Maclear Four

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 M to Z. More information about each species can be found on the appropriate genus page.


Moraea albicuspa occurs in well watered mountain grassland in the southern Drakensberg mountains KwaZulu-Natal where it is usually found among rocks or in thick clumps. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller.

Moraea albicuspa, Cameron McMasterMoraea albicuspa, Bob Rutemoeller

Oxalis obliquifolia is found in grassland up to 3000 meters elevation from Ethiopia to South Africa. Photos taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.

Oxalis obliquifolia, Maclear, Bob RutemoellerOxalis obliquifolia, Maclear, Bob RutemoellerOxalis obliquifolia, Maclear, Mary Sue Ittner

Oxalis smithiana grows in damp grassland, on mossy rocks in forest, from the coast up to 2560 meters elevation in southeastern South Africa. Photos taken January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner.

Oxalis smithiana, Mary Sue IttnerOxalis smithiana, Mary Sue Ittner

Oxalis sp. This looks like a different species from the ones above, but we were unable to find a description in our field guides that fit. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.

Oxalis sp., back of leaf Maclear, Bob RutemoellerOxalis sp., Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerOxalis sp., Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerOxalis sp., Maclear, Mary Sue Ittner

Pachycarpus campanulatus (Harv.) N.E.Br. is a slender, geophytic herb up to 750 mm high with common names of cluster bells, toad plant, fairy bell pachycarpus, and thick-fruit. The species is widely distributed mostly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal but also in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Free State Provinces. Photos below were taken by Bob Rutemoeller, Mary Sue Ittner, and Cameron McMaster January 2010 in Maclear.

Pachycarpus campanulatus, Maclear, Bob RutemoellerPachycarpus campanulatus, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerPachycarpus campanulatus, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerPachycarpus campanulatus, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerPachycarpus campanulatus, Maclear, Cameron McMaster

Pelargonium pulverulentum is a geophytic species endemic to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster.

Pelargonium pulverulentum, Maclear, Cameron McMasterPelargonium pulverulentum, Maclear, Cameron McMaster

Rhodohypoxis baurii is native to the Eastern part of South Africa where it grows in grassland and rocky places. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller.

Rhodohypoxis baurii, Maclear, Cameron McMasterRhodohypoxis baurii, Maclear, Cameron McMasterRhodohypoxis baurii, Maclear, Bob Rutemoeller

A naturally occurring hybrid was found that was thought to be a hybrid between Rhodohypoxis baurii and Hypoxis argentea. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller.

Rhodohypoxis baurii x Hypoxis argentea, Maclear, Cameron McMasterRhodohypoxis baurii x Hypoxis argentea, Maclear, Bob Rutemoeller

Satyrium cristatum is found in moist or marshy grassland up to 2400 m from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo. Photo from Cameron McMaster taken at Aurora Peak.

Satyrium cristatum, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMaster

Satyrium longicauda grows in grassland, rocky areas and marshes from the Southern Cape of South Africa to tropical Africa. Photos from Mary Sue Ittner.

Satyrium longicauda, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerSatyrium longicauda, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerSatyrium longicauda, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerSatyrium longicauda, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerSatyrium longicauda, Maclear, Mary Sue Ittner

Satyrium neglectum is found in moist grassland from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Tanzania. Photos from Cameron McMaster taken at Aurora Peak.

Satyrium neglectum, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMasterSatyrium neglectum, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMasterSatyrium neglectum, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMaster

Satyrium sphaerocarpum is found in moist grassland from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Mozambique. Photos taken January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner and Cameron McMaster.

Satyrium sphaerocarpum, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerSatyrium sphaerocarpum, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerSatyrium sphaerocarpum, Maclear, Cameron McMaster

Satyrium trinerve is found on marshy ground from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to tropical Africa. Photo by Cameron McMaster.

Satyrium trinerve, Maclear, Cameron McMaster

Scadoxus puniceus is found along the coast and in river valleys, in subtropical thicket in the southern to south east Cape to tropical Africa. Photos taken January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner of plants in fruit.

Scadoxus puniceus fruit, Mary Sue IttnerScadoxus puniceus fruit, Mary Sue Ittner

Schizochilus flexuosus grows in grassland or on damp sheet rock or damp cliffs in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster.

Schizochilus flexuosus, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMasterSchizochilus flexuosus, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMasterSchizochilus flexuosus, Cameron McMaster

Tritonia drakensbergensis is found on the southern parts of the Drakensberg range in the northern Eastern Cape. Photos by Cameron McMaster.

Tritonia drakensbergensis, Cameron McMasterTritonia drakensbergensis, Woodcliffe, Cameron McMasterTritonia drakensbergensis, Woodcliffe, Cameron McMaster

Watsonia confusa Goldblatt grows in damp sites or grassland from the coast to 1000 meters from the Eastern Cape Province to KwaZulu-Natal. The first photo was taken by Cameron McMaster January 2008 at Elands Heights, Maclear. the next three were taken January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner.

Watsonia confusa, Elands Heights, Cameron McMasterWatsonia confusa, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerWatsonia confusa, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerWatsonia confusa, Maclear, Mary Sue Ittner

Watsonia gladioloides grows in rocky grassland in mountains from the Eastern Cape province to Swaziland. Photos #1 and 2 taken by Cameron McMaster February 2008 at Aurora Peak, Maclear. Photos #3-5 taken by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner January 2010.

Watsonia gladioloides, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMasterWatsonia gladioloides, Aurora Peak, Cameron McMasterWatsonia gladioloides, Bob RutemoellerWatsonia gladioloides, Bob RutemoellerWatsonia gladioloides, Mary Sue Ittner

Wurmbea kraussii is a small plant to 10 cm found on damp places in grassy slopes in the Eastern Cape. Photos taken in January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner.

Wurmbea kraussii, Maclear, Mary Sue IttnerWurmbea kraussii, Maclear, Mary Sue Ittner

Zantedeschia albomaculata is a summer rainfall species from eastern southern Africa found in marshy ground on rocky or grassy mountainsides. The first photo was taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller. Other photos by Cameron McMaster.

Zantedeschia albomaculata, Bob RutemoellerZantedeschia albomaculata, Maclear, Cameron McMasterZantedeschia albomaculata, Maclear, Cameron McMaster

Maclear A-D - Maclear E-L - Maclear main page and index of plants


Return to the PBS wiki Places in South Africa page
Page last modified on January 27, 2024, at 12:56 PM
Powered by PmWiki