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| Aloe polyphylla |
Aloes will be a leitmotif of this posting--since our two locations in central Lesotho were in the heart of the range of
Aloe polyphylla--which, alas, due to many circumstances (one being a high river level) we were thwarted from seeing in nature. It was abundant in gardens there, however! Above, one of many at the lodge at Semonkong.
My good buddy, Bill Adams, is here seen mimicking the pose of the
Aloe rather dashingly, don't you agree?
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| Jamesbrittenia sp. |
A wonderful little Sutera growing wild nearby...
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| Phygelius capensis across from the lodge |
Of course,
Phygelius grows everywhere in the Drakensberg--but not often so picturesquely as it did across from the Lodge.
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| Cotyledon foliage but look above! |
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| Aloe aristata |
Taken with a telephoto from forty or so feet below! Most
A. aristata were in plump green seed, but this one had a late flower still!
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| Mystery Delosperma sp. "Semonkong" |
Growing much like D. cooperi does at Oxbow, this rather delicate, twiggy delosperma was tucked here and there all over the cliff. I don't have a clue what it is--except that it looks more like
floribundum than any of the usual Drakensberg species.
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| Delosperma sp. "Semonkong" |
Closer view...
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| Another close view of Delosperma sp. "Semonkong" |
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| To continue the Aloe theme--Cotyledon has apparently been sunk in the former genus...HORRORS! |
I don't buy it: I still call this
Cotyledon orbiculata...
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| MORE of the mystery Delosperma...growing among the lichens. I rather liked this effect. |
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| And more "Aloe" (gag) orbiculata... |
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| Dianthus sp. with Psammotropha mucronata at the base... |
I am always shocked to see dianthus in South Africa--and they are legion and abundant. Yesterday, the field full of Lithops near Heidelberg was full of dianthus in seed.
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| A Euryops in full glory at Semonkong |
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| Selaginella grows everywhere in the Drakensberg and beyond here: many species. |
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| Strange to see Delosperma and Cotyledon growing in open soil among weeds. |
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| Phygelius capensis |
Blogspot decided to separatre the closeups from the overall shot way back in this sequence: sorry! You'll have to toggle to see them together!
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| Another closeup of same |
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| And an overall shot after all... |
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| More of the mystery Delosperma sp. Semonkong |
There are quite a few of us devotees of this genus (which is indirectly responsible for propelling me hither seven times). Bear with me if you're not smitten--these are for them!
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| Delosperma sp. Semonkong closeup |
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| A Moraea in the huttonii complex in seed. |
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| Part of the group at Semonkong--we live in style! |
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| Breathtaking specimens of Crinum bulbispermum (albino) at the Lodge... |
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| The local delo planted at the Lodge! |
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| Crinum bulbispermum (albino) |
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| Crinum bulbispermum (albino) |
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| Two of the singers listening to their colleagues at Malealea Lodge--to the south of Semonkong. |
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| the Boy's band..they were good. |
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| The singers: I bought their C.D.--incredible harmonies. |
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| Anchusa capensis--in Plant Select!--here in the wild. |
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| Composites everywhere--here, a Senecio I believe...(equivalent to our summer daisy season) |
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| Not so helpful directional sign. |
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| Agave americana, pretending it's an Aloe... |
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| Another view--the green green countryside belies the devastating overgrazing due to "open range" traditions. |
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| Sutherlandia (or is it Lessertia?) montana: one of my faves. In not quite seed. |
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| Aloe saponaria I believe...wild. |
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| The countryside near Malealea: Africa grabs your soul. Believe me. |
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| A charming Hermannia sp. ign. |
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| Polygalas are everywhere in all shapes and sizes... |
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| An amazing orange flowered Phygelius capensis--not far from Semonkong (out of sequence--sorry) |
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| Senecio speciosus by the thousand on the long and spectacular pass to Semonkong |
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| Delosperma cf. lavisiae in the grass... |
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| A tiny Limosella in a bog. |
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| Ranunculus are much rarer here than in the northern Hemisphere. |
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| Miles of Dierama robustum along the pass... |
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| A fine specimen of Dierama robustum... |
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| Senecio speciosus |
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| Senecio speciosus |
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| I shall end with a series of shots of a Kniphofia caulescens meadow: the essence of the Drakensberg! |
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| I have left little fragments of my heart all over this magnificent region. Africa! I love you. |
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