Press release Date: 27th March 2019 South Africa: Gondwana Game Reserve launches a hands-on Botanical Conservation Experience Explore indigenous wild flowers and plants that exist nowhere else in the world With the richest floral kingdom in the world and the recent discovery of the largest known population of a rare orchid thought to be […]
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Leucocelis amethystina
This stunning little Amethyst Fruit Chafer or Leucocelis amethystina is a little jewel in the fynbos. They can be metallic blue or green and the characteristic white dots. Couldn't get enough of this little guy. Read More
Moraea polyanthos
Moraea polyanthos, very confusing to identify at first as this was captured in gusts of wind and initially the characteristic centre of the Moraea flower was not so clear to me... so in the field it looked like Gladiolus stellatus but on close inspection using the photographs to identify it, it is more likely Moraea polyanthos. Also known as Bloutu Read More
Relhania pungens subsp. pungens
Relhania pungens subsp. pungens, is a delightful little plant that grows in a variety of habitats in Fynbos or grassland in stony, sandy or clay soils on flats and lower mountain slopes. This plant was about 30mm tall. The leaves can be quite variable from linear and sharply pointed to slightly softer and wider shape. the flowers appear to have dis Read More
Barleria pungens
Barleria pungens is a very spiny shrub that can grow up to 40 cm tall. The leaves are opposite and very spiny. The blue / purple flowers are about 15mm in diameter and have a long flower tube borne amongst spiny bracts. Flowers seem to shed soon after they bloom and can often be seen dangling on the tip of the style. Plants flower from spring to au Read More
Aspalathus alpestris
Aspalathus, the genus to which the rooibos tea plant belongs, is the largest member of the pea family endemic to South Africa. Aspalathus linearis, commonly known as the rooibos tea plant, is the only species of economic value. This above, is Aspalathus alpestris is a sprawling shrublet with slender branches. The leaves are single flat and narrow Read More
Pelargonium triste
Pelargonium triste also known as kaneeltjies (little cinnamon) grow up to 50cm tall. The flowers are about 15mm in diameter with yellow and maroon or black markings. The flowers emit a lovely cinnamon scent in the evenings are pollinated by months. It has a large tuberous Woodstock that is tannin rich and were used in Namaqualand for tanning leathe Read More
Decapotoma lunata beetles
Striking Lunate Blister Beetle or Decapotoma lunata feeding on the petals of Bobartia orientalis (Rush Iris) Read More
Tulbaghia capensis
Tulbaghia capensis also known as Wild Garlic. Plants are about 30cm tall while in flower. The flowers are short tubular and mostly a dull brown, green or purple. They have six bright orange lobes right at the mouth of the flower which are quite distinct. Plants flower from autumn to late spring. They are usually found in Sandolienveld, grassy Fynbo Read More
Crossyne guttata
Crossyne guttata also known as Sambreelblom or Parasol Flower. Plants can grow to be 45cm tall. Can be locally abundant in loamy soils in Renosterveld. They seem to flower best after fire but are not dependant on fire to flower. There can be up to 200 flowers on each flowerhead.Crossyne guttata (above) has the most fascinating leaves (below). I pho Read More
