Gaika's Kop is a isolated dolerite outcrop in the Amatola mountain range in the Eastern Cape. With an altitude of 1960 m, it is the highest peak in this range. Photos on these pages were mostly taken January 17 2010 when a number of friends led by Cameron McMaster spent the morning exploring. One group went to the summit and the other group explored the lower areas of the mountain. Photos of species E-N are found on this page.
Eucomis autumnalis from southeastern southern Africa is found on rocky, grassy slopes and has white to greenish flowers blooming summer into fall. Photos 1-2 from Cameron McMaster. Photos 3-4 taken by Christopher Whitehouse January 2012.
Eucomis autumnalis ssp. clavata grows to 30 cm and is found in damp grassland, on slopes or at the foot of cliffs. Leaves of this species have margins that are crisped and wavy. Photo taken by Mary Sue Ittner January 2010.
Eulophia aculeata is found in grassland and fynbos from the southwestern Cape to Mpumalanga. Photos 1-2 of subspecies aculeata taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller on the summit. Photos 3-4 taken by Christopher Whitehouse January 2012.
Hesperantha pulchra is a high altitude species that grows in full sun in open grassland on the high slopes of the Amatola Mountains and the surrounding hills. Photos taken by Bob Rutemoeller January 2010.
Hypoxis argentea grows in grassland, on rocky outcrops in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It has narrow ribbed leaves with silky yellowish hairs and small yellow flowers. Photos taken January 2010 by Cameron McMaster and Mary Sue Ittner.
Ixia orientalis grows on flats and slopes in winter and summer rainfall areas and blooms in spring. Photo from Cameron McMaster.
Kniphofia citrina grows in coastal grassland to 600 m. Photo from Cameron McMaster.
Kniphofia northiae is found on mountain grassland, on streambanks, basalt cliffs, seepage lines up to 300 m from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. Photo by Mary Sue Ittner taken January 2010.
Kniphofia triangularis is found in mountain grassland, streambanks, and moist areas in the Eastern Cape to the Northern province of South Africa. Photos taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Kniphofia uvaria is a winter and summer rainfall species that grows in seeps, marshes, and streams on sandstone slopes. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller close to the summit January 2011.
Moraea elliotii is found on grassy sandstone slopes from Mossel Bay to Malawi. Photos 1-4 taken on the summit by Cameron McMaster and Bob Rutemoeller January 2010. Photo 5 taken by Christopher Whitehouse January 2012.
Moraea muddii , a summer rainfall species, occurs in the higher grassland parts of the Amatola Mountains and in the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and up into Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe. Photo taken by Cameron McMaster .
