The Andriesberg is a massive dolerite dome rising out of the surrounding plains in the Sterkstroom district of the Eastern Cape. The pockets of soil and rock cracks on the mountain are a unique habitat for a variety of especially succulent flora with some special endemics such as Huernia piersii. It is situated on a historic farm, Carnarvon Estates, run as a conservancy, game reserve and guest farm by the Halse Family. Photos below from Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller illustrate the habitat and many of the plants that grow in this spot. Most of these photos were taken in January and February, summer rainfall summer on excursions led by Cameron. Some were taken on a very wet day.
Photos below show some of the succulent plants.
Photos below are of Boophone disticha leaves, Colchicum striatum, syn Androcymbium striatum, and a Cyrtanthus sp. that is likely to be Cyrtanthus macowanii as it is a bit out of range to be Cyrtanthus epiphyticus. They are very difficult to tell apart. Finally there is an orchid, Disa porrecta.
Two species of Bulbine, Bulbine abyssinica and Bulbine narcissifolia grow in this location.
The first photo is of Dierama robustum. The rest are of Eriospermum corymbosum seen on a rainy day in a rock outcrop. There were a lot of leaves, but only one plant in bud and none with seed. We dug up (and later) replanted a tuber. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller.
Two Gladiolus species, Gladiolus mortonius and Gladiolus permeabilis ssp. edulis were photographed in January and February.
Below are photos of Hesperantha coccinea, an unknown Hypoxis sp. and two species of Kniphofia, Kniphofia stricta and Kniphofia triangularis.
Photographed in November were two species of Moraea, Moraea huttonii and Moraea spathulata and Ornithogalum synanthifolium.
Pachycarpus vexillaris was also found in summer months.
And unidentified Oxalis sp. and Schizocarphus nervosus were also present in this location.
Strumaria gemmata photos by Cameron McMaster show flowers, leaves and fruit.
An unidentified Trachyandra sp., possibly Trachyandra saltii, was photographed on a wet day in January. Tulbaghia galpinii was photographed in November and another Tulbaghia sp. in January.
