The flowers of Tephrosia monticola.
Last year, we published an article about Tephrosia monticola, a newly discovered tree species that was recorded from the mountains along the western border between South Africa and eSwatini. https://www.mountainlands.co.za/mystery-tree-from-the-barberton-mountains-described-as-a-new-species/
By June last year, three of the six known localities were in proclaimed nature reserves, which did not include Mountainlands. All that changed yesterday when a few, small trees were discovered on a rocky, wooded and steep outcrop in Mountainlands.
One of the Tephrosia monticola trees in Mountainlands.
Although not rare, it is rather special to record a newly named tree species that has only been seen in a few places. The northern most known locality of this species is from Mandendeka on the SA/eSwatini border and the most southern point is close to Malolotja Nature Reserve in eSwatini. The Mountainlands locality is likely the most north-westerly locality to date.
