The Maclear district is a spectacular valley, the Mooi River valley, in the foothills of the Drakensberg, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The valley has magnificent views of mountainsides, rushing streams and waterfalls. Many orchid species are found growing in the grassland of this district, but there are also other geophytic species found there as well. Photos on these wiki pages were taken in this district on a number of botanizing trips. Pictured on this page are plants from A to D. More information about each species can be found on the appropriate genus page.
Agapanthus campanulatus is found in moist grassland, on rocky hillsides from the Eastern Cape to the Northern province. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Albuca bracteata, syn. Ornithogalum caudatum, Ornithogalum longibracteatum, is found on shaded slopes and forest margins from the southeastern Cape of South Africa to tropical East Africa. Photos taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Albuca sp. photographed January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller
Brownleea recurvata is found in stony grassland in the Southern and Eastern Cape. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster near Aurora Peak.
Brunsvigia grandiflora is found scattered in grassland, at 1200-3200 meters in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster, Bob Rutemoeller, and Mary Sue Ittner.
Corycium dracomontanum is found in grassland in the Eastern Cape. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
Cyrtanthus epiphyticus is an epiphytic species from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal found on trees, boulders and in rock crevices in moist conditions. The first four photos were taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller January 2010. The last two photos were taken by Cameron McMaster.
Dierama reynoldsii is an eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal species with narrow leaves and large red flowers. Photos taken January 2010 by Cameron McMaster and Mary Sue Ittner.
Disa cooperi is found on stony mountain grassland from 1500 to 2200 meters in the Drakensberg Mountains. Photos 1-3 taken by Mary Sue Ittner January 2010. Photos 3-6 taken by Cameron McMaster, Aurora Peak, Maclear, February 2008.
Disa cornuta is found in damp but well drained grassland up to 2400 meters from the Western Cape to Zimbabwe. Photos taken January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller.
Disa crassicornis is found in damp grassland, or forest margins and rock ledges in the Eastern Cape, Transkei, Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. Photos were taken at Aurora Peak by Cameron McMaster February 2008.
Disa nivea is found on moist grassy slopes and rock ledges in the Drakensberg at 2250-2500 m. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak, February 2008.
Disa oreophila is found in the Drakensberg Mountains and grows from 10 to 35 cm. Subspecies oreophila hangs or curves out from damp crevices and grassy slopes and has much smaller flowers. Photos of this subspecies taken by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller January 2010.
Disa patula is found on montane grassland from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe. Photos were taken February 2008 by Cameron McMaster.
Disa stachyoides is a very common summer rainfall species found in grassland up to 2800 meters from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo province. Photos taken January 2010 by Cameron McMaster, Bob Rutemoeller, and Mary Sue Ittner.
Disa versicolor grows in grassland in tropical and southern Africa from the Eastern Cape to Angola and Zimbabwe. Photos were taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Disperis cardiophora is found in moist mountain grassland in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Photos by Cameron McMaster and Mary Sue Ittner.
Disperis concinna grows in marshy grassland from KwaZulu-Natal South Africa to Zimbabwe. The first two photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak. The third and fourth were taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller January 2010 .
Disperis cooperi is found in damp or marshy grassland from KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak.
Disperis oxyglossa is found in damp grasslands at 1400-2500 meters from the Southern Cape Province to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak.
Disperis renibractea Schltr. is found in grassland from 1400 to 2700 meters in the summer rainfall area of Eastern South Africa. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller January 2010.
Disperis tysonii Bolus grows on mountain grassland from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Mpumalanga. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak.
Maclear E-L - Maclear M-Z - Maclear main page and index of plants