=

.

.

Enhancing Wild Life and Habitat Conservation
within the Shimba Hills National Reserve

SOME WILD FLOWERS OF THE RESERVE

THE SHIMBA NOTES NUMBER FIVE:

THE RAINY season is often bonanza time in the Reserve.

Between showers the place can be buzzing with bird and insect activity, and fleeting glimpses of unusual small game species make for exciting moments.

However, for some observers the real treasure of the rains are the wild flowers, some bold and flaunting, others delicate and pastel, all lying like jewels among the grassy sward.

Along the road verges grow small, dense “yellow daisy” bushes, at first glance one, but on closer inspection, two species.

The larger yellow daisy flower with pinnatifid (ragged, rough-edged) leaves is Bidens schimperi, and the other with smaller daisies and smooth-edged oval leaves is Aspilia mossambicensis.

If, like me, you need a memory-jog, a mnemonic to sort things out remember that B for Bidens is the Bigger daisy!

Also along the road edges look out for that loveliest of Kenya’s wild climbers, the Gloriosa lily.

Other roadside flowers include the common blue Commelina, and the mauve sweet-pea like Vigna.

Here also are a couple of members of the Verbena clan, immigrants from other continents but now so well established as to be regarded as native: the low shrub bearing blue spikes which is Stachytarpheta urticifolia (a butterflies' favourite) and the pervasive medium-sized bush bearing pretty mauve/ pink flowers nicknamed the “Curse of India”, Lantana camara.

.

SHIMBA beauty - flower from Pavetta.spukunda.
PHOTO: COURTESY - SABINE BAER

It is the favoured haunt of the irritating, biting “buffalo” and tsetse flies; however in its defence, let it be noted that ellies enjoy eating it, and it functions usefully as the initial pioneer in the gradual process of re-afforestation of disturbed patches caused by natural or manmade tree removal.

A climber in the semi-shade is the well-known yellow “Black-eyed Susan” Thunbergia alata.

Passing from the woodlands into a grassland area, look out for a slender tall-stemmed flower with red outer petals and an orange centre: Stathmostelma pedunculatum.

Another charming plant of the same height with shiny leaves is Polygala stenopetala, which bears tiny winged purple-blue flowers veined with purple-brown.

Another herb of similar size Crotalaria zanzibarica bears bright yellow, beaked flowers crowded vertically at the top of the stem.

The gem of the grasslands is the solitary Gladiolus newii which here blooms in beautiful golden-orange; it is heartbreaking to witness a rapacious baboon rudely pluck the lovely flower and stuff it into its mouth!

Two small plants bearing florets like tufts of bristles are the bright orange Emilia coccinia, and Vernonia galamensis, the purple blooms resembling miniature Scotch thistles!

A slender, pretty herb growing among more swampy grasses is Murdannia simplex, bearing three-petalled pale lavender flowers on branching stemlets.

Also in the rather wetter grass areas are the small white lilies of the Anthericum family, and Platycoryne crocea, a miniature ground orchid bearing several delicate orange flowers on a single spike.

Moving from the open grasslands into the true forest the brilliant scarlet flowers of the shrub Pentas bussei shine brightly from the deepest shade.

In damp, shady spots the lovely, pale yellow stars of Crossandra pungens gleam from the mossy forest floor, springing directly from spiny leaves without benefit of stem.

And although not strictly a flower, the large shrub Tabernaemontana pachysiphon cannot be left out it grows along most of the forest roadsides and around the Makadara glade, and its creamy whorled blossoms are among the most beautiful and sweet-smelling in the world.

(F.A.)

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is given that the second annual general meeting of the Shimba Support Group will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2003, at the Makadara picnic site, Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kwale District, Kenya.

AGENDA

1.          Quorum
2.          Apologies
3.          Confirmation and Acceptance of the Minutes of the
             First Annual General Meeting held on 28 July 2002.
4.          Matters Arising Therefrom
5.          The Honorary Chairmans Report
6.          Presentation of Accounts as at 30 June 2003 by the
             Honorary Treasurer
7.          Election of Officers. The Board of Trustees during the
             past year has been as follows:

i.           Dr Rene Haller              Honorary Chairman
ii.          R D (Dick) Knight          Honorary Vice-Chairman
iii.          Sabine Baer                Honorary Treasurer
iv.         Fiona Alexander            Honorary Secretary
v.          Moses Litoroh
vi.         Gideon Amboga            Ex officio: KWS Senior Warden,
            Shimba Hills N R
vii.        J Kioko/ M Wamithi       Ex officio: Director KWS

The two ex officio posts are automatically filled without recourse to election.
The remaining five incumbent Trustees offer themselves for re-election.
In addition, three more Ordinary Trustees may constitutionally sit on the Board. Nominations for eight Board posts are therefore sought.
Nominations naming a Proposer and a Seconder (who must be voting SSG Members) and duly signed in Acceptance by the Nominee, should be in the Honorary Secretary’s hands by 15 July 2003, and should follow the format overleaf.

8.        Any Other Business.

By the Order of the Board of Trustees
Rene D Hailer, Honorary Chairman
Date: 31 May 2003

Copyright © '96, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01, '02, 2003. Coastweek Newspapers Ltd. 
All rights reserved.

Comments and questions: coastwk@africaonline.co.ke