Plants of Namibia

Namibia's hugely varied topography is reflected by its differing and unique flora, which has adapted to the country's harsh environments. Plant species range from hardy desert succulents to water-plants and reeds in the Caprivi.

For most of the year, the plateau is dry, and low scrubs and grasses predominate. After the rains, however, the whole place comes alive with carpets of wild flowers that seem to sprout overnight. And almost as quickly, they disappear back into the ground.

Once Etosha was a permanent lake, and the vegetation in the north was like a lush jungle. Today, due to centuries of climate change, it is savannah grassland with acacia and mopane woodland. Caprivi's waterways in the north-east support a variety of aquatic plants and more leafy vegetation along the river banks.

Probably one of the most well-known perennial plants in the Namib is the Welwitschia. This unique plant grows flat on the ground and has only two leaves from its thick trunk. The leaves continue to grow throughout the life of the plant and can be as long as four metres. The leaves usually get torn by the wind and sand into strap-shaped sections.

It is hard to determine the age of these plants, but it is believed that they live up to 1,500 years or more. Welwitschia absorb dew and precipitation from the fog over the Namib through specially developed structures on their leaves.

Also characteristic of Namibia is the distinctive Kokerboom, or quiver tree. This succulent is actually a type of aloe and it gets its common name from the Bushmen who use its branches and bark to make quivers for their arrows.

The tree has smooth, silvery branches which are covered by a thin layer of white powder that helps to reflect the sun's hot rays. The bark on the trunk peels away thinly to form beautiful sharp brown scales. The top of the tree is usually densely rounded, because the branches fork repeatedly.

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