Tree Tuesday: Vachellia xanthophloea/Fever tree - Koorsboom (in Afrikaans)
This very attractive Fever tree has a beautiful lime green and smooth bark. The bark flakes and has a yellow powder (sulphurous)on it. The young trees have long, straight white thorns but the older ones hardly have any. This tree is semi-deciduous to deciduous and native to Africa.
Here you can see the beautiful markings on the green-yellow bark:
Xanthophloea, comes from the Greek words “Xanthos” meaning yellow and “Phloios” meaning bark. It was called the “Fever Tree” by the pioneers which used to get a very bad fever (Malaria) when in the swampy areas where this tree grew and believed it was due to this tree.
The Fever tree grows up to 24m tall and is fast growing (1.2m per year). From August to November this tree produces bright yellow flowers. After flowering, they have green pods which turn brown when maturing with small brown seeds on the inside which split open from January to March. Photosynthesis takes place in this tree’s bark. They get planted next to dams and rivers on farms to control soil erosion.
The bark flakes where new red-brown branches grow:
The wood gets used for fencing, firewood and for boxwood and the bark mixed in a brew with other herbs are used as a medicine for treating fevers, Malaria and eye infections. It is also used as a divination tool (used in a ritual to help leaders get insight to the problem at hand).
The Senegalbushbaby loves eating this gum:
I took the photo from the net so you can see the flowers:
All photos were taken with a Samsung Galaxy S7 except for the flowers.
Thanks for sharing your world in images!
Great post! It was interesting to learn about the Fever tree. It seems like it is an exceptionally useful tree. Thank-you for expanding my knowledge! Everyday I learn something new. Thank-you @crazymumzysa!
beautiful pictures taken :)
this tree is a real sight to see when u come over to south africa , creating a magical sight as it grows very big and its roots spread all over, its bark does not get darker and always remains greenish yellow, and when it flowers its just too beautiful <3
Thank you moonprincess.
A beautiful tree and good pictures.
Aaah, now yes, I see. Nature is full with light, colour, beauty, precision, perfection. Obviously therefore, there where there is no beauty and astounding perfection, it cannot have been created by the same forces.
Beautiful words lucky.digger, it brought peace to my heart. Thank you very much!
Such a beautiful tree! Would love to visit South Afrika one day. I wonder if I could understand the language. In dutch we would call it koorts boom too hehe! Have a beautiful day ;)
The dutch normally have no problem to catch on the language in SA. so you will do fine
Looking forward to visiting that part of the world.
Thank you very much amy-goodrich. You will be able to understand us as 90% of the Afrikaans vocabulary is of Dutch origin. My great grandparents came from the Netherlands.
One of my absolutely favourite trees. Have you ever been to Ndumo in northern KZN where there is a beautiful grove of them along the pan? Magical.
Thank you whistlejacket. I am planning on going to KZN in a week or so will definitely go make a turn there. This one was taken on a two-day break at Warmbaths. We have a few in the gardens around me but still very young.
Really nice ... somehow that tree really looks nostalgic and heartwarming ... is it true for others too ?
I agree with you nerdyguy. We have neighbours with two outside their gate and somehow they always draw my eye. I love the feeling I get when looking at them, it touches my heart and uplifts my spirit.
The tree looks beautiful, and I guess when the flower blooms the tree looks even more beautiful.
Nice shots. A place I would love to visit some day.
Thank you ai-max, love the pony on your profile.
It was taken in a field in Germany. Adorable animal for a little girl's dream.