The Succulent Plant Pagegoes to Families of Succulent Plants goes to
The Aloe Page goes to

Aloe dichotoma

Quiver Tree, Kokerboom

Search this site 

Succulent Plant Search EngineBotanical BookmarksBotanical GlossarySITEMAPEmail: webmaster
Aloe dichotoma Aloe dichotoma Aloe dichotoma  

Aloe dichotoma  Masson 1776 (Quiver Tree, Kokerboom)
is a distinctive slow-growing tree Aloe from dry rocky areas of the Western Cape and Namibia. This is one of the largest species of Aloe, growing up to 30 ft tall over a few hundred years. The common name refers to the traditional use of hollowed stems of this tree as quivers for arrows.

Aloe dichotoma seedling

A single trunk divides into numerous branches at the top, each branch bearing a rosette of narrow grey-green succulent leaves. Old leaves are not retained on the smooth, but ridged trunk with sharp edges to each scale. The inflorescence is divided into three to five racemes of large tubular yellow flowers. The flowers are edible with the flower buds said to have a similar flavour to asparagus.
 
Left: In a young plant the leaves are arranged in vertical rows and only with maturity, spiral to form a rosette.

Aloe dichotoma Aloe dichotoma Left: North Escarpment near Nieuwoudtville, RSA. December 1998. There was a large population of Aloe dichotoma in this limited area.