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Spring Flower Watch: Napier Commonages, Overberg

Oct 21, 2020  |  Written by Zoë Chapman Poulsen. Photos supplied by Grant Forbes and Odette Curtis-Scott from the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust. 

Above: Hermannia imbricata. Photo: Grant Forbes.

This week’s spring flower watch takes us to visit the small community of Napier at the heart of the southern Overberg.

Nestled at the foot of the Soetmuisberg, this beautiful village is located between the towns of Caledon and Bredasdorp surrounded by rolling farmland and highly biodiverse Overberg  Renosterveld vegetation.

Above: View from Skurwekop looking west following clearance of alien vegetation. Photo: Grant Forbes.

Overberg Renosterveld is one of the world’s most species diverse Mediterranean type shrublands. It is also one of the world’s most threatened vegetation types with all renosterveld types in the Overberg recognised as critically endangered.

Less than 5% of its former extent remains following extensive transformation of this vegetation for agriculture. Illegal ploughing still continues alongside threats from overgrazing, as well as drift and runoff from agricultural chemicals.

Above: Sign board for the Cameron McMaster Renosterveld Reserve. Supplied by Odette Curtis-Scott.

Our partners at the Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust (ORCT) have been working hard for over eight years with landowners to expand the area of renosterveld under conservation through their conservation easement programme.

This includes the new Cameron McMaster Renosterveld Reserve that is owned by the Agulhas municipality, located next to the R316 on the eastern edge of Napier.

Important conservation efforts are also being undertaken by the ORCT at the Napier West Commonage, also known as Skurwekop.

Above: Gladiolus vandermerwei. Photo: Odette Curtis-Scott.

Funding has been received from the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, WWF SA and the Overberg District municipality through the Expanded Public Works Programme for clearance of alien invasive vegetation at the site. Over 70 Ha have been cleared so far between July and August of this year.

During late spring the stunning red blooms of Gladiolus vandermerwei can be seen, easily recognised by its red blooms that look much like a beautiful tropical bird. It is currently listed as Endangered on the Red List of South African Plants.

Above: Hermannia flammea. Photo: Grant Forbes.

There are many different species of Hermannia to be found in Overberg Renosterveld, often occupying relatively specialist habitat niches. Members of this genus are also known as Doll’s Roses or Poprosies in Afrikaans. The majority of Hermannia are highly palatable.

Above: Babiana patersoniae. Photo: Grant Forbes.

Another spring beauty from the area is Babiana patersoniae, named after Eastern Cape naturalist Florence Mary Paterson. Flowering from August to October, it can be found often blooming en masse on clay slopes and along roadsides from Caledon to Bredasdorp and the Eastern Cape.

Further Reading

Curtis-Scott, O.E. Goulding, M. Helme, N. McMaster, R. Privett, S. Stirton, C. (2020) Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg, Struik Nature, Cape Town, South Africa.