Meet the Trees … The Carrot Tree (Steganotaenia araliacea)

• LUISE HOFFMANNTHIS erect, slender tree of 3 to 4,5 m is conspicuous in October/November when crowned by a cloud of dainty, yellowy-green flowers arranged in umbels similar to those of carrots, dill or celery.

The tree usually grows on rocky outcrops and on hill or mountain slopes where its pale grey-green trunk is very visible, particularly in the dry season.

Names: E Carrot tree; A geelwortelboom; G Karottenbaum, Selleriebaum; H omutiwonyoka, epondo.

No definite explanation for the botanical name could be found, but roll it off your tongue and it sounds as melodious as the tree is graceful. I was told that in Otjiherero this tree as well as some others, e.g. the Ringwood tree (Maerua schinzii), may be referred to as „etungu”, meaning it ‘looks like a good place to rest’ while on closer inspection it may be a „omuhaseviwa”, a tree often visited by snakes [“omutiwonyoka” in fact means ‘snake tree’], red wasps or leopards. Indeed the attached photo shows a carrot tree in western Etosha, in which we found the remains of a leopard kill.

The carrot tree is uncommon but widespread, from about Rehoboth northwards up to the Kunene and the Kavango Rivers. From public roads carrot trees can be seen on the slopes of the Waterberg, at the so-called Kudukoppie (a rocky outcrop along the B1 just south of Otjiwarongo) and on granite koppies to the northwest of Outjo.

On closer inspection, one can see that the papery bark peels in strips and rectangles and that the branches are soft and brittle. Small, flattened, creamy brown fruits in umbel-shaped clusters often form before the leaves.

The large, drooping compound leaves, up to 30 cm long and unusually lush compared to the surrounding vegetation, are crowded at the tips of the branches.

They are fresh green and individual leaflets may become 3 – 5 cm long, being wide at the base and tapering to end in hair like tips.

The wide base of the long leaf stalk clasps the branch as do the leaf stalks of carrots or celery. Crushed parts of the tree smell strongly like these two vegetables, a feature to which the English, German and Afrikaans common names refer. It belongs to the same family as a wide variety of aromatic herbs such as dill, caraway, anise, fennel, parsley etc.

Remarks: The roots are chewed to relieve a sore throat while the bark is said to cure asthma. A watery decoction of the stamped root alleviates fever and may also be used to treat boils.

A tea made of the leaves soothes coughing and chest ailments.

In Kaokoland sacred fire sticks are fashioned from the straight stems of the carrot tree. These sticks are the only means by which the sacred fire may be kindled.

Gardening: Carrot trees grow well if not over-watered. The unusual trunk is attractive all year round while the dainty flowers followed by the interesting fruits and the delicate foliage, which turns golden yellow in autumn, provide variety throughout the seasons. Seedlings are available from forestry nurseries or from the nursery of the National Botanical Research Institute in Windhoek – contact Number 061 202 2014.

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