ludwig_muller's Journal

Authors:
Ludwig Müller and Hendré Barnard

Abstract:
The Southern Cape is home to roughly 7 Drosera species, all of which are currently retained under Sect. Ptycnostigma. The aim of this article is to promote a deeper understanding of the genus and increase interest in identifying these peculiar plants, focusing on differentiating between species using basic features.

Introduction:
Everybody knows Sundews, right? These miniature but ubiquitous plants are an inevitable part of almost every hike in the pristine mountain fynbos of the Cape Floristic region (CFR). Most often found in damp localities, such as upland marshes, seasonal watercourses or perennial seepages, these hardy little plants may also grow in full sun on hard-baked earth. The vernacular name (echoed by the Afrikaans epithet Doublom or Dew-flower) refers to the mucilaginous secretions produced by the trichomes, which persist, in healthy plants, even during the heat of the day without being dissipated. It is with the aid of these glandular hairs that Sundews are able to capture, retain, enfold and eventually digest their prey, mostly smaller insects but on occasion larger fare.

Despite a long history of herb lore and ancient botanical knowledge, it was only relatively recently (towards the close of the 18th century) that their carnivorous tendencies were documented. Later, Darwin is said to have written: “I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species in the world". Our local Drosera species came to light early in Cape history, with Linnaeus describing D. capensis in 1753 and D. cistiflora in 1760. There has, over the years, been some slight taxonomic confusion concerning the local representatives of an otherwise relatively uncomplicated genus (e.g D. cistiflora has 6 synonyms), and one of the species treated on here (D. sp. nov. "cryptica") is still undergoing description (J. Truter, pers. comm.).

The Western Cape is home to some 25 species of Drosera, not counting hybrids, and approximately seven occur in the Southern Cape. It is likely that this number will increase incrementally as a result of future exploration. Our local species can be divided into two groups: the evergreen perennials and the deciduous perennials, of which the former may be further divided into the semi-caulescent, large leaved sundews, and the smaller, acaulescent, rosette-forming sundews with spathulate leaves. The deciduous perennials are acaulescent and rosette-forming with linear-lanceolate leaves. The key below is adapted for use in the absence of flowering material; however it should be stated at the outset that achieving such refined identifications in the absence of an inflorescence or even the scape is difficult (especially when distinguishing between D. cistiflora and D. zeyheri, and between D. venusta and D. aliciae).

Terminology:
Instead of providing a verbose and invariably lengthy discourse on the various botanical terms and definitions, I have tried (note: emphasis on the word "tried") to provide a visual (and hopefully, intuitive) photographic guide to the abovementioned phytoanalytical terms. One important term, much used, is the word petiole, which I use (for ease of writing) to refer to the glabrous lower section of a leaf. This is not to be taken as referring to the actual petiole in all cases, as some Sundews (e.g D. aliciae) lack a petiole altogether.

Above: Drosera sp. nov. "cryptica"

Above: Drosera aliciae

Above: Drosera capensis, showing prominent pale papery stipules shaped like equilateral triangles

Key:
To be used on mature adult specimens representative of their population.

• 1.1 Leaves radical, much wider apically than at base....... A1
  -Leaves not necessarily radical, not spathulate (elliptic in shape, obtusely acuminate apex).......B1

Species profiles:
To the best of my ability, I've tried to give a clear and concise summary of my understanding of the current species concepts. The bold letters are useful identification features, whilst the italicised text refers more to substantiating features.

Drosera capensis L. (1953)
The Cape Sundew occurs from Vanrhynsdorp in the north to the Cape Peninsula in the south and extends east to PE/Gqeberha. Despite this sweeping distribution, which embraces almost the entire CFR, this species is actually uncommon in the east of its range and is almost rare in the Southern Cape. Although found widely in the Swartberg range, and sporadically in the Tsitsikamma area, there are literally no records (that I know of) from the Outeniqua mountains and very few from the Langkloof. It prefers a very wet substrate in fynbos, often growing alongside watercourses and in seepages (often over sandstone), but it can also survive in very inhospitable pockets of earth on dry rock faces.
Description:
This is not a sundew one can confuse with another local species. It is the only caulescent Drosera in our area, forming a short trunk sheathed by the remains of persistent dead leaves. The leaves (laminas) are long, and the petioles are even longer (at least double the leaf length, often longer than even that). This species is an evergreen perennial, with the linear-elliptical / lorate leaves radiating outwards from the center to form a loose rosette. The stipules are massive, and very distinctive, shaped like equilateral triangles and slightly divided apically. Minute marginal teeth may be present. The leaves are always radical, and the scape emerges from the side of the plant before curving upwards. The pink or magenta flowers (Dec-Jan(Feb)) are borne around 25-30cm above ground on a secund inflorescence. Stigmas are longer than anthers and slightly swollen with a minute apical division.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10839319
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/214540137
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69053805
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/67047169

Drosera aliciae Raym.-Hamet (1905)
The Alice Sundew occurs from the Cederberg Mountains south to the Cape Peninsula and all the way east to PE. In the Southern Cape it is the most frequently encountered species and is especially common in mountain fynbos, often over sandstone. It tends to be dry growing, often found far from the nearest reliable water source, but is not averse to very wet marshy seepage conditions either.
Description:
D. aliciae can be described as an acaulescent rosetted evergreen perennial. The green to reddish leaves are always radical and closely adpressed to the substrate, emerging from the center of the compact rosette and unfurling outwards. In shape they are spathulate, petiolate with a markedly glanduliferous lamina, apically obtuse and rounded, villose below, stipulate with trifid ovate stipules, the outer lobes filamentous / setaceous, central lobe apically divided by numerous short, fine teeth. Leaves widen gradually from a cuneate base to an enlarged apex. Old leaves are very persistent, with older plants often found growing on a small mound of dead leaves. Trichomes occur on the upper 4/5ths or 3/4ths of the leaf, being longest on the leaf margins and, especially, the apex. Apical trichomes tend to be more deeply pigmented than the rest. Generally flowering from (Sep) Oct-Dec (Jan), with the odd plants flowering more or less throughout the year. The scape (up to 40cm) emerges from the side of the plant, growing outwards for a short distance before curving upwards. The flowers are usually pink to magenta, about 1.5cm in diameter, with multiple flowers borne on a single secund inflorescence. The whitish- opaque stigmas tend to be roughly 3/2 times the length of the yellow anthers, which are held in the center of the flower. Stigmas, on the other hand, tend to curve outwards and are apically bifid, sometimes with further bifurcations.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/148203401
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/140039515
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139318623

Drosera venusta Debbert (1987)
D. venusta is very close to D. aliciae in appearance, relationship (Manning and Goldblatt (2012) list it as a synonym of the latter) and habitat, save that it is slightly more dependent on wet growing conditions. It occurs from the Southern Cape east to Grahamstown / Makhanda, largely restricted to montane fynbos but also coming down almost to the coast in the Tsitsikamma area.
Description:
An acaulescent evergreen perennial rosette-forming terrestrial. Leaves are always radical, strongly spathulate, sometimes (not always) with a swollen petiole constricting again immediately before the +/- orbicular/ovate lamina (reminiscent of D. slackii). Leaves tend to be redder than is usual with D. aliciae, but this is probably a feature of specific growing conditions. Trichomes are found on the upper 3/5ths to 2/5ths of the leaf, almost exclusively on the circle formed by the lamina but sometimes extending down the petiole for a short distance. Leaves are weakly villose below, slightly less so than D. aliciae. One of the more distinctive traits of this species is the relatively abrupt transition from petiole to lamina, which enhances the spathulate growth habit. Stipules occur at the leaf bases, and would appear to have entire margins with a small apical laceration. Dead leaves are not as persistent as in D. aliciae, and green leaves (especially when young) are held raised at about 35°-50°(60°) off the ground. The flowering season is generally Oct-Jan (Feb), but individual plants flower sporadically more or less throughout the year. Flowers and scape as for D. aliciae, save that the stigmas tend to be about twice the anther length and flowers that are sometimes white.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/145277206
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/142443346
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38566234
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/141009008
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203713652

Drosera trinervia Spreng. (1820)
D. trinervia occurs from Garies in the north to the Peninsula in the south and east to the Groot Swartberg, with what appears to be an outlying lowland population on the outskirts of PE. It favours montane fynbos habitats in damp upland marshes and seepages, and is quite common in the west of its range.
Description:
A small acaulescent rosetted evergreen perennial with spathulate radical leaves, often red in colour. Cauline leaves not present. Apical trichomes tend to be unusually long in this species, although this phenomenon is also sometimes observed in D. aliciae. A feature unique to D. trinervia is the complete absence of a petiole, with trichomes coming all the way down to the cuneate base of the leaf. Leaves are very sparsely hairy beneath, and stipules are either absent or present as two minute setaceous projections on either side of the leaf base. Inflorescences are few flowered, with an average of 1-2(3-5) white (pink) flowers with outwardly divergent stigmas borne from Aug-Dec. The short (<15cm) scape arises from the center of the rosette.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/209148813
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/143630530
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62875936
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/136204129
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/131133754

Drosera sp. nov. "cryptica" Diet. & Trut. (in litt.)
This undescribed species, also known as D. sp. "knysna", occurs from Riviersonderend in the west to Grahamstown in the east. It is common in the Garden Route, especially at lower altitudes along the coast, but is also very much present in the drier mountain fynbos of the Outeniquas and the Swartberge. It seems to have a preference for clay or shale based substrate, and is not averse to growing in disturbed fynbos (e.g Kranshoek, Plett).
Description:
One of the larger local rosetted sundews, with a dormant period from summer to autumn. An acaulescent deciduous perennial with green or yellow-green leaves, elongated apical trichomes and lacking cauline leaves. Leaves spathulate, gradually widening from cuneate base to rounded lamina (although this transition is more markedly abrupt in young plants), closely adpressed to the substrate, with translucent apically reddened trichomes present on the upper 3/4th (4/5th) of the leaf. Leaves are weakly villose below. Stipules similar to D. aliciae, but with stronger apical laceration of the central lobe and more thinly setaceous outer strands. The scape arises from the side of the plant to about 30cm, bearing a secund inflorescence with multiple white or pink flowers from (Jul) Aug-Oct (Nov). Opaque or pinkish stigmas diverge outwards from the yellow anthers.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182917539
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181062686
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187278561
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186395274
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189121494

Drosera cistiflora L. (1760)
The Poppy-flowered Sundew is even more widely distributed than D. aliciae, found from Nieuwoudtville south to the Peninsula and eastwards to PE (aka Gqeberha). Most of the cistiflora records from the Garden Route seem to constitute zeyheri, but cistiflora does occur locally- notably in mountain fynbos and on coastal sands. It is found in relatively damp soil or clay which remains damp for much of the year but has a dry period from summer to autumn.
Description:
This species is an relatively robust acaulescent, rosette-forming, deciduous perennial with dimorphic leaves. The apically obtuse radical leaves are mostly present from autumn to spring, and the linear-lanceolate cauline leaves from spring to early summer. Basal leaves can be described as narrowly elliptical to oblanceolate, more often closer to the latter. Laminar glands are generally translucent, often reddish apically, and occur over the entire upper leaf almost down to the base. Typically plants are astipulate and almost apetiolate, with a very faint channel down the midrib. This channel is only visible on the glabrous petiole. Leaves may be very weakly pubescent below. Plants flower from (Jul) Aug-Oct, with few-flowered inflorescences seldom exceeding 35cm in height. The white, pink, yellow or red flowers are massive, between 2.5-4cm in diameter. The stigmas diverge outwards from the orange anthers, and are noticeably longer (anything > 3/2 of anther length) and apically multifid (note that in pollinated flowers (those with yellow stigmas), the stigmas tend to draw inwards). The scape emerges from the center of the rosette and is covered with minute glands.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/138642284
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62777364

Drosera zeyheri T.M. Salter (1940)
Taxonomic note:
An interesting species long considered a variant of D. cistiflora. Salter's original description was based on tiny specimens from the Caledon Swartberg (see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10928109) which were entirely lacking insofar as cauline leaves were considered. Also, observations from the vicinity of the Type seem to show plants with outwardly divergent stigmas. With this in mind, please bear with me as I try to distinguish between this species and D. cistiflora, as they are (locally) nearly identical in almost every respect.
In the Southern Cape, which boasts what appears to be the largest form of D. zeyheri, the species typically favours renosterveld or sandy fynbos habitats, often over shale. Like D. cistiflora, it also has a dormant period from summer to autumn.
Description:
An slender acaulescent rosetted deciduous perennial with dimorphic leaves. The apically rounded basal leaves are normally present from autumn to spring, and the linear-lanceolate cauline leaves from spring to summer. Radical leaves are narrowly elliptical, and thin relative to overall length (in contrast, D. cistiflora has slightly wider leaves than D. zeyheri relative to leaf length). Trichomes as for the previous species, save that they cease a little farther up the leaf than in D. cistiflora. This, of course, results in a more visible (longer) petiole and a slightly more obvious basal midrib channel. Leaves lack stipules altogether. Although D. zeyheri, in general, has fewer cauline leaves than D. cistiflora, this is not a reliable feature and there are several local populations that clearly have never read the books! Flowering is from (Jul) Aug-Oct. The glanduligerous scape (<30cm tall) arises from the center of the rosette and the inflorescence invariably has 1-2(3) large flowers, which tend to be slightly smaller than those of D. cistiflora. The apically multifid-flabellate stigmas are about the same length as the anthers, and are held so as almost to touch them. The flowers vary in colour, but local plants are generally white or cream with a darker grey center. D. zeyheri tends to have a slight indentation at the tip of each petal, but this is not a really reliable ID feature.
Observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/235874258
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/138823743
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96470447
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17161738

How to observe a Sundew:
Firstly, it is not always necessary to remove leaves in order to photograph the stipules, as this damages the plants. It is in most cases possible to gently prise open the upper leaves and photograph the stipules without greatly inconveniencing the plant. With that in mind, some other useful features to record are as follows:

• Leaf underside
• Leaf size and shape
• Petiole, or base of leaf
• Base of scape, if present
• Habitat shot
• Growth habit
• Flowers (if any), with stigma and anther detail
• Inflorescence

Note: most Sundews only open their flowers during the heat of the day, with the best window being roughly 10am-2pm.

Additional info:
If you found this article interesting, please consider joining one of our Carnivorous Plant projects here on iNat. The links are provided below:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/carnivorous-plants-of-the-world
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/carnivorous-plants-of-the-western-cape
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/southern-african-sundews-drosera

Acknowledgements:
I am grateful to the Outramps branch of CREW for bearing with me through the years and enabling me to gain field experience with these little plants. Thanks is also due to Hendré Barnard as my co-author, for reviewing this paper and giving much-needed advice and constructive criticism.

References:

MANNING, J. & GOLDBLATT, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: the Core
Cape flora, Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

http://www.omnisterra.com/botany/cp/pictures/drosera/0075.htm

https://www.gbif.org/species/144103463

https://pza.sanbi.org/drosera-capensis
https://pza.sanbi.org/drosera-trinervia

https://www.capenature.co.za/news/2023/small-carnivores-in-plant-form-the-south-african-genus-drosera

https://hungryplant.com/strange-facts-about-sundews/

https://www.britannica.com/plant/sundew

https://www.carnivorousplants.org/cp/evolution/DroseraPhylogeny

Ludwig Muller, SCHG
ludwigxem@gmail.com

@markheystek @christiaan_viljoen @justinponder2505 @robinthebushmukka @tfrench @milewski @benjamin_walton @colin25 @kfinn @jeremygilmore @lindeq @oliver_c

Abstract
This article deals with all the local shrew species (Soricidae, not Macroscelididae) and how to identify them based on an adult individual in the hand. There has been considerable confusion regarding their identification on iNat and this paper will hopefully change that. I do not pretend to be anything like a shrew expert and if I get anything wrong here please don't hesitate to correct me- I based the entire article (at least, the key and the species accounts) on Smithers & Skinner with a bit of iNat research thrown in. And if the article itself doesn't help you, please look below the relevant species account and check out the references. Enjoy reading ;)

The Garden Route and Klein Karoo hold within their borders five shrew species. They are as follows:

Myosorex varius
M. longicaudatus subsp. longicaudatus
Suncus infinitesimus
Crocidura cyanea
C. flavescens

For the various species accounts, skip down. I here include a quick key to the species themselves.

Key

• 1. Adult <100mm long (including tail)....... *Suncus infinitesimus* subsp. *chriseos*
  -Adult >110mm long with tail....... 2

• 2. Tail lacking long basal hairs....... 4
  -Long hairs present on the basal section of tail....... 3

• 3. Adult >15g....... Crocidura flavescens
  -Adult <15g....... C. cyanea

• 4. Tail bicoloured, <50% of overall body length....... Myosorex varius
  -Tail unicoloured, btwn. 70-75% of overall body length....... M. longicaudatus

Species accounts
(Unique features in italics)

Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Subfamily: Myosoricinae
Genus: Myosorex
Species: M. longicaudatus
Subspecies: M. longicaudatus subsp. longicaudatus

Myosorex longicaudatus Meester & Dippenaar 1978
Langstert bos- skeerbek
Description: Tail long, basally thick, semi prehensile, more or less 75% of head and body length, blackish- brown above with paler underside. Total length (TL, incl. tail): +/- 15cm. Upper body dark blackish- brown, underside slightly paler and tinged brown with no clear line of demarcation between the two shades. Feet brown to blackish- brown above.
Diet: Apparently feeds extensively on seeds.
Habitat: Found in forest and in the ecotone between forest and fynbos.
Notes: Very rare, known from under 7 locations worldwide. The only mammal species genuinely endemic to the Southern Cape.
Specific references: Meester et al. 1986
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=709986#null
https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/76/4/1071/895174?redirectedFrom=fulltext
https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201800121834
https://gorongosa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/taylor_2013_zoj12083.pdf
https://zenodo.org/record/6870551#.Y5M2Rn1By70

Myosorex varius Smuts 1832
Bos- skeerbek
Description: Tail dark brown on upper surface and paler below. TL: +/- 12cm, weight +/- 15g. Upper parts of body dark brown to greyish- brown, feet paler than the upper parts.
Diet: Insects, carrion, mince and rarely gastropods.
Habitat: Moist, densely vegetated areas to dry coastal mountains with continuous cover of low bushes and frequent mists. Often along streams.
Behaviour: Mainly nocturnal. Aggressive.
Specific references: Goulden & Meester 1978
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633717#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListForest-Shrew-Myosorex-varius_LC.pdf
https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201800121834
https://gorongosa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/taylor_2013_zoj12083.pdf

Subfamily: Crocidurinae
Genera: Suncus & Crocidura

Suncus infinitesimus Heller 1912 subsp. chriseos Kershaw 1921
Kleinste dwergskeerbek
Description: Tail brown above and paler below. TL +/- 8cm, weight 3-4g. Upper body dark greyish- brown, underparts greyish with an area of integration existing between the upper and lower colours. Feet lighter than the upper body.
Diet: Insectivorous
Habitat: Forests. Known from moribund termitaria, which hints at occurrence in grassy areas?
Behaviour: Solitary, terrestrial, diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal.
Specific references: Rautenbach 1978
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633729#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListLeast-Dwarf-Shrew-Suncus-infinitesimus_LC.pdf

Crocidura cyanea Duvernoy 1838
Rooigrys skeerbek
Description: Tail +/- 65% of total head and body length, paler below and darker above- the two colours intergrade along the midline. Distinctive long hairs present on basal section of tail. TL +/- 13cm, weight 8-9g. Upper body grey with reddish- brown to reddish wash. Slightly grizzled with fawn. Underparts paler and greyer with less fawn tinging. Feet lighter above than the upper body.
Diet: Insectivorous
Habitat: Generalist: Found in rocky areas, dense scrub, grass, damp places, farm hedges, montane forest, along streams, in wet vleis, fynbos and karroid scrub, often in association with rocks.
Behaviour: Sporadically active throughout the 24hr period.
Specific references: Meester 1963
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633575#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListReddish-grey-Musk-Shrew-Crocidura-cyanea_LC.pdf

Crocidura flavescens Geoffroy 1827
Groter skeerbek
Description: Tail +/- 6cm, upper tail the same colour as upper body, underside paler. Upper parts +/- cinnamon- brown. In lighter specimens the underparts tend to be whitish, while darker specimens have more yellow underneath. The lighter colour of the underparts often extends onto the flanks.
Diet: Insectivorous with carnivorous tendencies. Has been recorded feeding on mouse.
Habitat: Confined to areas with +/- 50- 75cm rainfall p.a. Found in broken or mountainous country with dense vegetation cover, in damp places on the forest edge or in low stands of fern, in vleis or on stream banks.
Behaviour: Active throughout the 24hr period.
Specific references: Roberts 1951 and Meester 1963
https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=633587#null
http://eswatininaturereserves.com/mammals/redlist/2016MammalRedListGreater-Red-Musk-Shrew-Crocidura-flavescens_LC.pdf

Ludwig Muller
ludwigxem@gmail.com

@outramps-tanniedi @nicky @jeremygilmore this article is a not complete yet- I'll need to consult Herbarium references- but it'll work for now.

According to Di Turner (pers. comm.) the Dioscoreas of the Garden Route are difficult to identify- at least, to species level. This article aims to clear up the confusion surrounding this cryptic genus with regard to the populations in the Garden Route area, which is defined as the region south of the Kammanassie mountains, west of Harkerville and east of Herbertsdale.
Dioscorea hemicrypta is here treated as the same species as D. elephantipes.

Dioscorea sylvatica Eckl.
iNat holotype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118894140
iNat paratype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/122810662

Dioscorea mundii Baker
iNat holotype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/16318758
iNat paratype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13581613

Dioscorea burchellii Baker
iNat holotype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91632981
iNat paratype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18062864

Dioscorea elephantipes (hemicrypta) (L'Her) Engl.
iNat holotype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10925084
iNat paratype: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11081393

Key:

• 1. N of the Outeniquas. Leaves pale blue/turquoise....... D. elephantipes/hemicrypta complex
  -Leaves green....... 2

• 2. Leaves shallowly cordate at base....... D. burchellii
  -Leaves deeply cordate....... 2

• 3. Leaves deeply incised, edges slightly concave, appearing very shallowly trilobed....... D. sylvatica
  -Leaf edges more convex than otherwise....... D. mundii

Projects worth joining if you found this article interesting:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lianes-and-creepers-of-the-southern-cape-and-little-karoo

References:
burchellii- http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1777-3
https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/Dioscorea.burchellii

sylvatica- http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1777-4002
http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/subs/dio-syl-sub.asp
https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/Dioscorea.sylvatica

elephantipes- http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1777-12
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:317936-1

(elephantipes) hemicrypta- http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1777-13

mundii- http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=1777-18
https://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.flora.floc015585

@milewski @jeremygilmore @justinponder2505 @christiaan_viljoen @malthinus @brendancole

By Ludwig Muller, SCHG (Southern Cape Herbarium, George)
ludwigxem@gmail.com

What are epiphytic orchids?
Epiphytic is best explained here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphyte
Basically, it's a plant growing on another plant without being parasitic. The host plant is normally larger than the epiphyte.
Most people, if they think of orchids at all, think of the epiphytic orchids. But here in the Southern Cape the majority of orchids are geophytic/terrestrial.
We are only supposed to have 9 species of epiphytic orchids here, but apparently Aerangis mystacidii has been reported from George and Knysna. Due to a paucity of recent records this species has been excluded, but can be seen here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84737527 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/70134699 . Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. rupestris is not included in this article because it never grows on trees. The orchids listed here normally occur in dense Afrotemperate forest, and sometimes in coastal thicket.

The species list, with type specimens, is as follows:
Angraecum conchiferum- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99573537
A. pusillum- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10798465
A. sacciferum- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69713856
Cyrtorchis arcuata subsp. arcuata- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102243416
Calanthe sylvatica- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/71129824
Liparis remota- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/78057117
Mystacidium capense- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96900170
Polystachya ottoniana- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10859440
Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. bicaudata- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68215956
Note: Liparis remota and Calanthe sylvatica are normally terrestrial. However, you do find the odd specimen growing epiphytically, which is why they're included here.

Now that you know what the local orchids look like, we can deal with imposters.
Firstly, the fern Vittaria isoetifolia can be confused with Angraecum pusillum.
See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/20291984 and compare with Angraecum observation above.

Next is Lepisorus schraderi, another epiphytic fern. It also grows as a lithophyte on occasion.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68878068
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10822306
Compare with Mystacidium and young Cyrtorchis.

Pleopeltis macrocarpa could possibly be identified as an orchid.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77108790

Elaphoglossum ferns are great candidates for confusion. See below:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/75070759
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103881674
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109748996

And finally the Paintbrush lily,Scadoxus puniceus. It sometimes grows as an epiphyte, notably the population on Hoekwil Big tree. See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107958850

• Scadoxus is distinguished from epiphytic orchids by the purplish-black spots on the lower stem.
• All epiphytic ferns can be distinguished from orchids by the lack of long, whitish roots clasping the host.

And now we can move on to identifying the orchids themselves.
As before, I have prepared a key. I think it's foolproof, but if you run into any hitches please let me know.

Leaves less than or equal to 8mm wide....... 1.1
Leaves greater than 8mm but less than or equal to 12mm in width....... 2.1
Leaves greater than 12mm wide....... 3.1

• 1.1 Sympodial growth pattern/pseudobulbs present....... Polystachya ottoniana
  -Monopodial growth pattern/pseudobulbs absent....... 1.2

• 1.2 Leaves at least 10 times longer than wide, grass- like, in a terminal cluster....... Angraecum pusillum
  -Leaves not grass- like....... 1.3

• 1.3 Leaf margins not rolled / leaf V-shaped in cross section, stem to 350mm....... Tridactyle bicaudata
  -Leaf margins rolled ever so slightly, stems to 300mm....... 1.4

• 1.4 Plant compact, stem less than or equal to 40mm, 4-8 leaves....... Angraecum sacciferum
  -Plant branching, stem less than or equal to 300mm, 8-16 leaves.......Angraecum conchiferum

• 2.1 Leaf with prominent apical "V", stem less than or equal to 350mm....... Tridactyle bicaudata
  -Leaf lacking prominent "V", stem to 25mm....... Mystacidium capense

• 3.1 Leaves pleated....... 3.2
  -Leaves bilobed....... 3.3

• 3.2 Leaves less than or equal to 100mm long....... Liparis remota
  -Leaves greater than 190mm long....... Calanthe sylvatica

• 3.3 Leaves with prominent apical "V", stem to 400mm....... Cyrtorchis arcuata
  -Leaves lacking prominent "V", stem to 25mm max....... Mystacidium capense

Terminology:
Sympodial growth- https://myfirstorchid.com/2016/07/04/monopodial-and-sympodial-orchids/
Leaf margins rolled- https://woodyplantstutorial.nres.illinois.edu/margins/mar-revolute.html
Apical "V"- a V-shaped indentation at the leaf tip
Pleated leaves- see first image at https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/06/16/pleated-leaves/
Bilobed leaves- https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bilobate
Lithophytic- growing on rocks

If flowers are present identification will be a lot easier- I was going to make a flower key for this article but decided against it. If you need help with identifying an epiphytic orchid feel free to tag me @ludwig_muller
Note that it is possible, at least in theory, for the forest orchid Bonatea speciosa to grow epiphytically. I have never heard of this happening, but if you do find such a specimen it can be easily told apart from other epiphytic orchids by the prominent black "sheath" clasping the base of the stem. This "sheath" is shown clearly here- 2nd pic from left: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107758802
For more information, I would recommend Redlist. See below:
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2762-2 Angraecum conchiferum
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2762-4 A. pusillum
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2762-5 A. sacciferum
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2765-3 Calanthe sylvatica
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2815-1 Cyrtorchis arcuata
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2807-6 Liparis remota
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2790-4 Mystacidium capense
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2770-13 Polystachya ottoniana
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2821-1 Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. bicaudata

And finally, here is the info from Orchids of South Africa by Johnson & Bytebier:
Angraecum conchiferum- 8-16 leaves, adjacent, narrowly strap-shaped, unequally bilobed,
30-60 x 4-8mm, stem to 300mm. Often on Yellowwoods (Podocarpus sp, especially P. falcatus).
A. pusillum- 5-10 leaves, grass- like, linear, rounded, thin, in dense terminal cluster on stem,
40-160 x 3-4mm. Old inflorescences persistent.
A. sacciferum- 4-8 leaves, stiff, nearly erect, flat, linear to strap- shaped, obscurely and unevenly bilobed, 20-60 x 3-7mm. Stem to 40mm. Old inflorescences persistent.
Calanthe sylvatica- Leaves pleated, thin, 200-400 x 70-115mm, plant to 70cm.
Cyrtorchis arcuata- Leaves strap- shaped, folded together basally (Author's note: This trait is not very obvious or reliable), unequally bilobed, pale green, 100-160 x 20-30mm. Stem to 400mm.
Mystacidium capense- leaves strap- shaped, unequally bilobed, 40-120 x 10-22mm. Stem to 25mm.
Polystachya ottoniana- 2-3 leaves per pseudobulb/plant, linear to strap- shaped, 20-130 x 4-8mm. Up to 150mm tall.
Tridactyle bicaudata subsp. bicaudata- Leaves arranged in two opposite rows, leathery, linear to strap- shaped, rounded, unequally bilobed, 60-120 x 7-12mm.

Acknowledgements:
I wish to thank Dr Niels Jacobsen for his guidance and mentorship and Dr Brendan Cole for being so supportive of this project.

References:
Liltved, W., Johnson, S., 2012. The Cape Orchids: A Regional Monograph of the Orchids of
the Cape Floristic Region. Sandstone Publications, Cape Town.
Johnson, S.D., Bytebier, B., 2015. Orchids of South Africa: A Field Guide. Struik, Cape Town
Crouch, N. R., Klopper, R. R., Burrows, J. E., Burrows, S. M., 2011. Ferns of Southern Africa: A comprehensive guide. Random House Struik, South Africa

@sedgesrock @malthinus @justinponder2505 @ren_hoekstra @christiaan_viljoen @milewski @knysna_wildflowers @tonyrebelo

We all know the frustration that comes from not being able to ID an orchid- especially when there is no flower. For when a flower is present, the Orchids of South Africa makes identification easy, but when the flower is absent there is not, as far as I am aware, a book concentrating specifically on orchid leaves. So this article aims to clear up some of the confusion regarding tricky IDs in the genus Holothrix- based on leaf structure, colour, hairiness, size and shape. All the type observations have leaf pics. I have included 11 species and 2 varieties as occuring in this area, namely:

Holothrix brevipetala- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37464114
H. burchellii- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97908227
H. cernua- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99342981
H. exilis- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98610067
H. grandiflora- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10980768
H. mundii- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/92901849
H. parviflora- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97642970
H. pilosa- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95608185
H. schlechteriana- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107177600
H. secunda- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98290696
H. villosa var. villosa- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99341754
H. villosa var. condensata- type observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107879164

Firstly, we need to exclude some other species and families often confused with Holothrix.
According to https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/119761-Holothrix, we are faced with the genera
Ornithogalum, Massonia, Satyrium, Eriospermum and Platanthera, an orchid genus from the Northern hemisphere.
I will exclude Platanthera from the start, assuming it does not and never will occur naturally in South Africa, let alone the Southern Cape.
In my experience, Eriospermum and Ornithogalum are the two genera that are most often confused with Holothrix.

Eriospermum examples can be seen here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77237656 Eriospermum dielsianum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41748832 E. pubescens
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49986272 E. capense
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/24740687 E. vermiforme
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11110583 E. brevipes

Observations where Holothrix and Eriospermum have been confused:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/95013397
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29227821

The two Ornithogalums most frequently confused with Holothrix are dubium and hispidum. See links below:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/75938927 Ornithogalum dubium
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77584041 O. dubium
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77870868 O. hispidum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110642149 O. hispidum

Ornithogalum and Holothrix confusion:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99701654
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51998115

Massonias are not generally confused with Holothrix, but confusion does arise at times. See below for typical Massonia examples:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/72673295 Massonia longipes
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/89691522 M. depressa
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82992734 M. depressa
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82824040 M. setulosa

Examples of Holothrix- Massonia confusion:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77043892
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32754037

The orchid genus Satyrium can normally be distigiushed from Holothrix by the large consistently glabrous light green leaves. These are typical examples:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97142151 Satyrium membranaceum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94206185 S. muticum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102163407 S. acuminatum
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/99341756 S. erectum

The inevitable confusion:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87116912
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/70733950
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/85309674

One genus which Inat fails to list as a potential candidate for confusion with Holothrix is Bartholina. I include it here due to its close relationship with Holothrix and the fact that thay co-occur throughout this area. Bartholina differs from Holothrix in several ways with its small single leaf and prominent white veins in etheliae's case.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94472308 Bartholina burmanniana
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/101685854 B. burmanniana
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/86025656 B. etheliae
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65139309 B. etheliae

Right- now that the other genera and families have been excluded we can get down to the nitty-gritty of Holothrix itself. I have made a simple key specially for this article- please note that the key is not completely foolproof and should not be used out of our area. What I mean when I say that the key is not watertight is simply that some populations of Holothrix cernua out of this region lack leaf hair.

Anyway, here it is. I'm afraid that I could not make a key for use with only leaves, and had to bring flower stalks and the flowers themselves into the picture, but I'll try to amend that with a list culled from Orchids of South Africa later on. I've also tried to make it as user-friendly as possible.

• 1. Leaves hairy above....... 2.1
     -Leaves hairless above....... 3.1

• 2.1 Leaves with "scales" or short hooked hairs....... Holothrix cernua
  -Hairs not hooked, lacking "scales" ....... 2.2

• 2.2 Hairs on flower stalk deflexed - turned sharply downward....... H. brevipetala
  -Hairs on stalk more or less at right angles to the stalk....... 2.3

• 2.3 Spur- little tail behind flower- less than or equal to 1.9mm long....... H. exilis
  -Spur greater than 1.9mm....... 2.4

• 2.4 Lip 3-lobed ( divided in three ), central lobe curved upwards....... H. villosa var. condensata
  -Lip 3-lobed, central lobe no different from the others....... H. villosa var. villosa

• 3.1 Underside of leaf hairy....... Holothrix pilosa
  -Lacking hair underneath....... 3.2

• 3.2 Tiny hairs along leaf margin, spur straight....... H. mundii
  -Lacking marginal hair, spur slightly to strongly curved....... 3.3

• 3.3 Bracts present....... 3.4
  -Bracts absent....... 3.6

• 3.4 More than 7 bracts....... H. grandiflora
  -No. of bracts less than or equal to 7....... 3.5

• 3.5 Relatively long deflexed hair on flower stalk....... H. burchellii
  -Hair on stalk, if present, pubescent ( like velvet )....... H. schlechteriana

• 3.6 Lip 5-lobed ( divided in 5 ), lobes more or less rectangular....... H. parviflora
  -Lip 5-lobed, lobes linear, acuminate ( tapering to a point )....... H. secunda

In case there was any confusion or difficulty using the key, here are some useful tips and definitions:
What are bracts? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bract and https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bract
And spurs? Those tiny "tails"? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nectar_spur Also in https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54393258 the spur is the tiny J-shaped curl visible on the lower 3 flowers.
When a leaf is referred to as being hairless above, what should it look like? See the third pic from the left in this observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31532859
And when a leaf is hairy above? https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77229011 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100227957 are prime examples of upper surface hairiness.
And what do hairy margins look like? ( article 3.2 ) See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/92901849
And lip lobes? See the illustration of Orchis italica here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labellum_(botany)

Info from the Orchids of South Africa and the Cape Orchids:
Holothrix breviptala- leaf pressed flat, hairy with stout hairs, less than or equal to 12mm in width
H. burchellii- leaf pressed flat against the ground, less than or equal to 60mm broad
H. cernua- leaf pressed flat, covered with short, stiff, hooked hairs above, less than 30mm broad
H. exilis- leaf pressed flat, sparsely hairy above, leaf width uncertain, probably 18mm wide
H. grandiflora- leaf pressed flat, glabrous, less than or equal to 80mm broad
H. mundii- leaf pressed flat, glabrous, short marginal hairs present, less than 21mm wide
H. parviflora- pressed flat or slightly raised, glabrous,less than or equal to 30mm wide
H. pilosa- leaves flat, upper surface glabrous, underside and margins hairy, less than 145mm wide
H. schlechteriana- leaf pressed flat to the ground, glabrous, less than or equal to 100mm wide
H. secunda- leaf pressed flat, glabrous, width uncertain, probably less than 80mm wide
H. villosa- both varieties- leaf pressed flat with a sparse to dense scattering of long hairs on upper surface, less than or equal to 95mm

Further reading:
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-2 Holothrix brevipetala
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-3 H. burchellii
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-4 H. cernua
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-9 H. exilis
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-12 H. grandiflora DDD
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-20 H. mundii
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-22 H. parviflora
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-24 H. pilosa NT
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-27 H. schlechteriana
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-29 H. secunda
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-32 H. villosa var. condensata
http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2841-33 H. villosa var. villosa

@tonyrebelo @jeremygilmore @justinponder2505 @ren_hoekstra @malthinus @sedgesrock @milewski @christiaan_viljoen

Today I have a challenge- a question that needs answering. Here it is:

Many people have noted the odd forms of Holothrix in the Outeniquas/George area, in particular H. brevipetala, H. exilis and H. villosa var. condensata. They grow long, slender, reed-like peduncles/stalks and the flowers are well spaced on the inflorescence.

As examples-
Villosa var. condensata:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107879164
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102705460
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10825517
A more robust form: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107879163

Brevipetala:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11188064
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11188047
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21943295
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104707154

Exilis- records very sparse:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11224432

Now- the usual forms:
Villosa var. condensata:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104722684
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104190741
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11171000

Brevipetala:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103585361
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59859659
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80237415

Exilis:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11233801
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17320561

The obvious question is "Why do they grow like this here and only here?"
In brevipetala the tall form seems to extend along the Cape Fold Mountains, but the reed-like form of exilis is rare and sporadic, and villosa var. condensata is even more patchy, though locally common in spots.
We should attempt to answer this question by asking "What is different about the Outeniquas?"
In other words....
Do the pollinators fly higher?
Is the weather more ideal for such growth?
Is there less wind?
Etc...

Any suggestions?

@tonyrebelo @milewski @markheystek @justinponder2505 @ren_hoekstra @malthinus @jeremygilmore @seroff55 @erickmunro @christiaan_viljoen @dhoare @sedgesrock

Author's note:
I have not written a scientific article before- this is my first attempt, so please bear with me and any mistakes I might have made. If you have any helpful comments or constructive criticism please send me a message on inat or mail me at ludwigxem@gmail.com .

I saw the need for an article addressing the considerable confusion surrounding Habenaria, Liparis and Bonatea IDs on inat- see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105954597 , https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/76911000 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68596478 . This article aims to address that need.

I will be focusing on 3 species- Liparis remota, Bonatea speciosa and Habenaria arenaria. Other species in these genera that might/also occur here are Habenaria laevigata, Habenaria falcicornis, Habenaria lithophila and Liparis capensis- based on records from The Cape Orchids (Liltved & Johnson 2012). They also list a few other Habenarias that I think are too unlikely to occur here so have not included them.
Liparis capensis is excluded because of its limited range in our area- see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=126458&subview=map&taxon_id=589246 - and also because I have no personal experience with this species. I lack notes, photos, fieldwork etc.
Habenaria laevigata has been recorded from Ruitersbos, north of Mossel Bay- not coastal
H.lithophila occurs along the mountains, not the coast.
H. falcicornis was reported from Keurboomstrand (Forest Hall, J. Vlok) and might well be worth searching for, but I lack the necessary photos and fieldwork on this species.

I will start by selecting my "type" observations- observations that, beyond doubt, are identified correctly.
Liparis remota:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105900057
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77615173
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69093840
Habenaria arenaria:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102165332
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77233833
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40175587
Bonatea speciosa:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105953127
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105953111
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102870148
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100070252

Flowering time is also important:
B. speciosa flowers from June to December, in the Garden Route mostly from September to November
H. arenaria flowers from (Mar) April to July (Sep)
L. remota flowers from November to March, but in our area mostly January and Febraury

When flowering the species can easily be told apart. Unfortunately the young Bonateas most frequently confused with Habenaria have not yet reached flowering age. I was helped enormously by a recent visit to Nature's Valley, where I found all three species growing side by side in coastal forest on leaf litter and sand. Here are the main differences:

Liparis remota:
Prominent grooves/stripes running the length of the leaf.
Lack of spots on the leaf.
Most plants have two leaves, rarely three.
The leaves are normally parallel to the ground, at some height off above it. The leaves are almost never pressed close to the ground.
The tip is also, in most cases, reflexed/recurved underneath the leaf, presenting a blunt apex.
This is the smallest orchid of the three in this article, although confusion might arise with a smaller Habenaria vs a large Liparis.
Underside of leaf is a light green.

Habenaria arenaria:
Single groove/stripe running up the center of the leaf.
Approximately 60-75% of most large Habenaria populations in our area is composed of plants with white spots/ speckles on the leaves. The remaining minority has plain green leaves. This creates much confusion with the other two, especially in the coastal habitat where all grow together.
Plants normally have one, often two and rarely three leaves.
The leaf tips in a two leaved plant normally point in opposite directions.
The leaves tend to be either flattened to the ground or raised to an angle of about 30 degrees. Exceptions occur in low light conditions, where the leaves reach higher to about 40 degrees.
The leaf apex is mostly sharp and pointed.
This is the 2nd largest of the three orchids, especially when flowering.
Underside of leaf pale whitish- green to white.

Bonatea speciosa:
In young plants a single groove runs the length of the leaf, from base to apex.
At the base of a stem there is almost always ( I have never found it missing) a black sheath encasing the area below the leaves. A very reliable method of identification.
In most plants except the very young there are more than 2 leaves. Also, these leaves radiate outwards in all directions and the plant is normally at some height off the ground.
The leaves of B. speciosa are almost never pressed flat against the ground. Even in young plants the leaves are raised, the tip being higher off the ground than the base.
The leaf is rounded in older plants and even in younger plants the tip is not sharp.
This is the largest of the three species, reaching roughly 50cm in height when fully grown.
Underside of leaf whitish.

Key:

• 1. Black "sheath" around basal portion of stem....... B. speciosa
  -Sheath absent....... 2

• 2. Leaf with single vein running down the center....... H. arenaria
  -Multiple veins present....... L. remota

Hopefully this article will help clear up some of the confusion regarding these species on iNat. Identifying orchids from leaves only is difficult at the best of times- example https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90529635 ( I thought it was S. coriifolium due to the raised leaves but a visit to the site when the plants were in flower showed otherwise).
If anyone needs help identifying orchids please feel free to tag me. I have enjoyed compiling this article and hopefully you've enjoyed reading it ;)

Cape Warthog - an overlooked pig

The Cape Warthog used to occur in the EC and adj. KZN. It is unsure how far west it extended, perhaps over much of the old Cape s of the Orange River.
It probably went extinct in the 1870s in the EC.
.
Rediscovery of the Cape warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus: a review.
P Grubb & J-P d’Huart 2010
Journal of East African Natural History: 99:

Abstract

Warthogs without incisors were described from the Cape of Good Hope as Phacochoerus aethiopicus and warthogs possessing incisors were first found in Senegal and later named Phacochoerus africanus. During the second half of the 18th century and the whole of the 19th century, the majority of workers recognised these two taxa as distinct. Twentieth century palaeontologists working in Africa also recognised the two species of warthogs in the Pleistocene and Holocene fossil records and were aware of the differences between the two Recent species. But in the same period, most zoologists considered all warthogs to belong to a single polytypic species. Re-examination of the literature and inspection of recent material confirm distinctive differences corresponding with geographic distribution of two species of warthogs: the widespread Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus and the Cape Warthog P. aethiopicus. Whereas the Cape Warthog, P. aethiopicus aethiopicus, became extinct in South Africa in the 1870s, a geographically isolated subspecies, P. aethiopicus delamerei, survives in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. This discontinuous distribution has been noted in the literature, as are the criteria which distinguish P. aethiopicus from P. africanus.
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Keywords: Phacochoerus aethiopicus, warthog systematics, geographical isolation, morphology.

(http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jeanh/article/view/66018)
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More reading:
https://sites.google.com/site/wildpigspecialistgroup/home/Phacochoerus-aethiopicus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_warthog
http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/naturalhistories/Order.html
http://www.africahunting.com/threads/the-common-warthog-and-the-desert-warthog.15224/

colin25 suggested an ID ID Withdrawn
6d
Micronisus gabar
Gabar Goshawk
Micronisus gabar
krista_oswald suggested an ID ID Withdrawn
6d
Micronisus gabar
Gabar Goshawk
Micronisus gabar
christiaan_viljoen commented
1d

Just for interest sake, why are you saying that it is not a Black Sparrowhawk?
christiaan_viljoen commented
1d

The bird looks quite bulky, but it's very different for me to judge the size. The photographer will have to tell us if it was the size of a Rock Kestrel or the size of a Forest Buzzard...
christiaan_viljoen commented
1d

I suppose it could also be a melanistic African Goshawk. But that would be a very rare sighting indeed.
christiaan_viljoen commented
1d

I am just mentioning other options because the habitat is completely wrong for Gabar Goshawk...
colin25 commented
1d

Size hard to judge as it was soaring. Probably more kestrel size though. Other birders have seen this bird more or less at the same time and also think Gabar, despite habitat issue.
christiaan_viljoen commented
1d

Someone needs to call it to see it if will respond and even better, call back, their calls are very distinctive.

It's very highly unlikely to be a Gabar Goshawk, but if so, it will be an awesome observation for George.
christiaan_viljoen commented
1d

@julianparsons, @justinponder2505, @markheystek, @ludwig_muller
markheystek commented
1d

Thanks for tagging me. This Accipiter has got a yellow cere and legs but Gabar Goshawks have red ceres and legs don't they? Going according to that I'm sure this is one of the many Black Spars that hang around the Witfontein forest. Size would be the best key indeed!
krista_oswald commented
1d

I had gone with melanistic Gabar (which I've seen) because of the full black throat (which I had never seen on Black Sparr). I did now do some googling of images and it seems there is a lot of variation in the underside, so I withdrew my ID. The ceres is definitely a good pointer away from Gabar.
markheystek commented
1d

Ja, I thought about the white throat-patch too... Almost all the melanistic Black Spars I've seen here have had white on the throat, and in fact I only know of one individual in the area that is not melanistic, so there's definitely a higher chance of seeing a melanistic B Spar in this area! Would be super cool to have a Gabar though...
christiaan_viljoen commented
19h

So what about the possibility of a Melanistic African Goshawk???
krista_oswald commented
16h

... @christiaan_viljoen I have no good excuse or reasoning. Again, I can just say that because I've seen melanistic Gabar that's where my mind went. A really bad assumption and I should have refrained from an ID. Although, the ceres/feet would also point away from AfGos.
christiaan_viljoen commented
6h

I am just worried about the size of the bird. A Black Sparrowhawk is a really large bird. I saw one this morning, same size as the Pied Crow that chasing it, if not larger. In fact the tables soon turned and then it was chasing the crow. If the observer says this bird was much smaller then we might have to consider African Goshawk.

The eye and cere colour also matches African Goshawk. The only problem I have is the darkish eye. But the melanin might also affect the eye colour?
christiaan_viljoen commented
6h

@trevor102, @johnnybirder, @rion_c, @ianrijsdijk
christiaan_viljoen commented
6h

Have a look a the following observation of what I think is quite clearly a melanistic African Goshawk. Note the yellow eye...

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47861387

Based on that observation I would say that this is certainly a fully melanistic Black Sparrowhawk.
christiaan_viljoen suggested an ID* Leading
6h
Accipiter melanoleucus
Black Sparrowhawk
Accipiter melanoleucus

• christiaan_viljoen disagrees this is Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
  colin25 commented
  6h

I do have a "problem" with colours, fail those dreaded pale dots tests where you are supposed to see numbers, but to my dubious eye the legs are more red than yellow. Just my eye leading me astray?
christiaan_viljoen commented
6h

Cere is yellow and feet are orange-yellow. Not orange-red and certainly not red. In fact, I recently saw Gabar Goshawk in Mokala NP and their legs are almost pinkish-red.

Also consider that a melanistic bird might have slightly darker legs. I noticed that the legs of a melanistic Gabar Goshawk was a deeper red-orange, compared to its normal looking mate which had pinkish-red legs and feed. I will send provide a link to my observations of the Gabars at Mokala below.
christiaan_viljoen commented
6h

Melanistic Gabar Goshawk:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/74493587

and is mate:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/74493638

Note the colour of the legs and feet.
ianrijsdijk commented
3h

My first thought was Black Spar, especially with the wing profile in the second shot, and keeping mind that the males are somewhat smaller than the females. The lack of a white throat patch did worry me, though I have seen a very dark bird in the Tokai area that, as I remember it, has no white patch. Ulrich Oberprieler's book has an all black bird. I'm not as familiar with Gabar, especially in its melanistic form.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/73832307#activity_comment_9f1af140-ba60-496d-86c2-d0b932ff4f0d

david_taylor suggested an ID
1y
Pseudobarbus
Redfins
Genus Pseudobarbus
david_taylor commented
1y

@darragh132 Not P. burchelli? Looks like the breede system and I don't think its P. skeltoni
darragh132 commented
1y

@david_taylor According to the taxonomists at SAIAB, P. burchelli (the Barrydale Redfin) is a unique lineage restricted to the Tradouw River catchment north of Swellendam. All Pseudobarbus burchelli in the rest of the system belong to a separate lineage, which is currently being referred to as P. sp nov "burchelli breede" but has no taxonomic authority until a description is published. The same situation is true for the "Cape zebra" Galaxias zebratus, which apparently should only be used to refer to one of two cryptic species restricted to the south-western Cape (there are 9 others across the Cape Fold Ecoregion). @tonyrebelo has already flagged this issue with the iNaturalist taxonomy team, so we will see if these "unique lineages" of redfins can get temporary species status for the purposes of observation reporting on this platform at least, while we wait for the taxonomists to clear their substantial backlog of undescribed lineages
david_taylor commented
1y

@darragh132 thanks for the clarification. I will follow this with interest. Is it Albert who is sorting this out?
darragh132 commented
1y

@david_taylor Yes Albert is slowly working through the Pseudobarbus, Galaxias and some Enteromius groups. I believe he is close to publishing a revision of Enteromius anoplus in the Western Cape, to give the ones found in the Cederberg new species status (he presented his student's work on this at a freshwater conference last year). The Breede Catchment galaxiids and redfins are somewhere further down the queue. There is a recent review paper in Aquatic Conservation that gives an overview of the taxonomic backlog (DOI: 10.1002/aqc.2730)
tonyrebelo commented
1y

Austroglanis barnardi (Skelton, 1981) EN Endemic to Olifants River system, specifically three tributary streams
Austroglanis gilli (Barnard, 1943) VU Endemic to Olifants River system

Enteromius anoplus (Weber, 1897) LC Widely distributed throughout South Africa
Enteromius sp. “pallidus south” LC Widespread across the eastern CFR from the Krom River in the west to the Great Fish River system in the east

Galaxias zebratus Castelnau, 1861 DD Type locality uncertain and requires revision

Galaxias sp. “zebratus Breede” NA Hex, Bothaspruit and mainstem Breede River system
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Goukou” NA Goukou River system
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Heuningnes” NA Heuningnes and Ratel River systems
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Klein” NA Klein, Uilkraals and Ratel River systems
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Mollis” NA Onrus River system and Leeu River, Berg River system
Galaxias sp. “zebratus nebula” NA Widespread across the CFR from the Olifants River system in the west to the Bitou River system in the east
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Rectognathus” NA Amandel and Du Toit Rivers, Riviersonderend sub‐catchment, Breede River system
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Riviersonderend” NA Tributaries of the Riviersonderend River and in the Keurbooms River, Breede River system. Also occurs in the Palmiet River system
Galaxias sp. “zebratus Slender” NA Uilkraals River system

Labeo seeberi Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911 EN Endemic to Olifants River system, specifically (currently) the Doring River main stream
Labeo umbratus (A. Smith, 1841) LC East coast rivers from Gouritz to Bushmans rivers and the Orange/Vaal River system

Labeobarbus seeberi (Gilchrist and Thompson, 1913) CVU Endemic to Olifants River system

Pseudobarbus afer (Peters, 1864) EN Headwater tributaries of the Baakens, Swartkops and Sundays River systems

1. Pseudobarbus sp. “afer Forest” NT East coast from Klein Brak to Tsitsikamma rivers
2. Pseudobarbus sp. “afer Gamtoos” EN Headwater tributaries of the Gamtoos River system

3. Pseudobarbus sp. “afer Krom” CR Headwater tributaries of the Krom River system
   Pseudobarbus asper (Boulenger, 1911) EN Mainstream reaches of the Gamtoos and Gourits River systems
   Pseudobarbus burchelli Smith, 1841 CR Tradouw River, Breede River system

4. Pseudobarbus sp. “burchelli Breede” NT Headwater tributaries of the Breede, Duiwenhoks and Goukou River systems

5. Pseudobarbus sp. “burchelli Heuningnes” CR Heuningnes River system
   Pseudobarbus burgi (Boulenger, 1911) EN Endemic to the Berg River system
   Pseudobarbus phlegethon (Barnard, 1938) EN Occurs in the Oudste, Thee, Noordhoeks, Boskloof and Rondegat tributaries of the Olifants River system

6. Pseudobarbus sp. “phlegethon Doring” CR Breekrans and Driehoeks tributaries of the Doring River, Olifants River system
   Pseudobarbus skeltoni Chakona & Swartz, 2013 NA Limited to two localities within the Breede River system (upper Riviersonderend and Krom rivers)
   Pseudobarbus tenuis (Barnard, 1938) NT Headwater tributaries of the Gouritz River system

7. Pseudobarbus sp. “tenuis Keurbooms” EN Headwater tributaries of the Keurbooms and Bitou River systems
   Pseudobarbus verloreni Chakona, Swartz & Skelton, 20143 EN Verlorenvlei River system
   ‘Pseudobarbus’ capensis (Smith, 1841) EN Endemic to the Berg and Breede River systems
   ‘Pseudobarbus’ calidus (Barnard, 1938) V Endemic to the Olifants River system
   ‘Pseudobarbus’ erubescens (Skelton, 1974) CR Endemic to the Olifants River system, specifically the Twee River and its tributaries
   ‘Pseudobarbus’ serra (Peters, 1864) EN Endemic to the Olifants River system

Sandelia capensis (Cuvier, 1831) DD Type locality uncertain and requires revision

1. Sandelia sp. “capensis Breede” NA Tributaries of the Breede, Duiwenhoks and Goukou River systems
2. Sandelia sp. “capensis Agulhas” NA Heuningnes, Haelkraal and Klein River systems
3. Sandelia sp. “capensis Klein” NA Klein River system
4. Sandelia sp. “capensis Koekedou” NA Titus and Koekedou, tributaries of the Breede River system

5. Sandelia sp. “capensis Riviersonderend” NA Tributaries of the Riviersonderend River, Breede River system
   ludwig_muller commented
   1y

Hi @darragh132 Your info on Enteromius anoplus is most interesting as l have recently discovered what may be a new Enteromius in the Free state. Is the species being split up?
ludwig_muller suggested an ID
1y
Pseudobarbus
Redfins
Genus Pseudobarbus
darragh132 commented
1y

@ludwig_muller Yes the western populations of Enteromius anoplus (including those occurring in Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Free State) are currently undergoing taxonomic revision at SAIAB, led by a PhD student that is close to submitting. I expect to see the new species descriptions published later this year or in early 2021.