Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Aloe. Suspend feeding in the winter as the plant goes dormant. Feed with a succulent fertilizer in the summer only. It prefers warmer temperatures of 70 to 80 ☏ (21 to 27 ☌) but will survive down to 40 ☏ (4.5 ☌). They can withstand full summer sun once acclimated. Some varieties of Aloe will send off offsets that can be potted independently.Īloe plants need strong, bright light. The Quiver tree is only found (endemic) in the dry desert regions of the Namib desert stretching from north-west South Africa to Namibia. When repotting a larger plant, it is possible to divide the root ball carefully. Use a fast-draining potting mix with one-third of sand or pebbles. In the spring, repot Aloes that are tipping over their pots or have ceased growing. These succulents are not particularly fast-growing and will only rarely need repotting. As with all succulents, Aloe must never be allowed to sit in stagnant water, and the plant should be carefully monitored to watch for signs of overwatering. How to Grow and CareĪloe is a very forgiving plant, and a well-grown plant can be quite beautiful. The plant first blooms when it is about 20 to 30 years old. Flowers are bright yellow and appear in racemes at the top of the branches in winter. Leaves are ranked in vertical rows in juvenile plants. They are repeatedly forked hence the species name "dichotoma." The bark on the trunk forms beautiful golden-brown scales, but beware, the edges of these scales are razor-sharp. The branches are covered with a thin layer of whitish powder. It may reach an age of over 80 years and a height of 23 feet (7 m). The biggest Beautiful stiff-leaved fan shaped rosettes on ends of branches. The specific epithet 'dichotomum' refers to how the stems repeatedly branch into two ('dichotomous' branching) as the plant grows. DescriptionĪloidendron dichotomum, formerly known as Aloe dichotoma, is a distinctive succulent tree with a trunk and a densely rounded crown of smooth branches and blue-green leaves arranged in terminal rosettes. Known as choje to the indigenous San people, the quiver tree gets its English common name from the San people practice of hollowing out the tubular branches of Aloidendron dichotomum to form quivers for their arrows. The native range of this species is from Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape province east to Olifantsfontein in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and northwards to the Brandberg in Namibia. Kokerboom (Afrikaans), Quiver Tree Synonym(s)Īloe dichotoma, Aloe montana, Rhipidodendrum dichotomum, Aloe dichotoma var. 13: 645-653.Aloidendron dichotomum (Masson) Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. A changing climate is eroding the geographical range of the Namib Desert tree Aloe through population declines and dispersal lags. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Quiver tree : įoden, W. It is an extremely tough and robust aloe that can live over 80 years and grow to. The range of this species is contracting and it is not yet known whether it will expand into cooler areas in the future. Aloidendron dichotomum is also commonly known by the name quiver tree. Trees growing nearer the equator and at low altitudes are suffering higher mortality as these areas have the highest temperatures. FEW travelers in the arid wilderness regions of southern Africa have failed to be impressed by the sight of a quiver tree. Recent studies have suggested that the tree’s range is changing with the temperature. However, juvenile plants are often taken to grow as garden ornamentals. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, this species is under threat from climate change. Aloidendron dichotomum is also cultivated as an ornamental.Īloidendron dichotomum is protected by law in South Africa, preventing the removing of plants from the wild or collecting of seeds without a permit. Medicinally, the roots can be used to treat asthma and tuberculosis. These trees are used for various purposes. The English name, Quiver tree, refers to the use of its hollowed branches by the San people to make quivers for their arrows. It has a striking appearance and yellow flowers in the summer. The tree is found in very dry habitats in Namibia and South Africa and provides food and shelter for many insects, mammals and birds. Aloidendron dichotomum is a Southern African tree species which can grow up to 9m tall.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |