Quiver tree scientific name12/26/2023 ![]() ![]() Between June and August, which is wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere, bright yellow flowers bloom drawing both birds and human visitors. Unlike the scaled trunk, the branches are smooth and are covered with a thin layer of whitish powder that helps to reflect the sun’s rays. The crown consist of numerous forked branches, which gives the species its name dichotoma, which means forked.Īt the tip of each branch is a spiral rosette of pointed, thickly-succulent leaves, typical of all aloe plants. It has a stout stem that may grow to one meter in diameter, and is covered with beautiful golden brown scales with sharp edges. The quiver tree is not really a tree, rather a plant of the genus aloe, as evident from its scientific name, and one of the few species of aloe that reaches tree proportions -it can grow 7 to 9 meters high. The unusual look of aloe dichotoma has made this area a popular tourist attraction. Here grows, on a private farm, about 250 specimens of the quiver tree, or aloe dichotoma, which is a tall, branching species of aloe, indigenous to the Northern Cape region of South Africa, and parts of Southern Namibia. And make sure you include the Koms Kokerboom nursery near Keimoes, where you can pick up a tree aloe for your garden.The Quiver Tree Forest is located about 14 km north-east of the town of Keetmanshoop, on the road to the small village of Koës, in southern Namibia. Numerous farm stalls (the Pienk Padstal, and Akkerboom) and restaurants give the opportunity to taste local food. Other highlights include the Augrabies Falls, and community hot springs at Riemvasmaak (Riemvasmaak Ecotourism Project) and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Klipspringer and Gorge Walking trail at Augrabies Falls National Park, mountain biking trails, and historical sites and museums. In amongst the little towns are a series of wine cellars, including the second largest wine co-operative in the world, dried fruit industries (sultanas, dates), nuts, Kalahari sushi (yes, really, at the Kalahari Gateway hotel in Kakamas), home-made cheeses (Vrouenspan), meat delicacies, skuinskoek (cakes that are a cross between mosbolletjies and doughnuts), brandy tasting and a list of outdoor activities that include 4x4 trips, hiking, bird watching and even donkey cart riding. Named for the many (30 to 40 000 specimens)tree aloes along its course that manage to prosper where other trees wilt and wither in the average 40 degree days of summer, the self-drive route links Keimoes, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt, Augrabies, Upington and Marchand. The Open Africa Kokerboom wine and food route lies where the Kalahari and the Nama-Karoo deserts meet. You can see throngs of quiver trees on the R359 between Kakamas and Keimoes, or at Koms Kokerboom Nursery. ![]() Also known, in scientific circles, as the Aloe dichotoma, this succulent Aloe grows to tree-like proportions and is synonymous with the Northern Cape. The Kokerboom, or quiver tree, is one of the most idiosyncratic trees of the Kalahari (South Africa and Namibia). Note: there is intermittent cell phone reception on the route, at best (great place to lose yourself!) Our tip: stop off at Keimoes (just south west of Upington) Information Centre and chat to Maxi, who was instrumental in creating the route (the accompanying padstal supplies moerkoffie and traditional food) ![]() Vehicle: you can self-drive this route in an ordinary sedan Start: Upington via Keimoes, Kanoneiland, Kenhardt, Augrabies, Riemvasmaak and Marchandĭuration: how long is a piece of string? As long as you want it to take, depending on how often you stop ![]()
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