Damaraland Flora. Spitzkoppe, Brandberg, Twyfelfontein (english version), by Patricia Craven and Christine Marais

Damaraland Flora. Spitzkoppe, Brandberg, Twyfelfontein (english version), by Patricia Craven and Christine Marais.

Damaraland Flora. ISBN 0868487821 / ISBN 0-86848-782-1 / ISBN 9780868487823 / ISBN 978-0-86848-782-3

Damaraland Flora is the third book by Patricia Craven and Christine Marais that introduces interesting plants to travellers and Namibians in specific regions, like Spitzkoppe, Brandberg and Twyfelfontein.

Christine Marais  

Aloe dichotoma

Quiver Tree; Kokerboom (Afrikaans); Köcherbaum (German); llgaras (Nama/Damara)

Map No: (1) At the Spitzkoppe
Tree No: 29
Family: ASPHODELACEAE: Allooideae
Status: Protected

As early as 1685, the Governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, recorded the name „kokerbome“ (quiver trees) for these remarkable plants as bark and branches were used by the indigenous people of southern Africa for making quivers (Afrikaans - „koker“) for their arrows. Aloe dichotoma trees are particularly common on rocky, hilly regions in the hot, dry west from the northern Cape to the Brandberg mountain. They are a feature of southern Namibia and may be the only tree for many kilometres. They sometimes appear to have haystacks in their branches because of the enormous nests of the sociable weaver birds. The species name refers to the manner of branching i.e. into pairs or dichotomously, a feature so characteristic that it may even be recognized in San paintings. The yellow flowers that appear in June and July contain a large supply of nectar which is relished by bees, birds and baboons. In Namaland the porous inner fibre of the trunk (or the whole plant) was used for cooling material and the boiled root taken for asthma. A small kokerboom forest can be found just outside Keetmanshoop and this has been declared a National Monument. Recent botanical studies have provided sufficient evidence for the removal of the Aloe genus from the lily family and they are now classified in the Asphodelaceae.

Content: Damaraland Flora. Spitzkoppe, Brandberg, Twyfelfontein (english version), by Patricia Craven and Christine Marais.

INTRODUCTION
AT THE SPITZKOPPE
Aloe dichotoma
Cyphostemma currorii
Sarcostemma viminale, Euphorbia mauri und Kleinia longiflora
Commiphora glaucescens
Adenolobus garipensis
Aponogeton desertorum
Ozoroa crassinervia
Myrothamnus flabellifolius
AT OKOMBAHE
Aloe hereroensis
BRANDBERG
Phaeoptilum spinosum
Euphorbia damarana
Boscia foetida, Maerua parvifolia und Cadaba schroeppelii
Acacia erioloba
Acacia montis-usti
TWYFELFONTEIN AREA
Sterculia quinqueloba
Commiphora anacardiifolia und Commiphora virgata
Acacia robynsiana
Salvadora persica
Monechma cleomoides
Petalidium variabile
Helichrysum roseo-niveum
Sterculia africana
Commiphora wildii
Commiphora kraeuseliana
Moringa ovalifolia
Maerua schinzii en (after Dr. Hans Schinz)
Calicorema capitata
KHORIXAS TO PALMWAG
Combretum imberbe
Aloe asperifolia
Terminalia prunioide und Euphorbia gariepina
Welwitschia mirabilis
Commiphora multijuga
Euphorbia virosa
Colophospermum mopane
Faidherbia albida
Adenia pechuelii
Boscia albitrunca
Euphorbia guerichiana
Sesamothamnus guerichii
Cyphostemma uter
Pachypodium lealii
Hyphaene petersiana
TORRA BAY ROAD
Combretum wattii
Euclea pseudebenus
Gossypium anomalum
Kissenia capensis
Strophanthus amboensis
Ruellia diversifolia
Blepharis gigante
Sansevieria aethiopica
JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES CONSULTED
BOOKS
INDEX

This is an excerpt from the book: Damaraland Flora. Spitzkoppe, Brandberg, Twyfelfontein (english version), by Patricia Craven and Christine Marais.

Book title: Damaraland Flora. Spitzkoppe, Brandberg, Twyfelfontein
Authors: Patricia Craven; Christine Marais
Gamsberg Macmillan Publishers
2nd edition. Windhoek, Namibia 2003
ISBN 0868487821 / ISBN 0-86848-782-1
ISBN 9780868487823 / ISBN 978-0-86848-782-3
Hardcover, 14x22 cm, 127 pages, many colour and bw-illustrations