| Quiver tree | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asphodelaceae |
| Subfamily: | Asphodeloideae |
| Genus: | Aloidendron |
| Species: | A. dichotomum |
| Binomial name | |
| Aloidendron dichotomum | |
 | |
| Aloidendron dichotomum range Extant (resident) | |
 | |
| The distribution ofAloidendron dichotomum (light blue) in southern Africa | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Aloidendron dichotomum, formerlyAloe dichotoma, thequiver tree orkokerboom, is a tall, branching species ofsucculent plant, indigenous toSouthern Africa, specifically in theNorthern Cape province ofSouth Africa, and parts of SouthernNamibia.
Known aschoje to the indigenousSan people, the quiver tree gets its English common name from the San people practice of hollowing out the tubular branches ofAloidendron dichotomum to formquivers for theirarrows. The specific epithet"dichotomum" refers to how the stems repeatedly branch into two ("dichotomous" branching) as the plant grows.[3] This species was moved to the genusAloidendron asAloidendron dichotomum in 2013.[4]
Three separate species,A. dichotomum,A. pillansii andA. ramosissimum inhabit the same arid areas of theRichtersveld and theNamib Desert around the South African-Namibian border. The three have been given different ratings on theIUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 'vulnerable' forA. dichotomum, 'critically endangered' forA. pillansii and 'endangered' forA. ramossisimum.[citation needed]
The three species can be distinguished as follows: InA. pillansii, theinflorescences hang from below the lowest leaves, rather than growing erect.A. ramosissimum is considerably smaller—rarely reaching more than 2 m in height—and assumes a more shrub-like shape. While there is a gradation between tree-likeA. dichotomum and the shrubbyA. ramosissimum, the relatively uniqueA. pillansii population is separated by a different flowering time and therefore does not interbreed with the other two species.[5]
One of the few examples of spontaneous forests ofA. dichotomum is theQuiver Tree Forest, about 14 km north ofKeetmanshoop, inNamibia. Another is located in the Northern Cape of South Africa at Gannabos.[citation needed]
Throughout much of its range this species is in decline. Modelling ofAloidendron dichotomum inSouth Africa andNamibia has contributed to understanding the needs of protected areas in response toclimate change. Modelled range declines in this species due to climate change have recently been confirmed by field surveys.[6]
Aloidendron dichotomum is cultivated in arid areas around the world, for use in landscaping. The slow growth rate and relative rarity of the plant make it a particularly expensive specimen. It is also relatively difficult to keep outside of its natural habitat.[citation needed]
In cultivation it requires extremely well-drained coarse mineral sand (preferably with some loam and bone meal to keep it active and growing), full sun, good aeration and extremely little water - primarily in the winter (as it mainly occurs in winter rainfall desert areas). In the (rare) event that it is under-watered, the leaves will curl up and die off at the tips; this is not fatal, but indicates that it is relatively dry.[citation needed]
It is unusually prone to aphids and insect infections in between its leaves, and this is exacerbated whenever there is not full sun and constant fresh air movement. Indoor plants require frequent treatment for these pests. Fungicide can be added occasionally, to protect the plant from rot.[citation needed]
It can be propagated from seed and (with more difficulty) from cuttings or truncheons. Cuttings need to be thoroughly dried for several weeks in a shaded area before being planted.[3]
Michael Benson's bookSpace Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece (2018) briefly discusses how the kokerboom piqued the interest of film director,Stanley Kubrick. The book claims that several protected kokerboom trees were cut down so they could be used to film2001: A Space Odyssey.[7]
%2c_parque_nacional_de_Namib-Naukluft%2c_Namibia%2c_2018-08-05%2c_DD_39.jpg)
