SANParks.org Forums

Hello, I am new here, but I like what I see!
One of my interests is the conservation value of sites that are not strictly parks, but incidentally protect or establish local ecologies by excluding harmful human activities. One example is nuclear power station territory surrounding eg Koeberg, and also its cooling water outlets into the sea. Another is the area around the nuclear waste repository at Vaalputs. I attach (I HOPE!) pictures I took of some delightful little plants in the viciously arid veld of Vaalputs. They may well also occur in the West Coast or Karoo Parks. Certainly some of their close relatives do.







These interest me especially because they share a characteristic that I observed in several families growing there: tiny plants with surprisingly large (though still small) inflorescences.

Incidentally, can anyone identify the tiny blue flower growing next to the Gazania?

In general, it is worth seeing just how many spp. one can see in some such pictures...

Cheers,

Jon

Hi Jon,

Welcome to the forum!

Glad to see someone interested in flowers!
Great photo of the Zaluzianskya (purple Drumsticks)

Your tiny blue flower next to the Gazania is a Wahlenbergia - not 100% sure which one but i would go for W. prostrata.

I'm hoping that someone will be able to help with IDs on some of the plants that I saw in KTP in February/March 2010. The map/guide book includes a dozen of the most comon plants/trees, which is a big help, but there are many more that I noticed that are not included. Here are a few.

1




2


3

Morning Arks

The last photos is maybe a Cleome gynandra
Annual....erect clusters of spider-like flowers.
Flowering time ..late summer to autumn
Found under tree,in disturbed areas and around pan edges

Also known as African cabbage,spider wisp, oorpeultjie, snotterbelletjie

Info from Flowering Plants of the Kalahari Dunes..pg 164
.
Still checking others for you.

Photo no 2

adenium oleifolium

Also know as bitterkambro, ouheip, pylgif.

Used as one of ingrediants of arrow poison. Also used to treat wounds, snake bites and to treat fever and stomach ailments.

Same book ..pg 202

Photo no 1

Possibly
Neuradopsis austro-africana
Also known as windeblommetjie.

But also check Grielum humifusum also known as common grielum, pietsnot, duikerwortel

I am not a fundi on flowers..I am really just looking in my books. The photos in books are small ..not easy to see the difference.

Maybe you can research these 2 flowers Arks and make up your own mind

Both these flowers are on pg 166 of the above mentioned book.

Hope I have been of some help. I also hate not knowing what I have photographed !!!

WoW, thanks Michele! (I think that I need to get that book! ) And yes, you've been a HUGE help, because the only flower/plant book that I have is for fynbos. You're at least now giving me a place to start with the googling ... going off to research #1 now

Edit: Have googled both your suggestions for #1 and think it's definitely the later, Grielum humifusum .

Welcome to the forum Jon...and lovely pics of flower.
Interesting info..thank you !

Pleasure Arks....

Here are some more of my Kgalagadi "mystery plants" — all seen in February 2010. Any help with ID will be much appreciated!

1


2




3

Morning Arks...

No 3 maybe Aptosimum albomarginatum ..snapdragon family /koegab.
or possibly....Aptosimum marlothii...koffiepit

No 2 ...Monechma genistifolium ..acanthus family/perdebos

No 1 ...still looking.

Again google names and compare your photos...pictures in books really small and cannot see much.

A very belated thank you Caracal As you suggested, I also googled and your IDs are spot on

Any luck with finding #1?

wow you 2 are getting good at ID'ing these arid flowers

Nice pics arks!

I will help out a bit with #1
It is Gisekia africana - (Ostrich herb).

Thanks for helping us out Jakkelsbessie....
That flower is in my book..but really the photograph could be of anything...

Agree..nice pics Arks.