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Nigel Forshaw (December 2002)

I was asked by Dr Tony Rebelo, who heads up the Protea Atlas Project and is the Scientific Officer, to put something together for the Project on the web. So here it is. I hope you enjoy it!

I like:

• Atlassing proteas - of course.
• Scouting (have a look at 2nd Bergvliet Troop).
• Hiking.
• Photography.
• Computer Programming (hence the Protea Atlas SRS Database).

I hate:

• All movies, especially those that involve violence, except for James Bond, Apollo 13 and K19 The Widowmaker.
• Horse Racing.
• Rooibos Tea and Cucumber.
• TV (except for cricket, BBC Prime, BBC, CNN, Sky News, Discovery and National Geographic - perhaps I actually like TV?)
• Slow drivers in the fast lane.

I am a BSc (Hons) Computer Science graduate (1981) Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. I work for Vodacom.

Thanks go to all the contributors to the site, especially Tony Rebelo who provided much of the information.

10 FAQ about my Protea Atlassing Experiences

1. How did I first get involved in Protea Atlassing?

I saw an advertisement for the project at Cavendish Square, Claremont. I thought it would be rather fun to combine my interests in hiking, photography and the outdoors to make another hobby ie. Protea Atlassing.

2. Who has patiently explained some of the intricacies of proteas to me?

Dr Tony Rebelo and Chris Berens

3. How many Site Record Sheets have I submitted?

2413

4. How many different species have I atlassed?

398, including sub species, varieties and forms

5. Where have I atlassed?

Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Zimbabwe and Mozambique

6. Where would I still like to go and atlas?

Eastern Cape (Done)

7. What was my most memorable atlassing experience?

There are two:
1. Atlassing the last known plant at the time, of the endangered Swartland Sugarbush - Protea odorata on veld that had just been bush cut by an unscrupulous farmer on Joostenbergvlakte.
2. A stiff day/night adventure in the mountains above Heidelberg (Western Cape). Have a look at the Epic of Grootvadersbos

8. What was my most exciting atlassing experience?

1. Seeing the Marsh Rose - Orothamnus zeyherii in flower
2. Climbing Kogelberg Peak and seeing Matchstick Pagoda - Mimetes hottentoticus in full flower
3. Discovering Swartland Sugarbush - Protea odorata seedlings at Joostenbergkloof.
4. Climbing up above Policeman's Helmet to look at Cloud Sugarbush - Protea nubigena

9. Which proteas do I still need to atlas, to complete the proteas of South Africa?

1. Pondoland Stream Conebush - Leucadendron pondoense (Done)
2. Dwarf Grassland Sugarbush - Protea simplex (Done)
3. Climax Conebush - 'Leucadendron climacticum' (Done)

The only species I am missing from Zimbabwe is Faurea delevoyi.

10. What was my biggest Protea Atlas wild goose chase?

There have been a number of these but I have to settle for:

1. Trying to find the Hairy-style Sceptre - Paranomus adiantifolius at Houwhoek Pass. (I am not alone in this wild goose chase)
2. Looking for Graceful Spiderhead - Serruria pinnata (now sunk with Graceful Spiderhead - Serruria gracilis)

The Golden Pagoda Award and the Silver Tree Award

If you have any comments, see any errors, would like any additions, etc. to the Protea Atlas Project website, please mail Nigel Forshaw at nigel@worldonline.co.za and cc protea@nbict.nbi.ac.za.

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