Colourful Birds of the eMalangeni Forest

Here are some the most colourful of the birds to be found in the eMalangeni Forest and forest margins that we will endeavor to show you when you book to be taken on an eco-excursion through the Forest and explore the surrounds.

I had no option other that to place this photo of a  Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus first because it is the bird that I have on my Ecoman company logo.

The White-eared Barbet  leucotis is more often seen than heard as it chatters away like a parrot up in the trees.  

The Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus can be found most days at eMalangeni on the forest margins hawking insects in particular dragon flies often near to the nesting site.

The Gorgeous Bush-shrike  Telophorus quadricolor is another of the forest birds that are more often heard than seen but if one has some patience these birds will appear as if by magic out of the undergrowth.

The Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchellii may not be as colourful as some of the other forest birds  at eMalangeni but it is a character in its own right that can be heard calling the rain in the early spring. 

It would not be summer without the distinctive call of the Diderick Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius that lays her eggs in the nest of in particular the Spectacled and Dark Backed Weavers in the emalangeni Forest.

The Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius is another well known South African bird that is heard far more than it is seen.

The African Finfoot Podica senegalensis is a shy and seldom seen water bird that can be seen in the eMalangeni Swamp Forest.

Crested Guineafowl Guttera edouardi lives in the forest but tends to nest on the forest margins in very well hidden nests.

The White-crested Helmet-shrike Prionops plumatus conspicuously moved that the forest in noisy family parties.

The Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus can not be overlooked when they are around because they move around in large noisy groups. they are one of the main agents of dispersion of the seed of the Kosi Bay cycad Encephalartos ferox very often dropping them under the Water berry trees Syzygium cordatum where they roost after eating them.

The Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator also moves around in large noisy groups and also is a major distributer of the seed of the Kosi Bay cycad at eMalangeni.

The African Jacana Actophilornis africanus can be found where ever there is floating vegetation in the river streams that flow through the eMalangeni swamp forest and on the edges of Lake Amanzimnyama

The Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata can be found along the Amanzimnyama river and the streams that flow through the eMalangeni swamp or peat forest is it is scientifically referred to.

The Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis can be found sleeping in the leaf litter on the eMalangeni forest floor for those who have good eyesight and an measure of luck.

The Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus that announces its presence with a load and distinctive call while sitting high up in the forest trees at eMalangeni.

African Wood-owl Strix woodfordii are to be found in the eMalangeni Swamp Forest

The fruit eating African Green-pigeon Treron calvus will be found in groups where ever wild fig trees are fruiting in the forest.

The Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola will usually be found near to water hawking insects on the wing.

The Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis is a familiar and common garden bird in many gardens which is mostly still know as the Natal Robin.

eMalangeni is home to this magnificent insect eating Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus

No forest along the KwaZulu-Natal coast would be complete without this colourful little Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris.

The Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea is often found in the deep shade of the forest hawking insects or drinking nectar from the forest Strelitzia, Strelitzia nicholai.

African Purple Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis a beautiful but very aggressive bird that skulks in rank reeds and waterside vegetation.

The Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus is a fruit and insect member of the barbet tribe found living in the eMalangeni swamp forest.

The Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus is very similar in habits to the red-fronted tinkerbird.

The spectacularly beautiful insect eating Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina is one of the gems of our indigenous swamp forest at eMalangeni.

Livingstone's Turaco  Tauraco livingstonii is another of the rare gems to be found in the eMalangeni swamp forest.

The Purple-crested Turaco Gallirex porphyreolophus has become a common and tame garden bird in urban gardens along the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

 No collection of bird photographs of birds of the eMalangeni swamp forest would be complete without the icon bird of the forest the Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angiogenesis also known as the vulturine fish eagle being presented. this large bird of prey is most unusual as it has a particular relationship to the Kosi Bay Palm Raphia australis the oil rich fruits of which represent a large portion of its diet

I thank a very long time friend Mark Tittley the senior youth pastor of Encounter Youth the youth ministry of Every Nation Rosebank in Johannesburg, South Africa for all of the excellent photographs he has allowed me to use for this posting without them it would not have been possible at this moment in time.

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas.

Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

18.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

Photographs taken at eMalangeni Forest

Here are a few photographs taken with a cell phone of plants and other things of interest in and nearby to the eMalangeni Forest.

Crinum stuhlmannii subspecies delagoense belonging to the plant family Amaryllidaceae these magnificent bulbous plants grow in profusion on the forest edge and in the adjoining grassland at eMalangeni. 

The Amanzimnyama river "black water" which describes the dark colour of the water that has been coloured by tannins, that flows into the South end of lake Amanzimnyama.

Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise Kinixys zombensis in the eMalangeni Forest. Hinge backs are unique for their ability to close the back part of the shell to protect them from predators. They are a significant food source for humans through much of their range

Poison olive Peddiea africana a small attractive forest understory tree with glossy dark green leaves belonging to the plant family Thymelaeaceae.

The attractive white flower of the scrabbling herb Creeping Foxglove Asystasia gangetica belonging to the plant family Acanthaceae. these plants grow both in full sun as well as in the forest shade. Asystasia gangetica is the larval host plant for a number of colourful butterflies in particular the Blue Pansy, Junonia oenone oenone belonging to the family Nymphalidae.

This beautiful Blue Pansy butterfly, Junonia oenone oenone belonging to the family Nymphalidae is found throughout Africa.

The twin crowns of the majestic Forest Cabbage Tree, Cussonia sphaerocephala poking its head through the forest canopy.

The bright yellow flower of the fresh water mangrove, the tree hibiscus, Hibiscus tilliaceus is to be seen on the river bank as well as on the shores of Lake Amanzimnyama.

The crested guineafowl Guttera pucherani a member of the family Numididae can be seen at times in open patches of the eMalangeni forest or on the forest margins.

Large expanses of Zamioculcas zamiifolia a tropical perennial plant native to eastern Africa, from southern Kenya to northeastern South Africa can be seen growing on the eMalangeni forest floor. Zamioculcas zamiifolia commonly referred to as the ZZ plants is a very well known and very popular house plant in many countries around the world. Growing at the base of the tree is the epiphytic fern, Microsorum punctatum.

The stately Dracaena aletriformis the larval host plant for a number of forest butterflies and moths. when in flower Dracaena aletriformis attracts vast numbers of insects to its flowers and birds that eat the soft yellow berries that ripen in the winter months.

The bright red flower of the Dwarf Coral tree Erythrina humeana  can be found in the late summer to early Autumn months on the eMalangeni forest margin as well as in the surrounding grassland. 

The Cape Honey Suckle Tecomaria capensis can be found within the eMalangeni forest where it probably does not flower due to insufficient sunlight as well as on the forest edge.

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas.

Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

18.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

Parinari capensis locally known as umbulwa

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata locally known as umbulwa Maputaland Dwarf Mobola is a very interesting plant being a geoxylic suffrutice plant in the family Chrysobalanaceae. Umbulwa a low growing shrub above the ground are found in large numbers in the grasslands that surround the eMalangeni forest, which plays an important part in the diets of the local people

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata locally known as umbulwa

Simon Ngubane who grew up at eMalangeni told me Parinari capensis subsp. incohata is known by the local people as umbulwa, the fruit is known as ibulwa and the plural is amabulwa. 

Inside the fruit which I have eaten is a single large seed or nut that is also eaten. A tasty sauce similar to sauces made from peanuts is made by the people of eMalangeni. The fruit which is like a pear to eat is yellowish when ripe. 

Distribution  

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata is found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Habitat

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata grow on the edges of vleis, on sandy especially seasonally waterlogged oligotrophic soils and on Kalahari sands where trees are absent. Parinari capensis subsp. incohata can form large patches where they are not grazed by cattle on secondary grassland following destruction of woodland by fire, cultivation etc.

Typical habitat where Parinari capensis subsp. incohata grows note the more visible silver Vernonia natalensis plants.

 Description

 Parinari capensis subsp. incohata umbulwa is a geoxylic suffrutex having a substantial part of the plant growing under the ground, develops branches leaves flowers and fruit above the ground an adaptation to fire-prone habitats. umbulwa have been considered therefore as forming immortal underground forests of great age.

The woody stems are produced annually from leaf axils at the base of old stems usually grow up to 30cm tall, but very rarely to 1 metre,   The stems usually dying back to the base at the end of the growing season, though occasionally growing on into the following year The leaves are elliptical with a white underside. 

Umbulwa has small white flowers with a hairy sand-coloured calyx, which are produced from September to October.

The ellipsoidal edible fruit is up to 3cm x 2cm being a yellowish colour when ripe.

Ethnobotanical Uses

The fruit and seed are harvested from the wild for local consumption.

Immature ellipsoidal  slightly flattened edible fruit of  Parinari capensis subsp. incohata

The fruit is eaten raw or cooked the sweet outer flesh which has a strong, characteristic flavour is eaten although somewhat dry and astringent. 

The fruit is often buried in sand for some time before being considered fit to eat

The fruit can also be dried and eaten as a soft cake

The juice of the fruit can be drunk fresh, or concentrated to the consistency of a gruel

The fruit is  used for making beer

The crushed kernels are eaten as a relish or are used to make a tasty sauce

The plant is used for anti-malaria purposes.

The Maputaland Wooded Grassland

The Maputaland Wooded Grassland also known as Maputaland, is a vegetation unit (CB2) of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt Biome  and is limited to the Maputaland Centre of Endemism that is found along the coastal plain of northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique.

According to the  ‘woody grasslands of Maputaland’ and ‘the underground forests of Africa’  are characterized by the many geoxylic (often rhizomatous) suffrutices that occur there. Geoxylic suffrutices, often referred to as ‘underground’ or ‘stunted’ trees, are dwarf woody plants with annual or short-lived woody shoots sprouting from massive or extensive woody, perennial, underground axes . Common examples of geoxylic suffrutices that occur in the woody grasslands of Maputaland are Ancylobotrys petersiana, Diospyros galpinii, Elephantorrhiza elephantine, Eugenia albanensis, Eugenia. capensis, Maytenus nemorosa, Pachystigma venosum, Parinari capensis subsp. incohata and Salacia krausii. 

Maputaland Wooded Grassland is also rich in plant species that are endemic to the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot, one of the eight most important biodiversity regions in Africa. A biodiversity hotspot is a region of significant biological richness and a high level of endemism which is threatened with destruction.

Associations

I noticed large numbers of the attractive grassland plant Vernonia natalensis belonging to the daisy plant family Asteraceae growing in association with Parinari capensis subsp. incohata a eMalangeni.

The flower of Vernonia natalensis growing in typical Parinari capensis habitat at eMalangeni 

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas. Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

18.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

Microsorum scolopendria a Magnificent Fern in the eMalangeni Forest

This striking fern Microsorum scolopendria will very soon be noticed on entering into the eMalangeni forest, with its shining lush green leaves it is hard to not notice. In addition Microsorum scolopendria is one of the most  numerous plants on the forest floor often forming extensive patches and occasionally up into the trees.

Microsorum scolopendria is known locally as umlalamvubu commonly called wart fern in English

Distribution

This magnificent forest fern which is a favorite of mine was formerly known as Phymatodes scolopendria, does not only grow in  the eMalangeni Forest it is widespread in the Old World, occurring from Africa and Madagascar to Asia and Australia, as well as throughout Polynesia. 

In Africa umlalamvubu occurs along the east coast of South Africa from as far south as Port St Johns where it occurs mostly in dune forests and dune scrub as well as swamp forest near to the coast. From South Africa its range extends throughout tropical Africa up into West Africa. 

Microsorum scolopendria locally known as umlalamvubu, translated as the plants that hippos sleep on

Description

Microsorum scolopendria has a strong widely creeping rhizome up to 10 mm in diameter that mostly occurs on the soil surface.

The deeply pinnatifid, leathery fronds, up to 0.9 m long, are widely spaced along the rhizome. The leaf stalk is up to 400 mm long. The leaf blade is divided into narrowly oblong lobes, up to 220 x 30 mm. 

The deeply pinnatifid, leathery fronds of umlalamvubu Microsorum scolopendria

The somewhat sunken sori are round to oval, 2 to 3 mm in diameter and occur in one or two rows on either side of the costa. Adaxially the sori are embossed.

The sunken sori on the underside of the leaf of Microsorum scolopendria

Microsorum scolopendria crawls along the ground to form an extensive ground cover in places, but will also climb up tree trunks at times. 

Ethnobotanical uses

locally umlalamvubu is used by herbalists to treat abscesses for which a paste of ground leaves is mixed with earth from a wasp's nest before being applied. Umlalamvubu is also used to dress wounds where leaf pulp is used as a dressing, as well as to treat insanity, where leaves are ground then mixed with water and the liquid drunk.

Uses Singapore

 

The crushed Fronds of Microsorum scolopendria which contain coumarin a fragrant colorless crystalline solid with a sweet odor resembling the scent of vanilla are used to perfume clothes as well as coconut oil.

Uses in Hawaii

When crushed, the fern issues a scent similar to the fragrant maile plant, Alyxia stellata which is used in making traditional leis. Sometimes, pieces of the fern are interlaced into leis because of their fragrance. Microsorum scolopendria is also one of the plants used for scenting kapa fabric.

When crushed, the leaves of the fern Microsorum scolopendria issues a fragrant scent similar to vanilla

Cultivation

Microsorum scolopendria is a hardy species that is often used in landscape design in shady areas and for indoor landscapes. Microsorum scolopendria is easy to cultivate and grows in a wide range of habitats. Microsorum scolopendria when grown outdoors it grows best in light shade, but it will also tolerate direct sunlight for part of the day. In older gardens it often establishes on brick or stone walls, or on trees, especially palms. Although it will tolerate short dry spells it is best kept well watered.

Microsorum scolopendria makes and excellent indoor pot plant. 

When grown in hanging baskets  the creeping rhizome droop gracefully down from the basket.

This magnificent fern warrants being planted far more often in landscapes and gardens in the areas in KwaZulu-Natal where it grows.

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas. Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

18.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html