Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain

Authors: Hugh Clarke; Bruce Mackenzie
Struik Publishers
Cape Town, 2007
ISBN: 9781770073838
Soft cover, 15x21 cm, 96 pages, throughout colour photos

Description:

Common Wild Flowers of Table Mountain is aimed at flower-lovers, hikers and mountain climbers who wish to know more about the flowers they are likely to encounter on their outings.

This easy-to-use guide describes a variety of walking routes that crisscross the mountain, and features some 200 flowers that can be seen along the way.

It presents information in simple, accessible language, along with a clear photograph of each flower described.

The images are grouped and arranged according to colour, making them easy to find.

The specific location of each flower is pinpointed by means of codes on the route maps, which are clearly illustrated on the inside covers of the book.

For anyone with an interest in identifying the flowers of the mountain, this will be an indispensable guide.

About the Author:

Bruce Mackenzie, an outdoors enthusiast with a sound knowledge of Table Mountain (having hiked up it more than 700 times), has a passion for processing data that was put to good use recording and classifying the authors’ many observations about the area’s most commonly occurring flowers.

Hugh Clarke, a keen hiker with a passion for the outdoors, decided to learn more about Table Mountain’s wild flowers after retiring, and documented the floral wonderland he discovered on his walks on the mountain.

Using this book:

Photographs: Most readers will probably rely largely on the photographs provided to identify flowers; many plants are distinctive and you should have no problem identifying them in this way.

The photographs are mostly close-ups, showing what you would see if you were right next to the flower, and some have inserts that provide a more distant view of the flowering plant.

The flowers are grouped together in sections according to their colour, and each page has a colour bar reflecting the tint of the flowers on that page; this makes it easy to find a colour match for any specimen.

We have grouped flowers according to the predominant colour of their petals (red, yellow, blue, etc.). Some flowers have a variety of colour forms; we show and describe the colour variant we found most often on Table Mountain, and also indicate other colour possibilities.

If a flower has blue petals and a yellow centre, ignore the colour of the flower's centre and turn to the blue-coded pages. Remember that flowers' colours can vary and you may find specimens of a lighter, darker or even a different shade altogether from the one shown in this book. Beneath each photograph is a tinted panel showing two further tools to aid identification of the species.

Flowering season: This reflects the months in which we, the authors, saw that species in bloom. Note that flowers may well grow outside these months, but if you have two 'lookalikes' and one is not meant to be in flower at the time you are looking at it, this may help identify the species.

Height: The height of each plant is given, in metres or centimetres. Bear in mind, however, that the height of plants can vary according to maturity of the plant, locality, frequency of fires, climatic variation and so on. We have used the term 'up to . . .' to accommodate such variations. In general, we have followed the heights specified in Goldblatt & Manning's Cape Plants: A conspectus of the Cape Flora of South Africa, moderated by our own observations of those plants seen on Table Mountain.

Flower descriptions: If you cannot identify the flower by looking at the photograph, read the text description alongside any likely photographs, which will provide the following key identifying features:

Leaves: Leaves are described in terms of size (large, small), shape (oval, round, sword-shaped), texture (rough, smooth) and where they are on the plant (high, low). Remember that leaf size is relative to the flower size - a Targe' leaf on a small-flowered plant may be described as a 'small' leaf on a large-flowered plant. Illustrations of the leaf shapes are provided in the illustrated glossary (page 87).

Flower head: We describe the main features without going into botanical detail, using the term 'flower head' in its most general sense: it can mean a dense cluster of tiny flowers, but our description refers to the overall impression of the head, not the tiny, individual blossoms.

Distribution: Here we indicate how widely dispersed the flowers are, showing the likelihood of finding the flower during the flowering season. Some flowers have very localized habitats while others are found seemingly everywhere. We have used the following terminology in the text:

Rare: Found in only a few locations; recorded in 5 or fewer sectors in a year.
Occasional: Recorded in 6-10 sectors in a year.
Fairly common: Recorded in 11-25 sectors in a year.
Common: Recorded in 26-40 sectors in a year.
Frequently found: Recorded in more than 40 sectors in a year.

Do not be disheartened if some wild flowers are indicated as 'Rare'. Some, like the Red Disa, while rare, can appear in their hundreds in a localized habitat. We give examples of the sectors where you will find specific flowers, and sometimes even the precise locations - this will help your search enormously.

We are confident that, in the flowering season (August to March), you could see 50 to 100 of the flowers featured in this book in a day. If you walk to various parts of the mountain, you could see all the flowers in this book in any year. Rushes, reeds, sedges and grasses have been excluded from this book; they are generally less visually interesting, and identification of these species, in many cases, requires specialist knowledge.

Habitat: Every plant has a preferred environment in which it thrives. Various factors, like rainfall, soil type and the amount of sunshine or shade, determine a plant's habitat (the place where it lives). On a mountain, two factors in particular play a critical role in determining habitat: altitude and rainfall.

We have identified three broad indicators of altitude on Table Mountain and use these to describe where the flowers are most likely to be found (see Map 1, inside front cover). They are:

• lower slopes: up to about 400 m
• upper slopes: from about 400 - 800 m
• peaks and summits: from about 800 - 1000 m

In addition, you need to be aware that rainfall varies on Table Mountain: western and northern slopes are fairly dry; eastern and south-eastern slopes and mountain tops are, by contrast, high-rainfall areas.

Specific locations: For the purposes of this book, we divided the mountain into 83 sectors and recorded the particular flower sightings in each sector. For all the flowers, we give a number of locations where they are most likely to be found, together with map references. Please note that the flowers described may be found in many other sectors in addition to those we list. Note, too, that all flowers should be visible from the footpaths - do not walk off the paths.

Example:

Green Sugarbush - Groenhofiesuikerbos
Protea coronata (Protea family)

An erect shrub or small tree with a hairy main stem. Up to 3 m, June-October.

Leaves: Upward-curving, spear-shaped, green leaves, that become purple-tinged near and around the
flower head.
Flower head: Large, bright green and white, somewhat hidden by the surrounding leaves. The only bright
green Protea Sugarbush with a white 'bearded' tip found on the mountain.
Distribution: Occasional.
Habitat: High rainfall areas, lower slopes, eastern areas. Likes clay soils.
Specific locations: Cecilia Forest ascent CF; Kirstenbosch Gardens; Lion's Head LH; Orange Kloof OK; Suikerbossie SBl.

Index:

Aambeibossie 37
Adenandra uniflora 72
A. villosa 72
Agapanthus 23
Agapanthus afrkanus 23
Agathosma ciliaris 38
A. ciliata 38
Agretjie 41
Altydbos 80
Altydvygie 30
Amaryllis belladonna 39
Amphithalea imbricata 28
Anagallis arvenis 23
Anaxeton 71
Anaxeton /aere 71
Anemone tenuifolia 73
Anisodontea scabrosa 38
Appelkoostulp 58
Arctotheca calendula 60
Arctotis 77
Arctot/s aspera 77
Aristea africana 20
A capitata {major) 22
A. spiralis 78
Arum Lily 84
Aspalathus barbata 54, 57
A. chenopoda 58
A. cordata 54, 57
Athanasia crithmifolia 55
Autumn Painted Lady 51
Autumn Pipes 38
B
Baardsuikerbos 49
Babiana 23
Babiana ainbigua 24
B. villosula 23
Balloon Pea 48
Basbos 63
Basterslakblom 74
Beesbos 55
Belskruie 83
Bergbaroe 77
Bergboegoe 38
Bergdahlia 53
Bergklappers 83
Berglelie 45
Bergpypie 51, 72
Bergseldery 67
Bergskaapboegoe 72
Berkheya barbata 57
Berry Heath 35
Berzelia lanuginosa 81, 82
Biesiesriet 63
Bietou 61
Black-bearded Sugarbush
69
Black-eyed Susan 85
Blinkblaartolbos 62
Blister Bush 67
Blombos 71
Bloodroot 29
Blossom Tree 37
Blouaarbossie 27
Bloublomsalie 25
Blouertjieboom 32
Blouertjiebos 28
Bloulelie 23
Bloumoederkappie 22
Blouraaptol 25
Blouselblommetjie 23
Blousysie 21
Blou-uintjie 29
BlouvuurpyI 22
Blue Disa 22
Blue Pea Bush 28
Blue Pimpernel 23
Blue Rocket Bugloss 24
Blue Satinflower 21
Blue Sceptre 22
Bobartia indica 63
Bobbejaankool 61
Bobbejaantjie 24
Bolusafra bituminosa 54
Bosastertjie 29
Botterblom 60
Brachysiphon fucatus 40
Brandblaar 68
Brandblom 54
Broad-leaved Stork's Bill 42
Brown Sage 50
Brown-beard Sugarbush 49
Bruinsalie 50
Brunia noduli flora 81, 82
Bulbine alooides 60
Bulbinella nutans 70
Bush Blue Pea 27
Bush Felicia 29
Buttonhole Saffronbush 63
Buzz Ixia 41
c
Calycina 81
Cape Anemone 73
Cape Bogbean 64
Cape Everlasting 69
Cape Fire Arctotis 54
Cape Geranium 75
Cape Gorse 58
Cape Hibiscus 64
Cape Scabious 28
Cape Snow 81
Cape Snowdrop 73
Cape Sweet Pea 41
Cape Weed 60
Carpobrutus edulis 63
Cat's Claws 45
Chasmanthe aethiopica 47
C. floribunda 47
China Flower 72
Chincherinchee 79
Chironia baccifera 37
Christmas Berry 37
Chrysanthemoides
monilifera 61
Chrysocoma coma-aurea 55
Cineraria geifolia 62
Cliffortia ruscifolia 42
Climber's Friend 42
Cluster Disa 46
Coat-hanger Heath 43
Coleonema album 82
Comb Flower 21
Commelina africana 51
Common Babiana 24
Common Bonnet Orchid 66
Common Bulbine 60
Common Butterfly Lily 51
Common Button Daisy 75
Common Buttonbush 81
Common Paintbrush 46
Common Paperflower 85
Common Romulea 31
Common Rosinbush 60
Common Sorrel 58
Common Starheath 80
Common Sugarbush 49
Common Sunshine
Conebush 85
Common Tickberry 61
Confetti Bush 82
Corymbium africanum 30
Cotula turbinata 75
Cotyledon orbiculata 48
Crassula capensis 73
C. cocc/nea 45
C. fascicularis 71
C. pellucida 30
Crossyne guttata 39
Cullumia setosa 57
Cyanella hyacinthoides 25
Cyphia bulbosa 73
C. volubilis 77
D
Dainty Butterfly Bush 32
Dilatris corymbosa 29
D. pillansii 29
Dimorphotheca nudicaulis
82
D. pluvialis 82
Diosma hirsuta 74
D. oppositifolia 74
Dipogon lignosus 41
D/sa comuta 24
D. ferruginea 46
D. graminifolia 22
D. longicornu 25
D. rosea 44
D. uniflora 44
Dischisma ciliatum 74
Disperis capensis 33
Disselblaarluibos 24
Doublom 35
Drip Disa 25
Drosera hilaris 35
D. trinervia 74
Drumsticks 76
E
Edmondia sesamoides 85
Empodium plicatum 56
Erepsia anceps 30
Fr/ca abietina 49
F. baccans 35
F. calycina 81
F. cerinthoides 47
F. coccinea 44
F. curly/flora 43
F. hirtiflora 34
F./utea 64
F. mammosa 46
F. plukenetii 43
F. versicolor 47
Erigeron karvinskianus 72
Eriocephalus africanus 77
Euphorbia caput-medusae
68
Euryops abrotanifolius 59,
60
F. pectinatus 59
Everlasting Vygie 30
False Slugwort 74
Featherhead 83
Felicia aethiopica 20
F. fruticosa 29
Ferraria crispa 42
Fire Heath 47
Fish Bean 40
Fleur-de-lys 29
Foetid Cape Tulip 58
Fonteinbos 27
Fountain Bush 27
Fraaibaroe 73
Fragrant Crassula 71
Fringed Aristea 20
Fynblaarmalva 76
G
Ganskos 75
Geelbos 85
Geelflappie 56
Geelmargriet 60, 61
Geeloorsuring 50
Geelrysheide 64
Geelsewejaartjie 65
Geelsuring 58
Geissorhiza aspera 21
Geldbeursie 66
Geranium incanum 75
Gibbaria ilicifolia 62
Gladiolus brevifolius 38
G. carneus 72
G. monticola 38, 51
G. priorii 48
Gnidia oppositifolia 63
G. pinifolia 78
G. tomentosa 78
Golden Cowcud 55
Golden Disa 24
Gomphocarpus cancellatus
69
Grand Duchess Sorrel 40
Granny Bonnet 33
Greater Rush Iris 63
Green Satyr Orchid 67
Green Sugarbush 67
Green Violet 70
Grey Stilbe 84
Groenhofiesuikerbos 67
Groenviooltjie 70
Grootsuring 40
Guernsey Lily 45
H
Haemanthus coccineus 46
H. sanguineus 46
Hairy-leaved Buchu 38
Hangertjie 43, 44
Haplocarpa lanata 54
Harslagbossie 41
Harveya capensis 36
H. purpurea 36
H. tubulosa 36
Heart-leaved Gorse 57
Hebenstreita cordata 74
Helichrysum 75
Helichrysum cymosum 55
H. foetidum 65
H. fruticans 75
Herblanzbossie 85
Herfspypie 38
Hermann/a hyssopifolia 65
Hermas villosa 66
Heuningbos 30
Hibiscus aethiopicus 64
H. trionum 85
Hiker's Horror 58
Holly-leaved Kidneyseed 62
Holly-leaved Wild Thistle 57
Hongerblom 34
Hooded-leaf Pelargonium
34
Hyobanche sanguinea 45
Indigofera 33
Indigofera filifolia 33
Ixia dub/a 53
I. scillaris 41
Jakaranda-inkblom 36
K
Kaneelbol 42
Kankerbos 48
Kapokbossie 77
Kastybos 32
Katnaels45
Katoenbos 69
Katstert 70
Katstertjie 84
Keurboom 37
Keurtjie 28
King Protea 39
Klaaslouwbossie 55
Klein-bobbejaantjie 23
Kleinsnotrosie 74
Klipblom45,71
Klipboegoe 82
Knowltonia 68
Knowltonia vesicatoria 68
Koningsuikerbos 39
Koringblom 28
Kreupelhout 53
Kusmalva 37
Kussandroos 38
L
Lachenalia fistulosa 70
Lady's Hand 25
Lampranthus 31
Lampranthus emarginatus
31
Larkspur Baroe 73
Leonotis leonurus 52
Lesser Cobra Lily 47
Lesser Purple Ragwort 34
Lessertia 41
Lessertia capensis 41
Leucadendron argenteum
70
L. salignum 85
L. strobilinum 68
L. xanthoconus 62
Leucospermum
conocarpodendron 53
L. c. viridum 53
L. cordifolium 52
Lilac Powderpuff 26
Liparia splendens 53
Little Sundew 74
Lobelia coronopifolia 21
L. pinifolia 21
Lobostemon argenteus 24
L. glaucophyllus 22
L. montanus 20
M
Maagbossie 20
Maanhaarstompie 44
Maartlelie 39
March Lily 39
Marsh Bulbinella 70
Marsh Daisy 83
Medusa's Head 68
Metalasia muricata 71
Micranthus alopecuroides
21
Mimetes fimbriifolius 44
Moederkappie 33
Monnikskappie 46
Montinia caryophyllacea 83
Moraea 79
Moraea neglecta 56
M. ochroleuca 58
M. tricuspidata 79
M. tripetala 29
Mountain Dahlia 53
Mountain Lazybush 79
Mountain Saffronbush 78
Muraltia heisteria 32
N
Naeltjiesblom 56
Narrow-leaved Sorrel 36
Nerine sarniensis 45
Ninepin Heath 46
Noughts and Crosses 52
0
Oft/a afr/cana 79
Orange Ixia 53
Oranjekalossie 53
Ornithogalum flaccida 66
O. thyrsoides 79
Osmitopsis asteriscoides 83
Otholobium 26
Otholobium fruticans 26
Othonna arborescens 61
Oumakappie 66
Oxalis obtusa 50
O. pescaprae 58
O. polyphylla 36
O. purpurea 40
P
Painted Lady 72
Painted Peacock 56
Painted Yellowwort 56
Parasol Lily 39
Pelargonium 76
Pelargonium capitatum 37
P cucullatum 34
R lobatum 42
R myrrhifolium
var. coriandrifolium 76
var. myrrhifolium 76
P. triste 42
Penaea mucronata 52
Peninsula Conebush 68
Perdevy 63
Peucedanum galbanum 67
Phylica pubescens 83
Pig's Ear 48
Pincushion 53
Pine-leaved Lobelia 21
Pine-leaved Saffronbush 78
Podalyria calyptrata 28
Pokkiesblom 65
Polecat Strawflower 65
Polyarrhena reflexa 80
Polygala 33
Polygala bracteolata 33
P. garcinii 32
P. myrtifolia 32
Protea coronata 67
P. cynaroides 39
P. lepidocarpodendron 69
P. repens 49
P speciosa 49
Pseudoselago serrata 27
P. spur/a 26
Psoralea aculeata 27
P. pinnata 27
Pterygodium catholicum
Purple Inkflower 36
Purple PowderpuTf 27
Purple Senecio 31
Purple Watsonia 35
R
Red Afrikaner 48
Red and Green Heath 47
Red Crassula 45
Red Disa 44
Red Heath 49
Rietuintjie 79
Roella ciliata 26
R. triflora 26
Romulea flava 76
R. rosea 31
Rooi Disa 44
Rooibergpypie 43
Rooiboegoe 74
Rooihaartjie 47
Rooikanol 51
Rooiklossieheide 46, 49
Rooiknikkertjie 31
Rooipypie 48
Rooistorm 60
Rooi-trewwa 36
Rooiwortel 29
Rose-scented Pelargonium
37
Rotstolbos 68
Rough Ragwort 59
Rough Swordweed 30
Rush-leaved Moraea 56
Salvia africana-caerulea 25
S. africana-lutea 50
S. chamelaeagnea 25
Satyrium carneum 36
5. odorum 67
Scabiosa africana 28
S. columbaria 28
Sea Babooncress 61
Sea Cineraria 62
Sebaea exacoides 56
Seeroogblom 39
Senecio arenarius 34
S. purpureus 31
S. rigidus 59
September Butterfly Bush
32
Sewejaartjie 85
Sickleleaf Conebush 62
Silene undulata 80
Silver Pea 59
Silver Tree 70
Sissies 40
Skaamblommetjie 73
Skaapbostee 26
Smooth-leaved Bush
Bugloss 22
Snow Daisy 82
Soet trewwa 67
Soldier-in-the-box 66
Sour Fig 63
Spider Lily 42
Spiloxene capensis 56
Spinnekopblom 42
Spiny Aspalathus 54
Spiny Purple Gorse 32
Sprawling Bush Thistle 57
5taai//a radiata 80
Star-eyed aristea 78
Steekbossie 42
Steekertjiebos 57
Steekhaarbos 57
Sterretjie 56
Sticky Tar Pea 54
Stilbe vestita 84
Stompie 82
Stonecrop 30
Struthiola ciliata 84
Suikerbos 49
Sukkelbossie 79
Summer Snakeflower 43
Sundew 35
Sutherlandia (lessertia)
frutescens 48
Suurkanol 35
Suurkanolpypie 47
Swartbaardsuikerbos 69
Syblom 73
Syncarpha speciosissima 69
S. vestita 81
Taaigousblom 77
Table Mountain Hairy
Heath 34
Table Mountain Watsonia
50
Tassle Heath 44
Teddybear Doll's Rose 65
Teer-ertjie 54
Tephrosia capensis 40
The Mexican 72
Thread-leaved Klaas Louw
Bush 55
Tinderleaf 66
Tjienk 79
Tontelblaar 66
Tree Pagoda 44
Tree Pincushion 52
Tree Sweet Pea 28
Tritoniopsis triticea 43
Turquoise Bush Bugloss 20
Twining Baroe 77
U
Ursinia paleacea 61
V
Varkblom 84
Varkoor 48
Veerkoppie 83
Veldskoenblaar46
Verfblommetjie 76
Villarsia capensis 64
Vingerpol 68
Vingersuring 36
Virgilia oroboides 37
VIeiblommetjie 21
VIeiknoppiesbos 81
Vrouebossie 75
W
Waboom 65
Wachendorfia paniculata
51
Wagon Tree 65
Wandelendejood 51
Wandering Jew 51
Water Heath 43
Waterbos 43
Watson/a borbonica 35
W. humilis 35
W. tabularis 50
Waxy Satyr Orchid 36
Whip-stemmed Featherhead 84
White Bristle Bush 71
White Romulea 76
White-eyed Roella 26
Wild Aster 20, 80
Wild Buchu 74
Wild Clove Bush 83
Wild Cotton 69
Wild Dagga 52
Wild Mallow 38
Wild Rosemary 77
Wild Sage 25
Wild Tobacco 80
Wilde-aster 80
Wilde-astertjie 20
Wildedagga 52
Wilde-ertjie 41
Wildemalva 34
Wildestokroos 64
Wildetabak 80
Wildewitmargriet 82
Witknikkertjie 76
Witsewejaartjie 81
Witteboom 70
Wolharpuisbos 59
Woolly Rosinbush 59
X
Xiphotheca fruticosa 59
Y
Yellow Margriet 61
Yellow Rice Heath 64
Yellow-eyed Sorrel 50
Yellow-tipped Strawflower
Z
Zaiuzianskya capensis 76
Zantedeschia aethiopica 84