within a few hundred metres of Cape Agulhas itself. The Northumberland Point locality may still exist, but I somehow doubt it as there was a lot of development in that area just after Acocks was there in 1962. I looked at various spots between here and his locality with no success.
Seems to be restricted to a tiny area less than 1ha in extent, on firm alkaline sands with marine cobbles, amongst dwarf thicket exposed to strong winds. Occurs with a creeping, tomentose form of the variable and widespread O monilifera (see pic 3). Hard to say how many plants as it creeps and is densely tangled, but given very small AOO likely to be less than 50, and should thus be upgraded to CR. Is within current Agulhas NP, but not necessarily safe, as occurs within 30m of the main road, and the area is heavily touristed, and at least 1ha of this habitat to the west is currently being dug up for an edifice to mark the southernmost point. Technically also vulnerable to sea level rise, as probably less than 2masl.
Calyx and petals woody!
Garden escapee along the road near the gate in Silvemine. Two plants in the ditch.
Agulhas National Park
I am stumped by this one. There were fields of Leucadendron uliginosum ssp uliginosum and then this one bright green Leuc with red cones. It had the same growth patterns as the other L, uliginosum in the vicinity. First thoughts were ssp glabratum, but seemingly that can't co-exist with ssp uliginosum. I wondered about rourkei and loeriense, but they occur some distance to the east. We did notice that there were occasional plants greener that the majority and we wondered if we weren't in a transition zone of some sort. It's over to you Meneer @tonyrebelo I have specimens of grey, greener and greener still if you need them. Please put me out of my misery
Is this possibly an invasive Aussie visitor - possibly spread from cut-flower production in the vicinity?
Friends were visiting in the area and were intrigued by the presence of several of these plants in bloom in what appears to be fynbos. Be glad of information from someone who can shed more light on the topic.
undescribed = sp 5 in CP2; Here to Potberg on alkaline sands over limestone
undescribed sp common in Strandveld N Olifants R ; D Gwynne Evans has teh spectaculalr provisional name of H bungholensis - after the Holgat Type locality!
see comments
Long underground rhizome, stopped digging when it turned vertically downwards, presumably to a tuber.
common on limestones along coast, to 1m
common along coast on limestone and occ sandstone cliffs and on limestone pavement and even on adj sands, often rather sprawling
Undescribed sp restricted to coastal calcretes from De Hoop to here; sp 2 in CP2
Regrowth after 2016 fire
Luminous green beetle to add lustre.
Disturbed roadside, Robertson Karoo vegetation type
to 1m; alkaline sands; about 20 plants; patchy
to 1.2m; fairly common here in Strandveld over limestone
now an Agulhas Plain endemic as all Cape Flats pops extinct; creeping; edges of saltmarsh and seasonal, saline pans, on sands; patchy
creeping; only plant seen in flower; on limestone pavement
abundant in deep, alkaline sands; to 1.2m; plants in shallower sands taking strain in drought
the baby in the genus (to 30cm incl infl); limestone endemic on exposed limestone or very shallow sands over limestone
large clumps just above HWM
occ in limestone and shallow sands over limestone; no lvs yet
on limestone and shallow adj sands; to 50cm; occ
to 40cm; woody; occ on exposed limestones; regional endemic
creeping; on stable alkaline sands; patchy; arguably not properly distinct from H schlechteri?
creeping on alkaline sands; prob J dubia - in spite of what CP2 says- not sure what distinguishes it from J maritima (probably nothing)
to 30cm; unbranched; rare, on limestones