letting nature back in

I have always regarded this plant as a mountain dweller, as I first fell in love with it in the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal. 

In the wild it is found on rocky cliffs and mountain slopes, but it also does well in inland gardens in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Even in the garden, this small tree retains its characteristic gnarled appearance. 

I first knew it by the common name Natal Bottlebrush (now the Glossy Bottlebrush), but although endemic to southern Africa, it also grows naturally outside Natal too, in the Eastern Cape and parts of the Free State, Lesotho and Swaziland.

The Greyia sutherlandii in our garden comes into flower in July towards the end of winter when the tree is still bare and the garden still dry, ahead of its flush of new leaves signalling spring 

When I first took an interest in botanical names, Greyia sutherlandii was one of the few I could remember. Plants are often named for wealthy patrons or collectors, many associated with European colonialism in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. There were naturalists and botanists who traveled specifically to pursue these interests, but other collectors also played other roles in colonial enterprises, for example as administrators, engineers or doctors.

Greyia sutherlandii, I recently learned, was named for Sir George Grey (1812-1890) who was British Governor of the Cape Colony (1854-61). He was a controversial administrator and politician who was also a Governor in South Australia and in New Zealand (two terms). He is also credited with being a soldier, explorer, naturalist, botanist and collector of rare books. He made generous donations of books, manuscripts and art to libraries and museums in Britain, South Africa and New Zealand. He also studied Aboriginal language dialects in Australia and Māori language and culture in New Zealand, even publishing several books on these subjects.

The sutherlandii part of the plant’s name is in honour of Peter Cormack Sutherland (1822-1898). He qualified as a medical doctor in Scotland, but he was also an explorer, naturalist and geologist. He became Surveyor-General in the colony of Natal in 1855 and remained in that post until he retired in 1887. In addition to his geological survey work, and his other varied interests, he collected plant specimens and seeds in the Drakensberg region. Greyia sutherlandii is one of several plants that bear is name. Apparently he was the first person to send specimens of this tree to England. Greyia sutherlandii has been grown in Europe since the 19^th century.

The gorgeous scarlet heads carrying multiple flowers are made even more showy by the long stamens 

The wood of this small tree is soft and pinkish and it has been used to make household utensils. Traditionally infusions made from the roots were used to treat nausea. The tree is sometimes grown to form a fence around kraals.

As usual, this season our tree started flowering in winter in late July. Although deciduous, it was still hanging onto its leaves from the previous season

This picture of new leaves was taken last week. Old leaves from last season are still hanging in there 

My pleasure in the new spring growth is tinged with anxiety as we await spring rains. Although we have had rain forecast, only 1 millimetre has materialised in our area so far. Last week there was snow on the high Drakensberg mountains, which is ultimately good for the water table, but what remains of our lawn is turning to powder, providing yet another reason to reduce the size of lawns and turn garden lawns into shrubberies and something approximating meadows or wild grasslands.

The flowers attract birds and insects seeking nectar

I have not tried it yet, but apparently the Greyia sutherlandii can be grown from slips best propagated in spring. Perhaps a little project starting this spring?

Sources:

Auckland City Libraries. 2010. Sir George Grey. http://georgegrey.org.nz/SirGeorgeGrey.aspx

Nonyane, Frank. 2010. Greyia. National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). http://pza.sanbi.org/greyia

Plug, C. 2014. Sutherland, Dr Peter Cormac (geology, surveying, plant collection). S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science http://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=2766

Boon, Richard. 2010 (2^nd edition). Pooleys Trees of Eastern South Africa: A Complete Guide. Durban: Flora and Fauna Publications Trust

Posted by Carol