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Plants of Alone · № 33

Great Karoo Plant Field Guide

Plants of the Great Karoo, South Africa — semi-arid trees, edibles, toxics and traditional-use species.

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Great Karoo Plant Field Guide cover№ 33
Region
Great Karoo
Country
South Africa
Continent
Africa
Season
Alone filming environment
File size
890 KB(0.9 MB)
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About this region

Semi-arid — hot dry summers, cold clear winters, low erratic rainfall.

The Great Karoo of South Africa is a semi-arid shrubland shaped by drought, browsing, and extremes of temperature. Dwarf shrubs (karoo bossies), succulents, and scattered acacia and shepherd's tree define the vegetation.

Wild foods and materials center on drought-adapted plants: succulent leaves and stems for moisture, hardy fruits like sour figs, and traditional Khoi and San medicinal knowledge of karoo shrubs. Water and shade — not calories — are usually the limiting factors.

Habitats

  • Dwarf shrubland (karoo veld)

    Low grey-green Pentzia and Eriocephalus shrubs across broad plains.

  • Dry riverbeds

    Sweet thorn (Vachellia karroo) and shepherd's tree corridors that hold shade and browse.

  • Rocky ridges and koppies

    Aloes, quiver tree relatives, and small succulents on stony soils.

  • Salt pans

    Salt-tolerant Salicornia and Sarcocornia on seasonal pan margins.

Notable species

  • Sweet thornVachellia karroo

    Gum, browse, firewood, and shade.

    Tree

  • Shepherd's treeBoscia albitrunca

    Tree

  • Sour figCarpobrotus edulis

    Edible

  • Karoo bossie (kapokbos)Eriocephalus ericoides

    Medicinal

  • Aloe feroxAloe ferox

    Medicinal

  • Poison bulbBoophone disticha

    Extremely toxic; traditional in prepared arrow poisons.

    Toxic

Cautions

  • Many Karoo bulbs and euphorbias are severely toxic; treat any milky-sapped succulent as suspect.

Topics

  • great karoo
  • south africa
  • semi-arid
  • karoo
  • succulents
  • acacia

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