Feather-duster Bush

Tags

Aulax umbellata, environment, Flowers, fynbos, South African endemic plant

 

I was very privileged to spend some time in Hermanus over the Festive Season. A short walk up into Fernkloof Nature Reserve revealed these magnificent Feather-duster Bushes.

Aulax umbellata

Aulax umbellata is one of the three species which form the genus Aulax, the other two being Aulax cancellata, the channel-leaf featherbush and Aulax pallasia, the needle-leaf featherbush. The genus name is from the Greek aulax, a furrow. This refers to the channelled leaves of Aulax cancellata. The species name umbellata refers to the umbel shaped, nearly flat female flowerheads.The plants of the genus Aulax are dioecious, with separate male and female plants. The flowers of the male plants are bright lemon yellow, arranged in small lax spikes, which open over a period of several weeks. The new leaves of some of the plants are a beautiful purplish brown from early September, slowly fading to green after the end of the flowering period. The leaves of Aulax umbellata are more or less needle shaped, but considerably wider than the other two species, and this is the main distinguishing characteristic for the species.

Aulax umbellata occurs mainly on coastal lowlands in the Western Cape province, from Kogelberg to Stilbaai, where it often forms dense stands. The plants grow in very well drained sandy soil.

Aulax umbellata

O B

Tags

Animalia, Biology, birds, Erica, Flora and Fauna, fynbos, Orange breasted Sunbird, South Africa, Species

Every early Summer these little Orange Breasted Sunbirds come down from the Mountain to find easier foraging in suburban gardens.

Obviously due to its restricted range within fynbos this sunbird is associated with Ericas, from which it takes nectar, insects (often taken in flight) and spiders. It breeds when the heath flowers, typically in May. The male defends its territory aggressively, attacking and chasing intruders.

This tame species is a common breeder across its limited range, and is an altitudinal migrant, moving to higher altitudes during the southern summer in search of flowers. It is gregarious when not breeding, forming flocks of up to 100 birds.

Related articles

• White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala) (sonelcorner.wordpress.com)
• Fynbos: Natural Vegetation in the Western Cape (deeproets.wordpress.com)
• Home made bird water feeder 

Kirstenbosch

Tags

100 years, art gifts, art print, cold days, deviantart, Flowers, fynbos, garden, nature, photo art, photography, plants, print art, South African endemic plant

A wonderful outing to do in these cold days. The walk around Kirstenbosch will warm your soul. The Fynbos is starting it’s Winter display. A wonderful sight to behold.

Buy this print (Free download)

• Photo
• Art print
• Art gifts

Related articles:

Kirstenbosch celebrates 100 years

It has begun

Tags

biodiversity, bitterbossie, Chirona, environment, Erica, floral, floral kingdoms, fynbos, fynbos biome, garden, Helichrysum, Metalasia, nature, organic, plants, protea, secret season, South African endemic plant, Table Mountain, vascular plant species, Western Cape, wild flowers, world heritage site

After the good rains we have had this past week, the Table mountain has started to come alive. This time of the year is always known as “The Secret Season” here in the Western Cape floral kingdom.

The Cape Floristic Region, the smallest of the six recognised floral kingdoms of the world, is an area of extraordinarily high diversity and endemism, and is home to more than 9 000 vascular plant species, of which 69 percent are endemic. Much of this diversity is associated with the fynbos biome, a Mediterranean-type, fire-prone shrubland. The economical worth of fynbos biodiversity, based on harvests of fynbos products (e.g.wildflowers) and eco-tourism, is estimated to be in the region of R77 million a year. Thus, it is clear that the Cape Floristic Region has both economic and intrinsic biological value as a biodiversity hotspot.

Table Mountain National Park is a World Heritage site since 2004.

A short stroll up the mountain confirmed that the “Secret Season” has begun.

Chirona baccifera or “Bitterbossie” (Afrikaans) full of medicinal berries.

Erica abietina starting to flower

 

Erica plukentii is a favourite with the Sunbirds

 

The Metalsia muricata full of  honey smelling white flowers, making the mountain Silver in the late afternoon light.

The Tortoise Berry or Nylandtia Spinosa  giving a beautiful purple guile to its thorns

The Black Bearded Sugar bush Protea (Protea lepiocarpodendron), so soft and velvety.

The oleander leaf protea (Protea neriifolia) often known as  baardsuikerbos presumably because it looks as if it has a beard.