![]() The quiver tree named assigned when native Bushmen used to make quivers from the branches of the tree. They will grow best in regions with a climate close to that of their native deserts not too cold, and not too wet. Like most other aloe species, quiver trees are not hard to grow from seed. The quiver tree has a long history of beliefs that it will bring good luck to anybody that worships a tree and nurtures it. Furthermore, somewhere between June and August, which is wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere, bright yellow flowers bloom drawing both birds and human visitors. ![]() Contrasting the scaled trunk, the branches are even and are covered with a thin layer of whitish powder that supports to reflect the sun’s rays. Moreover, at the tip of each branch is a spiral rosette of pointed, thickly-succulent leaves, typical of all aloe plants. The uncommon crown contains various forked branches, which gives the species its name dichotoma, which means forked. 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 in fact not a tree, but rather a plant of the genus aloe, as evident from its scientific name, and one of some species of aloe that approaches tree proportions. ![]() The tree is protected by law in South Africa, and the Quiver Tree Forest is a national monument of Namibia. That in itself is a way of escaping the worst of the devastating heat and reducing the amount of moisture inevitably lost by evaporation from the surface of their leaves. However, the trees are fighting back by gradually shifting their distribution in the direction of the cooler regions in higher latitudes and higher altitudes. The quiver tree is classified as a vulnerable species because its biggest threat is the global rising temperature and decreasing rainfall. This area is a popular attraction due to the unique shape of aloe dichotoma. 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. The hollow bark is then used to keep things fresh, while the smaller pieces of the stem are used for storing arrows.The Quiver Tree Forest is located about 14 km northeast of the town of Keetmanshoop, on the road to the small village of Koës, in southern Namibia. The core of the Quiver Tree’s trunk is light and corky, and the San people hollow the tree’s bark. The Quiver Tree has a white powder on the bark, which acts as a sunscreen and protects the tree from the hot desert sun, which the San people also used to protect their skins from sunburn. Hollowing the quiver tree branch and closing one end with animal skin, was the perfect arrow carrier for the san people. One of the common uses was a carrier for their arrows when hunting. The San people used the Quiver Tree for many things since it was quite common where they lived. The San people lived in most parts of the Namibian Desert and the Northern Cape mountains. ![]() These plants have been in the lives of people that used to live in the desert long before we knew about the Quiver Tree. As a person that lived and grew up around the Quiver Tree, let me share some facts and stories of this majestic tree. With these desert plants, there can be quite a few exciting stories regarding these desert plants. ![]() Something interesting about the Quiver Trees These trees are endemic to dry regions of Namibia and South Africa and can get as old as 80 -140 years. The Quiver Trees love to grow in desert-like areas and mountains best. The Quiver Tree naturally grows in the drier parts of Namibia, the Richtersveld, and most parts of the Northern Cape. But we’ll tell you all about these birds next week!īut first, allow me to tell you more about the Quiver Trees (Aloe dichotoma). This weekend was one like no other! During these hikes into the mountains, there are plenty of exciting things to see, such as a few birds of prey that can be quite an exciting finding. When paying a visit to the Growcery Camp, especially during the Winter season, hiking into the mountains of the Richtersveld is an everyday activity here. The Quiver trees of the Northern Cape stands tall on the mountain edges. The Quiver Trees of The Richtersveld Desert ![]()
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