Meet the trees of Namibia: Camel-thorn Tree

• LUISE HOFFMANNFROM August to October these large spreading trees develop new blue green leaves and golden yellow, ball-shaped flowers making them very conspicuous against the backdrop of the otherwise monotonously grey, dry vegetation. Strong grey-white thorns grow in pairs and may reach a length of 40 mm.

Sometimes they are swollen because an insect lays its eggs in them to hatch. Young branches are shiny reddish brown and often zigzag from one pair of thorns to the next. Ear-shaped woody pods with a grey velvety covering appear from December onwards, remaining on the tree for many months and making it very easy to identify.

Camel-thorn trees reach a height of 15m with a spreading crown of branches, which are quite sturdy almost up to their tips. The single trunk is covered by dark grey, deeply furrowed bark. The branches of young camel-thorn trees tend to droop somewhat. An untidy tangle of dead branches often protrudes from the lower edge of the canopy.

Names: G. Giraffenakazie A. kameeldoring; H. omombonde; (N/D) //ganab; Nd. omuthiya; Ky. Omuonde. The name camel-thorn is derived from the fact that giraffes like to browse its leaves. The Afrikaans name for giraffe is “kameelperd”, i.e. ‘camel-horse’ and thus led to the tree being called ‘camel-thorn’. The botanical name Acacia means ‘bearing thorns’, while erioloba refers to the ‘hairy pod’.

With the exception of the Caprivi, camel-thorn trees are very widespread and common throughout Namibia, especially on deep sandy soils. They probably are the best known of all Namibian trees.

Magnificent old camel-thorn trees shade the streets of Klein Windhoek and the Northern Industrial area. Many beautiful old specimens grow along the B1 around Brakwater north of Windhoek and in the vicinity of Rehoboth. They are very characteristic of the Kalahari and often line the drainage lines in the Namib where their ancient, beautifully gnarled trunks testify to their remarkable endurance under harsh conditions.

Seedlings of this tree immediately form a deep tap root and live roots of a certain tree in Namibia have been found at a depth of 46 metres. Consequently they can tap deep ground water and survive under very arid conditions. It has been established that nutrient levels in the soil under large trees is distinctly higher than away from such trees.

Not only do the roots transport nutrients from deep in the soil to the leaves, flowers and pods, which become available to grasses and other plants after having fallen to the ground and decayed. The droppings of game, livestock, birds, small mammals and reptiles sheltering under or in such a tree make a significant contribution too. In contrast to the recently discussed invasive black-thorn (A. mellifera subsp. detinens) camel-thorn trees do not compete with grasses for water and nutrients in the topsoil.

Due to these properties in combination with the highly nutritious quality of leaves, flowers and pods as fodder for stock and game the camel-thorn tree is a highly valuable asset. Destroy a camel-thorn tree and you destroy a self-sustaining fertilizer and feed factory! Consequently these trees are protected by forestry legislation.

*To be continued next week

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