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 E to L. More information about each species can be found on the appropriate genus page.
These unidentified Eriospermum species were growing sheltered by rocks in the shade. The second photo could be E. ornithogaloides which is described in the field guide as having a heart shaped solitary leaf with red margins fringed with hairs and lying flat on the ground. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner.
Eucomis autumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. from southeastern southern Africa is found growing in a variety of habitats, often on rocky, grassy slopes and has white to greenish flowers blooming summer into fall. Photo from Cameron Mc Master.
Eulophia aculeata is found in grassland and fynbos from the southwestern Cape to Mpumalanga. Photos by Cameron McMaster and Mary Sue Ittner.
Eulophia hians var. nutans, syn. Eulophia clavicornis var. nutans is found in grassland. Photos by Cameron McMaster, Bob Rutemoeller, and Mary Sue Ittner.
Eulophia foliosa is found in grassland from the Eastern Cape to the Northern Province of South Africa. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller.
Eulophia leontoglossa is widespread in Eastern southern Africa where it is found in moist to wet grassland. Photos from Cameron McMaster and Mary Sue Ittner.
Eulophia welwitschii grows in grassland and marshy areas from the Eastern Cape to tropical Africa. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller January 2010. The first shows the habitat. The last was taken by Cameron McMaster.
Gladiolus crassifolius is found usually growing in hilly country in well-drained rocky grassland habitats. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster in 2008.
Gladiolus ecklonii is widespread in the summer rainfall area where it is found in well watered low grassland. Photo taken by Cameron McMaster.
Gladiolus oppositiflorus is found in the southern part of the summer rainfall area where it grows in open grasslands and often in rocky sites where there is some protection from predators. Photos from Cameron McMaster.
Gladiolus wilsonii is distributed on grassy flats in the Eastern Cape. Photos taken January 2010 by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Gloriosa modesta (syn. Littonia modesta) is a summer growing climber found on forest margins from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Limpopo. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner and Cameron McMaster in January.
Habenaria dives is found in grassland up to 2600 m from the Eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga and including Lesotho and Swaziland. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak.
Habenaria falcicornis is found in marshy grassland up to 2600 m from the Western Cape to Zimbabwe. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Habenaria laevigata Lindl. is found on stony grassland from 700 to 2000 m. in the Eastern Cape. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster, Bob Rutemoeller, and Mary Sue Ittner January 2010.
Habenaria tysonii Bolus is found on exposed sunny, rocky grassland with the center of the distribution in KwaZulu-Natal, but extending north and south to the Eastern Cape. Photos taken at Aurora Peak by Cameron McMaster.
Holothrix thodei grows in moist rocky grassland or rock crevices from 1500-2600 meters in the summer rainfall Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Aurora Peak, Maclear.
Hypoxis costata is found on stony, grassy slopes from 2050 to 2400 meters in many summer rainfall areas of South Africa. Photos taken January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner.
Hypoxis rigidula is wide spread in South Africa, growing on grassy slopes up to 2300 m. It has flat,erect strongly ribbed hairy leaves and large yellow flowers. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Kniphofia linearifolia is widespread in the Eastern Cape where it grows in marshy ground and near stream beds, often in large colonies. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Kniphofia parviflora is found in grassland and marshy places up to 2000 m from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. Photo taken in January 2010 by Mary Sue Ittner.
Ledebouria sp. is a photo from Mary Sue Ittner of the foliage of an unidentified species of ledebouria.
Maclear A-D - Maclear M-Z - Maclear main page and index of plants