Description: end of Kirstenbosch Centenary Walk lead by Dirk Muller.
Last of the old Stone Pines. Planted 100 years ago and now reaching senility. Will probably have to be removed as too dangerous within the next few years as more and more branches die off.
Description: Tokai Plantation: home to the first trail plantations in South Africa.
And now, after 100 years the biocontrols are "invading": an impressive list of fungi and insects are rendering this the possible last commercially viable crop of this species in the Western Cape.
In the far distance are two blocks cut down and discarded in situ at 3 years after being found with Pine Blight.
The foremost block is due to be harvested within a few months (of the observation: is now harvested)
Description: This patch burned down in the fire.
Elsewhere the removal of the alien deer has resulted in massive recruitment: 100s of plants per m2, where for over 100 years people had assumed that this species was not invasive on Table Mountain.
Description: The first and oldest pine plantations in South Africa, centered on the Tokai Arboretum.
Currently, riddled with diseases and the most infected stands in southern Africa.
Due to be removed by 2024 and restored to Fynbos by SANParks.
Description: Although this looks like a pine plantation and was (and still is in blocks - for 3 cycles or over 100 years!) the Fynbos seed banks are still present and the Fynbos regenerates spectacularly when the pines are removed and the area burned.
This corridor is to link the last bit of Critically Endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos with the mountains and so maintain predator, pollination and large animal links to the Critically Endangered veld type.
Description: Not sure if this area was ever planted, but following the 2000 fire the area is slowly being cleared of the pines that are there and the Fynbos (and alien Wattles) is returning.
Description: There does not seem to be any control of alien invasive pines along the Otter Trail. These are old ones! They have been around for many years.
Description: As bad as P pinaster and seems to catch up in numbers.
Radiata is much more 'sharply triangular' in shape in relation to pinaster that has a 'rounder' crown.
radiata = 2-3 thin leaves (commonly 3)
pinaster = 2 'thick' leaves
Description: To about 5m tall. Tony suggested that we should always record aliens at a particular location on iSpot, hence this posting from Windmeulnek. Sanparks are making a big effort to clear the Pines. The presence of plantations nearby, are not making this any easier. I'm presuming P radiata, but actually don't know
Description: This was the pine used in this plantation. Unfortunately it coppices and some of the plants cut down are resprouting. Quite a job ahead over here!
Description: Scattered plants on lower slopes - not many on granite; lots on sandstone, being dense locally near the top and plentiful on the steep cliffs.
Although Cape Nature land, not been cleared since the last fire in 12year plus old veld.
Description: pine coppicing after being cut down before controlled burn. Local knowledge say that only P canariensis coppice. This tree was felled shortly before the fire. This practice should take place in advance so that seed can germinate, and then killed by fire, similar for cutting trees. Cut, coppice, burn. This should kill off coppice. This plant was burned and had enough resources to coppice after the fire.
Description: Pines growing in Silvermine section of TMNP, on Steenberg Ridge near the fire lookout above Tokai. There seem to be a few Stone Pines and some more straggly looking pines.
Description: Was surprized when photographing the Canary Pine that I could not readily tell it from a Cape Reed (only about 1/4 of first pic is pine!). Good camouflage for hiding in Fynbos when young?
This pine is a pain: it coppices and thus needs herbicide to control. More effort should be made to get rid of it before it starts spreading in earnest.
Description: Extensive stands of this pine were planted on roads estate devastating the Shale Fynbos and Silvertree forests that used to occur naturally here. Virtually nothing indigenous survives under the trees.
These trees are now approaching their ends of their lives at about 100 years.
These are also the species that feeds the alien Grey Squirrel and provides "pine nuts", especially those used in making the toffee-like Tamaleki
Description: The only invasive species of Pine on the Peninsula that coppices after a fire or harvesting.
It appears that the alien clearing team does not know that these need poisoning, otherwise they coppoce like mad, as shown here.
