Erica Ericoides
Family: Ericaceae

This densely floriferous species is found on rocky mountain slopes from Cape Peninsula to Bredasdorp.
Formerly Blaeria erecoides, it was one of the minor genera of Ericaceae on account of having only four stamens rather than the eight of ericas.
The pink sweetly scented flowers are in dense terminal clusters on a much branched shrub up to 1m high.
Flowering time is January to May.

Erica Perspicua
Family: Ericaceae
Common Name: Prince of Wales Heath

This beautiful Erica, Found only in wet ground reaches a height of 2m.
It is popular with flower-sellers, due to its profuse flowering habit, with colours ranging from white to pink, through deep red to purple.
Flowering from February through to November, it occurs in dense colonies in the Kleinmond/Hermanus area.
The specific name of perspicua is Latin for translucent, clearly shown in the flower.
The common name is from the visit to Cape Town by the Prince of Wales when he visited the Cape Province in 1928 and saw the flowers on sale in Cape Town

Metalasia Riparia
Family: Asteraceae

This member of the daisy family reaches over 2m in height and is restricted to riverine habitats.

Although found on the Onrust Mountains to the west, it is rare in this area being the only colony found to date in the Kleinrivier Mountians.

The white or green wooly stems are topped by a compound, white flower head.

Osmitopis Asteriscoides
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Swamp Daisy

This erect aromatic shrub reaches up to 2m in height. Lower stems are leafless with upper parts densely leafy.
Flower heads are in terminal groups, white in colour and typical daisy like.
It occurs in dense stands, always on wet ground such as swamps and stream banks. Widely distributed, it is found from the Cape Peninsula eastwards to the Riviersonderend Mountains.

Utricularia Hisquamata
Family: Lentibulariaceae
Common name: Bladderwort

Difficult to believe that this tiny, innocuous plant is an efficient predator but such is the case.
The tine, oval-shaped bladders take the place of roots. Operating like a vacuum the trapdoor swings open and sucks in its tine swimming insect prey such as Daphnia, gnat-larvae or water fleas.
Of the 250 species found world-wide, this is the only one found in our area.
The proportionately small flowers are a combination of white to yellow or lilac.
It is restricted to permanently wet, acid seeps.

Penaena Cneoium
Family: Penaeaceae

A tall, straggling shrub reaching up to 2m, this plant is a member of one of the endemic families of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
This is an ancient family, having been around for millions of years. It consists of 23 species, all confined to the Cape, several of which are classified as rare and endangered.
The 10mm long flowers of Penaena Cneoium are greenish to yellow, turning red as they age.
It has a wide distribution from Somerset West, eastwards to Port Elizabeth, confined to wet marshy ground.

Brachylaena Nerifolia
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: The Daisy Family
Afrikaans: Waterwitels

One of the few indigenous tree species on the estate, it is the tallest daisy in our flora.

Often a small straggling shrub but sometimes reaching 8 metres. It is a riverine species, in this case hugging the banks of Galpin Stream.

The rather insignificant white flowers are borne in clusters on separate plants. It has a widespread distribution from the South-western Cape east wards almost to Port Elizabeth.

Watsonia Schlecteri
Family: Iridaceae

This striking geophyte, found as an occasional plant on dry, rocky slopes gives a vivid splash of colour in the hot dry summer, with up to 25 bright red flowers on a spike.

The outcurving floral tube suggests it is pollinated by sunbirds. The bulbs were an important food source for the earliest inhabitants of the South-western Cape, to which area it is restricted.

Zantedeschia Aethiopica
Family: Araceae
Common name: Arum Lilly/ Pig Lilly
Afrikaans: Varkblom

This well known plant, has a wide distribution in South Africa. When growing in damp places, such as Galpin stream where this specimen was collected, it remains evergreen throughout the year.
The spathe is snowy white and long-lasting. The yellow spadix boars male flowers on the upper half and female flowers below. Its rhizomes are a favourite food source for pigs and porcupines, hence its common name.
Interestingly, it plays host to the Arum Lily Frog - Hyperolius horstocki, which sometimes becomes white in colour, presumably as camouflage. It is thought to feed on insects attracted by the bright yellow spathe.
It is widely grown world wide as a ornamental species.

Aristea Spiralis
Family: Iridaceae
(Afrikaans: Blousuurkol)

Of the 33 species of Aristea which occur in the Cape, A. Spiralis, with its large (up to 30mm) flowers ranging from white to lilac or in our area, always deep blue, is perhaps the most striking. Particularly common after fires, the plant produces an unbranched flowering stem with individual flowers lasting only one day. Pollinated by long tongued flies, it has a wide distribution from the Cape Peninsula eastwards for some 250km.

Erica Villosa
Family: Ericaceae
(Afrikaans: Kapokkie)

This lovely Erica is found only here in the Kleinriver Mountains near Hermanus. A low-growing shrub only knee-high, it flowers September to November.

The white flowers are covered in dense hairs, leading to the specific name of villous, meaning shaggy.

The conspicuous protruding anthers are sticky.

Watsonia Borbonica
Family: Iridaceae

This beautiful species is found in abundance on mountain slopes, particularly after fire.

It grows in clumps up to 2m high with a profusion of blooms on the much branched stem.

The flower tube widens conspicuously at the throat and the purple tipped stamens are prominent.

Syncarpha Vestita
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Cape Snow: Wit Sewejaartjie

A robust, branching shrub to 800mm, this flower is a spectacular sight following fires, when it clothes the hillsides like a blanket of snow.
It is popular as an export, being long lasting and the dried heads are dyed in various colours.
In the 1920's it was exported to Holland and Germany in large quantities, the heads said to be used in filling duvets.
The Afrikaans name of Sewejaartjies translates as seven years. The period the plant will flower following fires, after which it becomes dormant until the next fire sweep through.

Berzelia Lanuginosa
Family: Bruniceae
Common name: Kol Kol

This is a near endemic family of the Cape Floral Kingdom with only one of its 64 species occurring elsewhere, in neighbouring Natal.
It is found in dense stands on marshy ground and on moist hillsides. Following recent removal of invasive woody alien pest plants, the species has re-established itself in large numbers and at this time of year clothes the hillside in a white blaze.
Up to 2m tall, the small cream flowers are grouped in heads. The species name of lanuginose is from the Latin for Wool.

Coleonema Album
Family: Rutaceae

Confetti Bush: Aasbos

This member of the family Rutaceae, which includes the citrus fruits, has oil glands on the leaves which when crushed give a delightful fragrance.
It forms dense stands on the coast line, extending into the spray zone and also occurs inland on sandstone ridges. It is a splendid sight in September when in full flower, hence its common name.
The Afrikaans name “Aasbos”, or Bait bush refers to anglers cleaning their hands with sprays of the plant to remove the smell of fish and bait. Placed on meat at a barbecue, it gives a pleasant taste.
The pharmaceutical industry has recently carried out trials to determine its medicinal properties, which may lead to cultivation harvesting on a large scale.
It is becoming increasingly popular as a garden subject locally and overseas.

Gladiolus carneus
Family: Iridaceae
Painted Lady

This delicate species has white to deep pink flowers, with red, inconspicuous marking on the lower tepals. The long tubes suggests it is pollinated by long-tongued flies.

It is found on rocky sandstone slopes eastwards to Bredasdorp, most commonly after fires. Flowering period is September to October.

Erica quadrangularis
Family: Ericaceae

This species was collected on the estate for the first time last week, bringing to 15 the number of Erica's collected to date, with doubtless more to follow.

An extremely floriferous species, varying in colour from white to deep pink, it is also easy to propagate, ensuring its popularity in the horticultural trade.

Erica sessiloflora
Family: Ericaceae - Groenhide

This species has a wide distribution from Piketberg in the West to Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape, forming dense colonies.

The pale green, tubular flowers occur on the tips of the branches, on bushes up to 1.5m high.

It is unusual among Erica’s in retaining its seed for several years, opening after fires, a strategy known as Serotiny.

Proteaceae: Protea repens
Family: Sugarbush

This is the commonest and most widely distributed of all the Protea species, found from the Western Cape coastline eastwards to Grahamstown. It occurs in dense stands with plants up to 1.5m tall, on lower and middle mountain slopes.

Popular with overseas growers it has been cultivated in Europe from the late 1700’s and is still exported in quantity as a fresh and dried flower.

It’s popular name is due to the large quantities of nectar it produces, which was collected as a sweetening substance, known as Bossie stroop, from the earliest days of colonisation.

Throughout it’s range the flower is accompanied by the Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer, it’s pollinator which is endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom.

Gladiolusn Maculatus
Family: Iridaceae
Brown Afrikander

The Iridaceae family worldwide has some 1800 species, of which over 1000 are found in Southern Africa.

The genus Gladiolus has dormant bulbs, geophytes, normally only flowering after fires. Over 100 species occur in Southern Africa. Many have beautiful flowers, popular as garden subjects.

Gladiolus maculates is confined to heavier clay soils and is strongly perfumed.

Maculatas means spotted, referring to the profuse spots on the flowers. Its flowering period is April to July.

Protea Longifolia
Family: Proteacea
Long-leave Sugarbush

A sprawling shrub up to 1m height, it is found in the lower slopes of hills, usually on Table Mountain Sandstone, from Somerset West to Bredasdorp.

It has long been a favourite in cultivation, having been grown in botanical gardens in Europe since the late 1700’s.

Colour of flowers vary from cream to green to deep pink, with the flowering period from May to September.  In the Hermanus area it is found to hybridise with a range of other protea species.

Protea compacta
Family: Proteacea
Bot River Protea

This beautiful Protea has a fairly limited distribution from Kleinmond in the west to Cape Agulhas in the east.  It forms dense stands always at low altitude and does not extend far inland.

It is extremely popular in the flower trade and is grown locally as a garden plant and it is also exported in large quantity. 

With its upright growth to 3m and one of ten of the dominant species, it is a magnificent sight when in full flower in May and June.

Saltera Sarcocolla
Family: Penaeceae

This untidy, wiry shrub, up to 1.5m, is a member of the Penaeaceae, one of the 6 endemic families of plants found only in the Cape Floral Kingdom.

It is an ancient family, considered to have been around for the last 50 000 000 years.

The plant bears up to 6 pink flowers.  It is found over a wide range of altitudes from the Cape to Bredasdorp and virtually flowers year round.

The generic name of Saltera is a tribute to Captain T.M. Salter, retired naval officer and amateur botanist, who in 1950 co-authored with R. S. Adamson – “Flora of the Cape Peninsula”.

Tritoniopsis lata
Family: Iridacea
 
The family Iridaceae occurs worldwide with over 1000 species found in Southern Africa. Many are quite beautiful and have become popular horticultural subjects.
Tritoniopsis lata has irregular pink flowers which are clustered at the tip of a long wiry stem.
It is found on rocky, dry slopes, flowering in February to May, usually prolifically after a fire.

Erica Tenella
Family: Ericaceae

The genus Erica has an incredible number of some 650 species occurring naturally in the Cape Floral Kingdom.

A large number has been collected to date on the estate, including Erica Tenella.

The hillsides are a swathe of pink when it is in full flower in February/March. Many of the species are pollinated by bees and are an important source of nectar.

Asparagus Rubicundas
Family: Wild Asparagus
(Afrikaans: Wag-'n-bietjie)

The family has only the one genus, with some 120 species worldwide, of which 81 are found in Southern Africa.

The Asparagus Rubicundas, flowering from January to June, can be identified by the sharp gently curving spine.

These impede progress when walking through the veld leading to the Afrikaans name of “wag 'n bietjie”, or “wait a bit” thorn.

Polygala Myrtifolia
Family: Polygalaceae
(Afrikaans: Blou-ertjieblou)

A compact much-branched shrub growing to two meters, it is widely spread in the Cape Province, found on stream-banks and forest margins. Blooming all year round, it is becoming a popular garden plant. “Polygala” means “much milk”, from the Greek gala=milk; As in the galaxy - the Milky Way.
The ancient Greeks believed that when their goats fed on members of the Polygalacea, their milk yield would increase.
Recent studies indicate an enzyme in the plant could possibly increase milk yield.
The common name refers to the crest like a shaving brush, which grows on the lower petal.

Tritoniopsis triticea
Family: Iridaceae

The long lasting scarlet flowers have a sole pollinator, the Table Mountain Beauty butterfly, Aeropetes Tulbaghi, which is the pollinator of a group of red flowering species in February/March. The butterfly is so attracted by this colour that it will settle on a red backpack etc. This flower is mimicked by the orchid Disa ferruginea, which deceives the mountain beauty into pollinating it but without rewarding the butterfly with any nectar.

Phaenocoma Prolifera
Family: Asteraceae - The Daisy Family

This striking flower is one of the group commonly known as Cape Everlastings, exported in quantity for the flower trade.
The large, showy flower heads have many rows of glistening pink papery petals, which are in fact bracts, surrounding the many tiny florets within. Widely distributed from Ceres to Bredasdorp, the lower slopes of the estate are presently a blaze of colour from this species.

Roella Incurva
Family: Campanulaceae

Campanula means bell shaped.

Flowers may be white or blue, often with dark blotches on the rim of the petal cup. It is common and widespread on sandy lower slopes with a wide distribution from Tulbagh to Potberg.

Flowers October through to February.

Aulax Umbellata
Family: Proteaceae - Feather dusters bush / Sekelbos (Afrikaans)

Agapanthus africanus
Family: Agapanthaceae / Bloulelie (Afrikaans)

This well-known species has been introduced to gardens world-wide on account of its beauty and ease of cultivation. It was the second species to be exported from the Cape as long ago as 1629.
Occuring naturally from the Cape Peninsula to Swellendam, it blooms especially profusely after veld fires, making a striking show on the mountainsides.
Agapanthus, from the Greek, means Flower of Love.

Mimetes cucullatu:
(cucullate means hooded)
Also known as: Silver pagoda (common English) / Rooistompie (Afrikaans)

Of the 13 species in the genus Mimetes, of the family Proteaceae, this is the only species which is common, widespread from the Koue Bokkeveld in the west to the Kouga Mountains in the east. It is a sturdy shrub, which grows to two meters, the flower head is up to 10 cm long, topped by a crown of smaller red leaves. The flower colour varies from red flowers to yellow, cream or greenish and it flowers all year round.