H E R B S                                                    NO 86     February 2008 BOTANICAL CENTRE ESCAPES FLAMES AGAIN

18.01.08: It was a perfect evening. Only a section of blackened Klipspringer reminded society members that the venue for the 48th AGM had nearly gone up in a rage of smoke and wind four days before. Even that day dangerously smouldering termite mounds were being dealt with behind the Visitors’ Centre. A line of devastation above the contour path and a back burn turning the flames away from Fernkloof bowl and the buildings showed the determination of the firefighters to save the reserve from even more massive destruction than had already occurred. Heroes were from the municipal work force joined by Hemel and Aarde farmers and their staff beating from above. We owe you guys. But now that the feeding frenzy of the speeding flames is over, botanists are starting to lick their lips in anticipation of exciting things to come. After all it is more than 40 years since Hoy’s Koppie burnt and 21 years since most of Northcliff and Klipspringer was blackened. There were also fires in 1991 and 2001. What fire ephemerals will reappear? Plans are already being made to monitor the rebirth of this giant burn. Some special mentions at the AGM: The 2007 Wildflower Festival was the 64th since the founding of the Horticultural Society in 1924. R50 000 of the proceeds will go towards the appointment of a second co-ordinator for the ecoeducation schools project. Fernkloof’s 50th anniversary celebrations included an exhibition of botanical art and a primary school art competition, organized by Margaret de Villiers. Frank Woodvine was given the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Overstrand Conservation Foundation at a Fernkloof party. A Fernkloof brochure sponsored by the Municipality was published in honour of the 50th anniversary. Donations at the Visitors’ Centre yielded R13 000 in 2007, including R1 800 over the festive season. Hall and Galpin Hut bookings yielded R30 000. The gardens are hosting local picnics and weddings and overseas strollers. The gardens team were finalists in the Mayor’s environmental award competition. The Herbarium has a new erica specimen Erica patiana found on Vogelgat by Pat Morrison. Paul Evans, now retiring, has been our accountant for 19 years. Thank you Paul. John Philip will take over. The nursery has had to enclose its seedling garden with electric fencing to ward off baboons. Chris van Schouwen replaces Margaret de Villiers on the committee. Editor’s note: Thanks to Carol Groenewald for those delectable pastries et al.

BIETOUBOSSIES ARE ‘WONS’ DOWN UNDER

Our sunshine bush, the bietou, which brightens up the coastal fynbos with its mass of yellow daisies, is WONS (a Weed of National Significance) in Australia. New South Wales in particular has a huge problem with Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata, a cousin of our daisy, as it is spreading abundantly along the sand dunes and coastal areas (80% already covered). It is even rated as a Class One Weed in Queensland. Biological control agents such as the leaf-rolling moth and bitou seed fly have been introduced to slow down the infestation. No-one is allowed to propagate, sell or distribute the plant. While volunteer hack groups over there are uprooting the bitou, we still have problems with Australian acacias, gums and myrtles. None of them have natural enemies in their new habitats and are an ongoing threat to the natural vegetation. Maybe we should organize an exchange hack group association with interested parties removing WONS on an international basis.

HANDS OFF THE CALEDON BLUEBELL!

The beautiful deep blue Caledon bluebell Gladiolus bullatus is growing more and more sparsely on our Fernkloof slopes – or so it seems to me. Every springtime we look for a few graceful blooms to grace the specimen table at the Flower Show but perhaps we shouldn’t pick one at all… According to G R Delpierre, writing 34 years ago in the Indigenous Bulb Society of South Africa’s bulletin no.23 of l974, this bulb was in danger of vanishing even in those days. Its distribution is centred in the mountains of the Caledon district, but extends from Houw Hoek and the Kogelberg in the west to Bredasdorp and Potberg in the east. It appears to be happiest growing in heavy grey sandy soil very much on the acid side, in association with various restios. In other words, it is a ‘picky’ grower, opting for highly water retentive soil in mountain areas where even in summer there is some precipitation. The seeds are the smallest of any gladiolus evidently and enclosed in remarkably hard pods. However, ardent cultivators have been successful in raising the bluebell, but not all that successful in making it bloom. And therein lies the crunch. When you pick this particular gladiolus you will almost certainly kill the corm, for the high sheathing leaf is invariably removed at the same time. So although the lovely but strange gladiolus is still fairly widespread, bear in mind its easy demise from indiscriminate picking. Gladiolus bullatus was first collected in the later 18th century, but was only validly described by JG Baker in 1892. Its existence was established by Swedish botanists CP Thunberg and A Sparman in the early 1770s and was given this name in an unpublished manuscript in Sweden. P.S. Found in bush and weeds on the outskirts of our Fernkloof gardens at the end of November: Six exquisite white-going-on- pink gladiolus spikes . At first we thought it was Gladiolus grandiflorus (formerly floribundus) which sometimes we are lucky to catch flowering at Northcliff. But the experts zoned in and came up with the white (Hermanus) form of Gladiolus carneus, the famous, usually pink, Painted Lady with red markings. Professor Delpierre says in his book The Winter-growing Gladioli of South Africa that this is botanically a very confusing species. It is due to the extremely variable nature of the plants from different localities. It grows extremely well in cultivation.

DID YOU KNOW?

At last! We have a Fernkloof manager who has on-the-spot office accommodation at the Botanical Centre, together with two students. She is slim blonde Willemien Swanepoel who has an impressive list of academic qualifications together with some tough practical environmental experience. She grew up and studied in Potchefstroom where she gained a BSc majoring in Botany and Geography, an Honours degree in Environmental Management and an MSc in Plant Physiology. Her designation here is Environmental Officer Greater Hermanus. Grant Forbes and Kieron Piper are her student helpers. Crossing the Fernkloof River near Assegaibos early November, we were horrified to see that several of the giant ferns Todea barbra had disappeared from their habitat, leaving a muddy empty river bank. Safe Security have been informed, but anybody seeing plants of any kind in transit in the reserve should contact us or Safe immediately . This theft follows on the disappearance of the Quiver Tree in the aloe garden. Fernkloof is becoming more and more popular for picnics, weddings and parties. There were nine weddings over the holiday season! Irrigation of the amphitheatre lawn has been installed. An upgrade of the road into the reserve is on the cards.

PROGRAMME

HACKING MEETS :	08:00	September - March
	08:30	April - August

Tuesdays (third of each month) :	November 20
	December 18
	January 15
	February 19

The Mossel River needs your help! Hacks at present meet at the top of Riverside Road, Voëlklip. Sesbania, Acacia longifolia, baby gums are just some of the alien vegetation that need to be eradicated.

For further information contact Bob Hill 028-3121463

 

SOCIABLE OCCASIONS:

Annual braai: 15 February This will be held at Fernkloof on Friday February 15 (NOT 22 as previously stated) at 18h00 . To book, send R60 per person to the Hermanus Botanical Society, PO Box 208, Hermanus 7200. Bring your own tables, chairs and drinks. The Jonny Cooper Big Band Concert: 23 February (In aid of Overstrand Hospice). This will take place in the Fernkloof Amphitheatre on Saturday 23 February. Tickets at R100 each can be obtained from the Hospice Office , Aberdeen St., or from Dee tel.028-3124679. Bring picnic and chairs. Botstap excursions: Stilbaai 5 to 7 March Karoo National Park 20 to 22 May For more information contact Piet Joubert 028-3140264 Grand Autumn Hack: 9 March On Sunday 9 March we will be making an all-out attack on the alien vegetation abounding the banks of our lovely Mossel River (Reservoir Rd side). Time – 9h00 onwards. Dress – Hat and gloves essential. Come armed. A sumptuous tea will be served about 11h00 on the grass beside Reservoir Road. Everyone will be welcome – including dogs, children, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, friends and family. Rest assured there will be aliens to suit all sizes. For further information phone Bob on 028-3121463 or Geraldine on 083 327 5584.

For further information re walks please contact Piet Joubert

tel 028-3140264

Published by Hermanus Botanical Society, PO Box 208, Hermanus 7200 Editor: GERALDINE GARDINER - Fax (028) 313 0617