Succulents cohabiting in shade

There’s a game to play in the veld, the Species Counting Game or SCG, a kind of bush scrabble or bush cricket. Stop and count the species visible from one spot, sitting or standing (or both). You may turn around, but not give a step to a different spot.

Separate the count into those you can name and the unknown ones. The first number grows as you learn. The second is a feature of the diversity of the veld you’re in. Near your home the first number is usually higher than when you are on holiday and in unknown territory. The second number should be higher in the places where the veld is healthy and particularly rich in species, like fynbos or Little Karoo. A third list could be made for adding the ones you can identify by their full (binomial) scientific names.

One can also play the game competitively. Stand fairly close together and the plants visible to each competitor will differ only a little; the difference being the sportsmans fortune, the luck of the batsman who has to face Mitchell Johnson and not Dale Steyn. (SCG also stands for Sydney Cricket Ground.)

Confirmation of items spotted at a distance or not seen clearly can be done when time is called and walking about is allowed. The allocated time for spotting may be short, but one soon learns that looking on a little longer uncovers much that was initially missed in cursory search. Determine the time allowed before you start. A weekend afternoon is well spent playing this game at several stops in your favourite piece of nature.

It’s not allowed to play this game in a botanical garden where the plants are labelled and the diversity is contrived.

Those who take things seriously will take a notebook and pencil along and determine how far apart competitors should be positioned. You could have a personal record of spotted items for each kind of veld!

In the Little Karoo there is often much to see: succulents, bulbs, tiny herbs and what not, even under just one bush… and don’t forget to count the bush and the parasite upon its branch!

The tortoise, bug and bird? Well, those are other games.