Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Harrismith
First the cliffs of Kloof (Dutch meaning cliff), then a further climb at Worlds view area
outside Pietermaritzburg at Hilton into the fertile , moist and green fields of the Natal
Midlands centered around Mooi River, the latter meaning beautiful river. Finally there is a
final steep rise up the escarpment up to the Highveld near Harrismith. The Drakensberg
mountain peaks dominate the drive on the left had side, lying to the south, rising from the
midlands plane of 2,500 feet to the highest peaks of 14,000 feet that used to be covered with
snow in winter.
This climb used to be a pleasant trip through rolling green moist fields until one reached
Harrismith, but over the last 45 years it has changed. Now the trip is marked by acacia thorn
bushes and wide thorn spiked leaved aloes such as Aloe arborescens (Kraantz aloe, meaning
ridge aloe) that grows with multiple flowers skywards from a spiky like bush and is present in
the Bushveld montane areas among rocks of Zululand, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
and Malawi. There is also Aloe marlothii (mountain aloe), a more single trunked aloe tipped
with a single stem with vertical flowers that can grow to 6m and a with a distribution similar
to arborescens, that are natives of the desiccated thorny Bushveld and because of their thick
succulent leaves are able to store water for extended periods of drought.
Aloes on the Escarpment above Umgeni Valley with Acacia Thorn Trees at the Lower
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