INDIGENOUS TREE IDENTIFICATION IN NEWLANDS FOREST
Professor Tjakie Naudé, Department of Private Law, University of Cape Town
Saturday 31 January 8.30–11.30 am COURSE FEES R260; Staff and students R210
Maximum number of participants 15
MEETING POINT The sliding gate at the Newlands Forest Fire Station parking area at 8.30 am
When you learn how to identify plants, you often see even more of the beautiful details of each plant, which are a source of awe and joy, and are an inspiration to protect our precious natural areas. This is an indigenous tree identification course in lower Newlands Forest, for a small group which can comfortably gather near a tree. After stopping at some trees on the way to the stone bridge, we will look at trees a little higher up in the more pristine indigenous forest and come down by way of the Littlewort trail. Participants should therefore be
fit enough to manage this.
When identifying individual trees, the presenter will point out what features are relevant to the identification process, for example, whether the leaves are simple or compound, whether the leaves are opposite or alternate, whether the edge of the leaf (leaf margin) is untoothed (entire) or has teeth or serrations, the pattern of the thorns, etc. Explanations of the meanings of the common names of trees (for example, ‘assegai’ or ‘bokdrol’ or ‘wild almond’) will also be given, and sometimes the botanical names, where these highlight characteristic features of the tree, for example, ‘stellatifolia’ for wild almond means ‘star-leaved’.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat and water. We will stop for a break should you wish to have a snack.
Recommended reading
iNaturalist page with all 522 plant species observed in Newlands Forest: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=164858&view=species&iconic_taxa=Plantae
iNaturalist list of trees in the Cape Peninsula: https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/3729107-Trees-of-the-Cape-Peninsula/
Trees in Table Mountain National Park on the iNaturalist Trees of Southern Africa ID project website: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=71668&project_id=trees-of-southern-africa- id&view=species
TreePro – The Tree App – South Africa (paid by annual subscription)
There are various tree guides in book form. Eugene Moll and Lindsay Scott wrote a small one with just a drawing of the leaf of each tree, easy to carry around, or the Van Wyks have a medium-size soft cover book with photos. Details available on request.
TO BOOK: https://www.webtickets.co.za/performance.aspx?itemid=1575227927