This information is published by the Melville Koppies Management Committee to give information on flowering times of botanical species on the Melville Koppies.

The information represents the observations of Peter R Johnson while working on the Melville Koppies eliminating alien vegetation. The observations were not done as a scientific project to specifically observe flowering times. Nevertheless it is considered that the results reported give a valid picture. The research was done by the author between October 2005 and October 2007 on the Central and East sections of the Melville Koppies, with observations being done virtually every week.

It must be understood that in some cases the species is in flower for only part of the month.The weather can obviously affect the flowering times and it must be realized that occasionally flowers may appear outside of the months given.

Owing to only small differences between certain species, the author did not differentiate between the species for the following genera: Anthericum, Bulbine, Canthium, Cleome, Gerbera, Gnidia, Ledebouria, Leonotis, Pearsonia, Striga, Sutera, Tephrosia and Wahlenbergia. Similarly, species of the genera Helichrysum and Senecio were not included, except H. Setosum, S. barbertonicus and S. oxyriifolius. Species of the genus Hypoxis were not identified, except H. hemerocallidea. Species of the genus Vernonia were not identified, except V. poskeana.

The information is given in two parts. These are complementary and give the same information in two different forms.

PART I

This has a table for each month of the year. Species are listed in each month under the colour of the flower in alphabetic order of the scientific name. The entries are grouped according to the colour of the flowers in the order red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and white. The colour is usually that given in the field guides of Braam van Wyk and Sasa Malan (see Select Bibliography below), but in a few cases the colours of the flowers on the Melville Koppies are different from this. Some flowers have two colours in the flower and some flowers occur in two different colours. In both cases the entry is listed under both colours.

First column: Scientific name.

Second column: Page number, common to both editions, of the field guides by Braam van Wyk and Sasa Malan. (See Select Bibliography below.)

Third and fourth columns: Common names in English and Afrikaans, respectively, when known.

Fifth column: Author’s estimation of infrequently or rarely occurring species on the Central and East sections of the Melville Koppies. Species occurring commonly or frequently are not indicated as they will readily be found.

Sixth column: Whether a species is a tree, shrub, climber or parasite, and may also include a note (usually on a name change). The numbered notes are found below.

Read Part I:

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |

PART II

This is a table giving the species, in alphabetic order of the scientific name, showing the months that they are in flower. The months are arranged in the order June to May to avoid a split in the middle of summer. Access Part II here.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following books may be of use when using this guide:

Clarke, B and Germishuizen, G. 2000. Illustrated Guide to the Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Briza Publications. Pretoria.

Fabian, A and Germishuizen, G. 1982. Transvaal Wild Flowers. Macmillan. Johannesburg.

Fabian, A and Germishuizen, G. 1997. Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press. Cape Town.

Lowrey, T N and Wright, S. (Editors) 1987. The Flora of the Witwatersrand. Volume 1. The Monocotyledons. Witwatersrand University Press. Johannesburg.

Lucas, A and Pike, B. 1971. (hardcover) Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand. Purnell. Cape Town.

Lucas, A and Pike, B. 1987. (softcover) Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand. Struik Publishers. Cape Town.
Notes contained in the pages:
1 Anometheca grandiflora in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
2 Cassia comosa in van Wyk and Malan 1988.
3 Protasparagus suaveolens in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
4 Indigofera acutisepala in van Wyk and Malan 1988.
5 Lactuca capensis in van Wyk and Malan 1988.
6 Walafrida densiflora in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
7 Maytenus polyacantha in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
8 Aloe davyana davyana in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
9 Osyris lanceolata in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
10 Landolphia capensis in van Wyk and Malan 1988.
11 Maytenus heterophylla in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997.
12 Moraea thomsonii in van Wyk and Malan 1988 and 1997. <
13 Cassine aethiopica is an alternative name.