Day 3 - Discovery of a new species

Today was a highlight day!! Scientists and students were delighted with the number and quality of the species collected. The media and representatives of the sponsors were treated to magnificent natural settings along the Orange River and breathtaking views from the Gamsberg overlooking the endless and vast landscape of the beautiful Bushmanland plains and inselbergs.

On the banks of the Orange River

Panoramic picture of the Karsten's Date Plantation

We benefited from the excellent knowledge of Karel du Toit from Springbok, an expert on the succulent species of this area. He opened our eyes to the details of the tiny and well disguised plants in the nooks and cracks of the rose quartz rocks and pebbles under our feet.

Karel du Toit

Simon & Kowiyou

The Team sampling at Gamsberg

We visited the town of Aggeneys and the nearby Gamsberg Mountain. Aggeneys is the Nama word for “place of water” and was founded in 1976 to service the Black Mountain Mine. This mine was bought by Anglo American Corporation in 2010 and currently mines zinc, copper, silver and lead. Mining at the nearby Gamsberg Mountain is planned in the future due to large deposits of zinc in the area.
The Gamsberg Mountain is a restricted area and the habitat and plant species may soon be affected by open shaft mining activities. The scientists and conservationists are therefore grateful and excited to be able to explore such a sensitive area.  With the assistance and knowledge of Karel du Toit more than 100 samples of different species were collected.

'Outreach on the rocks' - the best place to find plants in these conditions

Social weaver nest

The find of the day is definitely the Trachyandra.

This tiny bulb has an interesting history linked to its naming and classification. It was first discovered 7 years ago, without pictures or samples to support the finding. It could not be recognised as a new species; since that date no other examples could be found.

Trachyandra

Trachyandra in its natural environment

Today’s find will now be used to confirm the authenticity of the new species and this will be added to the 100 or more new species found annually in South Africa.  It will be exciting to follow the classification process and to know that Toyota Enviro Outreach played a significant role in this achievement.

One of the outstanding features of this region is the striking quiver trees along the roads, farms and even as landmarks in towns. This plant is a distinctive feature in the Northern Cape landscape and is a specially protected tree under the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act (no.9 of 2009).  According to Natalie Uys (Botanist for Research and Development Support, Northern Cape Depart of Environment and Nature Conservation) there are three quiver tree species occurring in this region; the quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma), the nooiens kokerboom (Aloe ramosissima) and critically endangered baster quiver tree (Aloe pillansii). Aloe pillansii is mainly restricted to the Richtersveld and southern parts of Namibia. The common name comes from the Bushmen who used the hollowed out branches of the trees to carry their quivers.

Quiver tree taken from Gamsberg

Horses enjoying the Quiver trees