Category Archives: KZN Midlands Wildflower

Searching for Disa scullyi

CREW fieldtrips are seldom dull. Kathy Milford compiled this report on a recent excursion:

The 4x4s packed with 10 wild flower lovers, wound their way up a steep hill to Lake Lyndhurst past magnificent indigenous forests dotted with Calodendron capense in full bloom. We passed many clumps of Dierama latifolium.

Kobus Kruger who has a thatched home on the lakeside then led us past the lake where we saw a beautiful dark red Brunsvigia natalensis, just before we left the beaten track.

The 4x4s bumped and jolted their way over the boulder strewn mountainside up to the top of the escarpment, with a quick stop to look at the white Craterocapsa tarsodes.

The view from the top was spectacular. Umgeni source Bertha Kobus 1

We looked down onto the vlei which is the source of the life giving uMngeni river.

The mountaintop of Drinkkop stood next to us. We were surrounded by beautiful flowers between the boulders in the grassland. The bright pink Delosperma lavisiae contrasted beautifully next to yellow Lotononis.

The dainty little white flowers of Sutera floribunda peeped between the rocks. A Stachys kuntzei was in full bloom.

A most delicate white Felicia was blooming and Rhus discolor was in berry.

Jamesbrittenia breviflora spread along the ground

and Indigofera woodii bloomed next to a rock. Helichrysum appendiculatum looked like a professionally made posy!

Scilla nervosa,

Tulbaghia natalensis, Oxalis and a beautiful Moraea sp were blooming close together.

Some distance away the eye catching Pelargonium luridum stood tall.

But we had orchids to find, so we climbed into the 4x4s to make our way down the hill to a vlei between Drinkkop and Lake Lyndhurst. We had a quick stop to admire a Disperis cardiophora which has an extraordinary rich spicy scent – enticing us to get down on our hands and knees to smell it.

A bright little Argyrolobium was blooming nearby.

We arrived at the vlei and blooming on the side of a dry looking bank was a black Corycium dracomontanum or nigrescens orchid.

We walked down into the vlei passing Monsonia attenuata,

Wahlenbergia and Monopsis.

The vlei was unbelievably full of orchids. Satyrium trinerve 2

The white Satyrium trinerve were blooming in their hundreds and were the first to catch ones eye.

In between were dozens of Satyrium longicauda.

There was a single orange Disa chrysostachya looking like a poker.

The Disa rhodantha were a rich pink

and the brightest yellow Schizochilus zeyheri were blooming prolifically in between the tall grasses.

There was one lonely potential Disa scullyi which was past its prime and which Benny Bytebier too back to the herbarium to confirm its identity. Yes! it is Disa scullyi – at last we found one!

Having saturated ourselves with the numbers and varieties of orchids we made our way back to the house next to the lake to recharge. We had made a brief stop en route to look at an extraordinary Disa versicolor.

After lunch we set off home. A short stop at a little vlei on the way out of the Bravazulu estate did not yield any new orchids but there were little insectivorous Drosera natalensis glistening in the sunlight at the edge.

One lady got stuck up to her knees in mud in the vlei, with water overflowing from her gumboots and was pulled out by Benny before she was swallowed up by the mud!

The weather was kind to us – a bright blue sky with white fluffy clouds was replaced with dark grey storm clouds which soon blew over, unlike the hailstorm which caused damage back in Pietermaritzburg.

Kobus Kruger was an excellent guide and host, and Suvarna “the Stig” Parbhoo turned out to be an expert 4WD driver! Thanks to Benny Bytebier for sharing his amazing orchid knowledge.

Elusive Orchids of Mahaqwa

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Midlands CREW arranged a field trip to Mahaqwa, also known as Bulwer Mountain, in the hope of finding flowering orchids with enchanting names like Disperis cardiophora, Satyrium neglectum, Disa versicolor, Disperis renibractea. We didn’t find them.

Many species are flowering later than usual this year and obviously, we were a little early. We did however find plenty of other delights to satisfy our passion for plant hunting. Including: Protea caffra and Protea roupellia, Morea inclinata,

Aristea woodii,

Schizoglossum elingue (a first for most of us),

usually with white flowers, but a few pink flowered ones too.

Wahlenbergia sp,

Senecio macrocephallus, really tall specimens of Geranium pulchrum beside a stream,

Gunnera – used medicinally during childbirth and in Lesotho the raw stems are eaten as sweets,

Helichrysum spiralepsis,

Lotononis lotonoides, Helichrysum splendidum, Ranuculus baurii with big leaves

and the dainty little Ranunculus multifidus,

Silene belladoides, Epilobium capense

Ornithogalum graminifolium, Urginea macrocentra

Stachys kuntzei,

Agapanthus campanualata, Mysotis semiplexicaulis

A curious fern like leaf that must have be part of the parsley family, perhaps Anthriscus sylvestris?

We spent ages trying to decide if the slender Kniphofia parviflora was in fact that,

Alchemilla woodii

Commelina africana, Drosera natalensis

Sebea sedoide,

Of course, we don’t just look at the plants, we spotted a African Harrier Hawk swirling below us and heard Barrett’s Warbler. Saw these beautiful butterflies too. Might this one be a Marsh Blue?

and this possibly a False Silver-bottom Brown?

Gaudy Commodore on Erica caffrarum,

Rubus ludwigii,

Morea trifida,

Hypericum lalandii,

Plenty of Brunsvegia undulata (not in flower yet), Dierama,

Ajuga ophrydis,

Berkheya macrocephala (also not flowering yet), Scabiosa columbaria, Indigofera hedyantha,

Alepidea natalensis , Streptocarpus pussilus, Cycnium racemosa

Eriosema distinctum, Craterocapsa tarsodes, Heliophila rigidiuscula, Aspidonepsis diploglossa,

Delosperma hirtum

Rhodohypoxis baurii with this tiny crab spider.

Aspidonepsis flava

Zaluzianskya microsiphon

Lotononis pulchella

Lotononis corymbosa

We puzzled over a very tall Helichrysum with red stems and clasping leaves. Anyone know what species it is? Thanks Alison Young for providing an id – Helichrysum mutabile .

and this – possibly Muralita sp

We climbed to 2013m above sea level – the views of the surrounding valleys were spectacular.

On the way back down, we did come across a few orchids, yay! – Satyrium longicauda and Disa stachyoides.

As we enjoyed a picnic (Eve’s Lebkuchen were particularly memorable), hang gliders launched themselves from the edge of the mountain and floated past like giant dragon flies. A special day with unexpected surprises – you never know how adventures will turn out.

Thank you Eve Hughes and Christeen Grant for the photographs.

Threatened Plant Species – Brunsvigia undulata

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AMARYLLIDACEAE Brunsvigia undulata [Rare]

Bulbous plant up to 800 mm, found in grassland near exposed rocks at Mahaqwa Mountain, Nottingham Road and south of Estcourt. Leaves are upright, about 15, in a fan, shiny blue-grey-green, margins wavy to tightly wavy, produced with flowers.

Photo by Peter Warren

It has 35-80 flowers in the inflorescence during January to February. The stem is rigid and strong, bracts are leathery; flowers deep red, tepal lobes recurved, stalks upright – about 300 mm.

Photo by Peter Warren

If you have seen this plant, please contact Suvarna Parbhoo, CREW programme: KZN Node Manager s.parbhoo@sanbi.org.za

References

POOLEY, E. (2005) a field guide to wildflowers KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. p.38

Snijman, D.A. & Victor, J.E. 2004. Brunsvigia undulata F.M.Leight. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2014.1. Accessed on 2014/11/28

Photo by Boston CREW

This information is complied by CREW KZN Node. To view other Threatened plants in this series, go to the Midlands Conservancies Forum website: http://www.midlandsconservancies.org.za/threatenedplants/tplants.php

Midlands Wildflower for December – Zantedeschia aethiopica

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Common Name: Arum Lily, Zulu Name: ihlukwe or intebe, S Sotho name: mothebe, Afrikaans name: Varklelie, Witvarkoor

As the Afrikaans name for this plant suggests, Zantedeschia is a favourite food of bush pigs and porcupines. While they make a real mess, they never actually destroy the plant. It sprouts again the next season from the remaining root stock.

The leaves are boiled and eaten as a vegetable in rural KZN. Marshy areas in the Midlands are filled with clumps of the lush, dark green, arrow shaped leaves topped by beautiful, faintly scented lilies in summer. Arums are found in many habitats, from the coast to the mountains, so make great garden plants for a variety of conditions.

The “flower” is actually many tiny flowers arranged in a complex spiral pattern on the central column. The top 7 cm are male flowers and the lower 1.8 cm are female flowers. This yellow column is surrounded by the white spathe (a modified leaf). Pollination is by crawling insects and bees, while birds disperse the ripe seeds.

Arum Lilies were introduced to Europe in the mid 1600’s and are extremely popular in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, in Australia this plant has become an invasive weed and much effort is expended on eradicating it. So be glad you live in South Africa where growing it is legal, easy and a joy. Propagation from ripe seeds or by division of the fleshy rootstock is simple. It is fast growing and will thrive in the sun with rich soil and plenty of water. Cut stems last very well in the vase and are often used in bridal bouquets.

Unfortunately, due to their popularity as cut flowers, they are being harvested from the wild. It is illegal to pick any wildflowers.

Mist on Mount Gilboa

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“Yes, Yes!” a voice floated through the swirling mist on Mt Gilboa last week. It was John Roff, delighted at finding Disa nervosa in bloom.

This plant mimics Watsonia and in the flower filled grassland certainly looked just like all the other Watsonias from a distance. Apparently, the similar colour and size of the inflorescences on different plants in the same location increases chances of being pollinated. “This is a pollination guild” John explained, pointing out the bright pink Cycnium racemosum near by too – all three plants the same colour and height, “Fooling the insects into thinking they are all the same plant.” Fascinating.

The occasion was a Midlands CREW fieldtrip. 15 flower enthusiasts turned up to explore the Mount Gilboa Nature Reserve owned and managed by Mondi. Mount Gilboa is almost 1800m above sea level and on clear days, the views of the Midlands are magnificent.

Mt Gilboa is located at the headwaters of three of KZN’s important river systems, namely the Umvoti River, the Myamvubu River that flows into the Mooi River, and the Mholweni River that flows into the uMngeni River. It includes extensive functional peat wetlands, which provide significant ecosystem services such as water purification and flood attenuation, and has 283 hectares of ‘critically endangered’ midlands mistbelt grasslands that were the focus of our attention.

Driving up from our gathering spot at Mbona, we had stopped on the roadside to admire large clumps of Dierama luteoalbidium, lots of Silene sp,

Ledebouria, Wahlenbergia, Senecio, Helichrysum, Papaver aculeatum and delightful Littonia modesta.

We found our first orchid on the roadside too – Disa stachyoides

In the gorgeous grasslands on top of the hill we found the following (and more) in flower: Psammotropha mucronata, Graderia scabra, Gladiolus longicollis,

Morea inclinata had just finished flowering, this little yellow Morea had us puzzled – Morea trifida perhaps?

Eriosema distinctum, Lobelia erinus, Gerbera ambigua, Albuca setosa, Crassula vaginata, Tulbaghia leucantha, lots and lots of Rhodohypoxis baurii, Delospermum (the vibrant flowers of these succulents always seem incongruous in the mist!)

Diclis retans, Kouhoutia amatymbica, Vernonia hirsutea, Hebenstretia dura, Senecio oxyriifolius, Geranium wakkerstroomium, tiny dark blue Agapanthus (probably minima)

Lots of indigenous bramble, Rubus ludwigii and Hypericum lalandii

The rocks which many plants grow close to are all Dolerite. Keith Cooper told us that there are lenses or fissures of bauxite running through these rock formations. Fortunately not in quantities large enough to attract the mining companies!

Indigofera foliosa were stunning and the large clumps of Aloe boylei were obviously the site of a research experiment – probably on pollinators.

Jamebritennia breviflora, Lotononis sp, Dimorphotheca,

Aspidonepsis flava , Scabiosa, bright pink Senecio (probably macrocephalus), Nemesia, Dipcadi viride

Felix Middleton was very excited at the many different Proteas we saw and photographed the following:

After enjoying our picnics and paging through our guides trying to id some of our finds,

we drove down to the vlei near Mark’s dam to search for Disa scullyi.

We didn’t have any luck, but were thrilled to see a pair of Blue Cranes with a tiny chick and this gorgeous little frog.

Masses of Dierama, Hesperantha and Gladiolus papillio in full bloom in the ‘Hydropholus Grassland’ (more Keith Cooper expertise.)

Standing tall in the wetland grasses, Kniphofia – fluviatilis perhaps?

This plant had us all flummoxed – the flower was familiar, but none of us had seen the flat round leaves edged with red hairs before. Thanks Isabel Johnson for identifying it as Berkheya speciosa subsp ovate.

After a spot of birdwatching , part of the group headed into the mist belt forest in search of Emplectranthus gerradii. The Mvoti CREW had joined us with the specific intention of looking for this rare climber in the Karkloof forest.

Kathy Milford reports: We walked down a bright grassy bank into the soft light of the forest. In no time, John spotted the creeper with heart shaped leaves, but it wasn’t flowering. We walked down to the crystal clear stream flowing over rocks. A shout from Felix, who is like the proverbial sniffer dog, told us he had found flowering Emplectanthus, which had some teeny flowers for us to see.

We also spotted – Knowltonia, Begonia sutherlandii, Impatiens hochstetteri, Scadoxis sp not flowering and Streptocarpus fanniniae,

We then retraced our steps out of the forest and up the grassy slope and saw Anthericum cooperi and lots more Watsonia as we walked along the road towards Benvie. The road winds between indigenous forest and a plantation where the forest plants are happily growing up the bank until they meet the plantation. On the banks we saw Heliophila rigidluscula, Geranium schlechteri, Polygala virgate and this Wahlenbergia that we think might be pallidiflora.

A real treat was finding the creeper Dioscorea sylvatica which is much collected as a muthi plant. It has a large flattened tuber (elephants foot) with divided heart shaped leaves.

We found Diaphananthe caffra low on the trunk of a tree. There are three little plants full of buds which are still not open. A magnificent end to a really great day of flower hunting. Thank you Richard Booth for organising the field trip and everyone for participating so enthusiastically.

Rare Treasures in the Hills

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Edgeware in Boston and Beacon Hill in Howick are two wonderful examples of Midlands Mist-belt grassland and revel floral jewels whenever they are explored.

David and Barbara Clulow of Midlands CREW took Hlengiwe Mtshali and Mbali Mkhize CREW staff from Durban, to Edgeware last week. They hoped to find some target species of wildflowers that they had not had success in locating the previous season, and to monitor the Schizoglossum bidens subsp hirtum (DD) population. David compiled this report.

The flowers were out in masses. Watsonias, Eriosemas, Moraeas and Acalyphas were there in green carpets and clumps, poised to bloom in the next week or two.

We were more than happy with what we saw. The climb was certainly worth it. Starting with the delightful Christmas Bells, Sandersonia aurantiaca

and as we walked upwards, a host of flowering plants, including Cycnium racemosum

Pachycarpus

Vigna

Eulophia leontoglossa

Eucomis autumnalis

Reaching our goal, the first person to spot a Schizoglossum bidens was sharp-eyed Barbara.

Then another 12 of these rare plants were found in the area. Not easy to identify with the fine thin leaves – only the flowers to alert one. (While eating my lunch I found one only 4 inches from my foot, nearly crushed by my rucksack). One of the other target species, Asclepas bicuspis was also recorded. This was the only example of a Asclepias bicuspis which we found, also very fine leaves as typical of the ground orchids in this genus.

Then another unexpected discovery on the way down again – a Disa crassicornis, which we had never before seen here or anywhere.

There were four plants, one of which had been broken off by a wandering cow, so we took it as a Herbarium specimen.

Hlengiwe and Mbali had a great day in the Midlands and learnt lots from the ‘oldies’! We also spotted a few enormous mushrooms.

Eve Hughes (also a Midlands CREW member) spends a lot of time on Beacon Hill so often spots real treasures there. This week, she found a few specimens of the Vulnerable Asclepias woodii in bloom.

Asclepias woodii is a Midlands Mist-belt endemic found in unburnt grassland and also on the CREW target list.

Eve’s sharp eyes spotted this delightful Schizoglossum stenoglossum

and Pachycharpus grandiflorus.

Eve leads a walk on Beacon Hill on the last Sunday of each month – there is something different in flower every time. Contact her to join the walk on 082 872 4333.

Boston Wildlife Sightings – November 2014

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Christeen Grant – Sitamani

Rain and thunderstorms in a typically Summer pattern almost every day, has resulted in a carpeting of wildflowers!

02 Cover after the storm IMG_2262

Black-backed Jackal call in the dark hours, Duiker daintily pick their way in dew laden grass in the early mornings and the family of three Common Reedbuck are often seen together near the house.

Flowers seen include: Ajuga ophrydis,

Albuca setosa,

Aristea cognata,

Aspidonepsis flava,

Aster bakerianus,

Cyphia elata,

Dimorphotheca jucunda,

Gladiolus longicollis the sweetly scented “Honey Flower” which only opens at night and in misty conditions, is pollinated by a Hawk Moth,

an abundance of Haemanthus humilis in a rocky patch,

one of my favourites Heliophila rigiuscula,

bright patches of Indigofera hilaris,

Lotononis corymbosa,

many Merwilla nervosa flowers,

the dainty Orithogalum graminifolium,

a stunning Pachycarpus natalensis,

the dainty trailing Pelargonium alchemilloides

and Pelargonium luridum,

bright red Peucedanum caffrum seed heads,

many Wahlenbergia sp including cuspidata

and vibrantly neon orange Watsonia socium scattered on the hillside.

Beautiful moths, these particularly caught my eye, a Bagworm on a Vernonia sp. this is the laval form of the Psychidae family of moths. Males have clear grey wings with hairy veins when they hatch, females never leave the laval bag. Once mated, most females remain in the bag, lay eggs within it and die. Insect Bagworm on Vernonia sp IMG_2325

A Slug moth,

Speckled / Wattle Emperor with it’s stunning pink ‘eyes’

and a delightful bright coloured moth which I haven’t been able to identify, does anyone know it’s name?

Red-collared Widow males are fully in their striking black courting plumage, red collars very bright, Striped Swallows in free flight sometimes swooping in and out of the house are only two of the myriad of birds around at the moment!

A lovely find of a hatched African Stonechat egg, neatly deposited out in the open away from the nest. Bird African Stonechat egg

Tiny Swee Waxbills forage for seeds in the grass,

close to a Four-striped Mouse that has become very tame.

Bev and Bruce Astrup – Highlands Glen

Hear African Fish-Eagle calling fairly often; Long-crested Eagles; African Harrier-Hawk; Water Mongoose often; Spur-winged Geese, Common Reedbuck on a daily basis at house

Barbara and David, visiting Gramarye, watching at birdfeeder: Pin-tailed Whydah female

Sparrow

Delighted to hear Grey Crowned Crane calling and then seeing the female in a field at The Willows feeding near a water furrow and calling to mate, who had gone “flyabout”. From regular duetting, they appear to be preparing for the breeding season. Also at feed table were regular visits by Village Weavers.

Greater Striped Swallows are nesting on the verandah and swooping about.

Gordon Pascoe – Keswick

Reported seeing 27 Grey Crowned Cranes flying over Keswick late in November

Crystelle Wilson – Gramarye

The decision I took some years ago to grow lots more indigenous plants in my garden is paying off handsomely with more bird species coming to inspect what is on offer by way of food or security for nesting purposes. A newcomer during November was Brimstone Canary who was out in the open contentedly munching on euphorbia seeds.

My previous sightings of this canary were usually near patches of forest elsewhere in the district. Brimstone is the largest of the canaries and has a heavy bill (Afrikaans name is Dikbekkanarie) and one could compare the differentiation in markings with the other two yellow canaries also found at Gramarye, the Yellow-fronted and Cape Canaries.

African Firefinch ventured out in the open, while Dark-capped Yellow Warblers, African Reed Warblers

and Little Rush Warblers continued to kick up a din along the river.

Along the Dargle Road I was pleased to spot a little band of Orange-breasted Waxbills, a species that appear to be in some trouble. It is always exciting to see a swirl of swifts moving across the sky and usually it is a challenge to identify them. Alpine Swift is the easiest because of its large size, white chin and belly and the power and speed of its flight.

It was very satisfactory to take a birder friend who wanted to see a Bush Blackcap to the Norwood forest, stopping the car and telling her it should be here somewhere, and the next moment she was calling out she’s found it.

The SABAP2 list for Elandshoek pentad 2935_3000 was: Yellow-throated Petronia, Greater Honeyguide, Red-chested Flufftail, Red-collared Widowbird, Reed Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant, Jackal Buzzard, Red-capped Lark, African Darter, Red-throated Wryneck, Yellow-billed Kite, Cape Glossy Starling, African Fish-Eagle, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Southern Red Bishop,

Zitting Cisticola, Blacksmith Lapwing, Red-billed Quelea, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Sparrow, House, Pied Starling, African Pipit, Pied Crow, Forest Canary, Wattled Crane, Red-winged Starling, Cape Batis, Sombre Greenbul,

Black-backed Puffback, Green-backed Camaroptera, Bar-throated Apalis, Black Cuckoo, Speckled Pigeon, Long-tailed Widowbird, Buff-streaked Chat, White-throated Swallow, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Three-banded Plover, Little Grebe, Cuckoo, Red-chested, Brown-throated Martin, Common Fiscal, Black Saw-wing, Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, African Firefinch, Speckled Mousebird, Cattle Egret, Brimstone Canary, Neddicky, Terrestrial Brownbul, Yellow Bishop, Barratt’s Warbler, Yellow-billed Duck, Yellow-fronted Canary,

Black-headed Heron, African Reed-Warbler, Long-crested Eagle, Diderick Cuckoo,

Cape Grassbird, Common Quail, Bokmakierie, African Sacred Ibis, Greater Striped Swallow, African Black Duck, Common Waxbill, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Cape Sparrow, Amethyst Sunbird, African Harrier-Hawk, Dark-capped Bulbul, Spur-winged Goose, African Stonechat, Red-necked Spurfowl, Egyptian Goose, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Little Rush-Warbler, African Rail, Cape Wagtail, Cape Longclaw, Fan-tailed Widowbird,

Burchell’s Coucal, Cape Crow, Cape Turtle-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, Helmeted Guineafowl, Black-headed Oriole, Cape Robin-Chat, African Hoopoe, Cape Canary, African Paradise-Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Southern Boubou, Olive Thrush, Hadeda Ibis, Grey Crowned Crane, Barn Swallow.

During a visit home Matthew Murray took time out to accompany me to Impendle town to do a SABAP2 atlas list. We ticked 61 birds in about three hours, the highest total so far for this pentad.

The list for Impendle pentad 2935_2950 was: Pin-tailed Whydah, Yellow-billed Duck, African Rail, African Reed-Warbler, Black-headed Heron, Red-chested Flufftail, Long-tailed Widowbird, Little Rush-Warbler, Spur-winged Goose, Grey Crowned Crane, Common Waxbill, Familiar Chat, Speckled Mousebird, Common Myna, Wattled Starling,

Red-chested Cuckoo, Pied Starling, House Sparrow, African Harrier-Hawk, Cape Wagtail, Cape Turtle-Dove, Cape Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Buff-streaked Chat, Cape Crow, Blacksmith Lapwing, Blue Crane,

Cattle Egret, Pied Crow, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Red-collared Widowbird, Lanner Falcon, Dark-capped Bulbul, Cape Longclaw, Cape Grassbird, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Bokmakierie, Yellow Bishop, Jackal Buzzard, African Pipit, Cape Glossy Starling, Fork-tailed Drongo, Cape Weaver, African Dusky Flycatcher, Levaillant’s Cisticola,

Drakensberg Prinia, African Sacred Ibis, Cape White-eye, Black Saw-wing, Little Grebe, Red-knobbed Coot, South African Shelduck, African Spoonbill, Cape Canary, Egyptian Goose, Cape Robin-Chat, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Common Fiscal, Hadeda Ibis, Greater Striped Swallow, African Stonechat.

Threatened Plant Species – Disa scullyi

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ORCHIDACEAE Disa scullyi [Endangered]

Slender plant about 500 mm tall. It is found in swampy areas, in the midlands and in Mphendle and Estcourt. Leaves are 2-4, upright and usually folded together lengthwise. Petals upright, twisted to face forward, closing the spur entrance. Flowers spreading, facing down, pink or white with green lip and scentless. It flowers from December to February. Threats are habitat loss, disturbance of forestry plantations, competition from Alien invasive plants and development.