Top 10 Plant Species(Namibia)

Best Plant Species Endemic To The South Western African Bushveld's

Composed By: Francois Boois (opens new window)@Facebook

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Funded By: Welwitschia Building Company

The Following list has one of the rare some endemic and some regional plant and some celebrated plant species in the Southern Western African Region this list has some of the plants on this list are considered pest but are still remarkable in thier class an how they entire ecosystem depends on them in extreme climatic conditions.

1.Welwitschia(Welwitschia Mirabilis)

The Welwitschia is a plant indigenous to the Namib Desert considered the oldest desert in the world, it's a plant species with thick hairy leaves appears dead and flaky, but is more alive than anything in its surroundings,it looks like something you'd expect to see in a Martian movie so does it's surrounding environment a plant species that is a must see if you are Namibian or just visiting experts arguably state it to have the longest lifespan of any plant in the world.

2.Giant Quiver Tree(Aloe Dichotoma).

The Giant Quiver Tree one of the iconic trees in Namibia is found in the far remote and baren land of the Southern district's just like the Welwitschia it is indigenous to the Namibia but the Quiver grows more substantially in the vast Namaqualand's western borders not so easy to get to,it is also adaptable to the dry desert conditions and has a long lifespan.

3.Camelthorn Tree(Acacia Erioloba).

The Camelthorn Tree is found throughout Southern Africa it's the only tree of substantial size one would consider to be on this list it's a support platform for many humans and wildlife in the area it homes and feeds throughout most of its lifespan on would call it the Mother tree of Southern Africa it's ever green with tiny powdery mildew flowers it can go for years without substantial water it's lifespan only shortened by wildfires and lightning strikes today under thread by deforestation excessive use for fuel.

4.Baobab Tree(Adansonia Digitata).

The Baobab Tree iconic to the African continent can be found throughout the countinent except for the more extreme environments like the rain forest,Jungle and Deserts,although Namibia is home to two dry legendary Deserts mentionably the Kalahari and Namib the majority of it is made of traditionally inhabitable landscapes and environments and supports mostly any type of plant life including the great Baobab.

5.Maroella Tree(Sclerocarya Birrea).

The Maroella Tree popularly known for its liquor and oil sources is found all over the Southern Africa just like the Camelthorn but more adaptable to climates with a little moderate rainfall locals use it's fruits to extract juices that are concentrated in alcohol and seeds with easy available palm oil contents it's a remote resourceful plant locals settle around as claim but they are so common in certain areas that it's harvested annually it has more or less the same lifespan as the Camelthorn.

6.Pearson's Aloe(Aloe Pearsonii)

The Pearson's Aloe is most common in arid dry areas with extremely low rainfalls and a high capacity of day light grows very well in the mid southern districts some locals even resorted to farming it for its high demands it has incredible healing powers and local farmers and herbalist use it to cure just about everything.

7.The Shepherd Tree(Boscia Albitrunca).

The Shepherd Tree is common in southern Africa and found in the North Western part of the country it goes by many names it's customary role in local farmers is it's attributes to feeding livestock,Wildlife and livestock feast on almost all the parts of it including the bark you'd most likely find Antelope of all kind in it's vicinity but most all its used for fencing post and cut in huge stockpiles it's very hard to say it's endangered because it grows fast and dispersed throughout the area it's indigenous to.

8.The Purple Pod Terminalia(Terminalia Prunioides).

The Purple Pod Terminalia is a secluded on the low lying area to the North East of the country it has more or less the same features as the Shepherd Tree but shares two different climates it's prefered area of inhabitants receives more rain and has a high number of different plant species than that of the Shepherds it has to constantly compete for resources making it more larger in stature and has more characters to feat it's purpose.

9.Mopane Tree(Colophospermum Mopane).

The Mopane tree shares the Same area as the shepherd tree it's seeds are spread by the worm of the same name it grows well in soft sandy areas many adapted for livestock by communal farmers since most of Namibia's wildlife are free roaming both livestock and wildlife depent on it for food source it's not on the endangered list of plant species in Namibia but seam to be growing on a rapid pace it preferentially grows around perennial rivers and dried tributaries with underwaters aquifers.

10.Corky Monkey Orange Tree(Strychnos Cocculoides).

The Corky Monkey Orange is a tree loved and branded by some ethnicity's in Namibia,called a tribal food because it grows in certain former apartheid ethnic resettlement districts of the country which local ethnic tribes located there claimed as thier maiden homelands has become a customary food source for them assimilating it into thier tribal cultures and original folk tales the oranges has a hard outer casing unlike the traditional orange and a soft gooey inside with sizable seeds in them.

That's it for this weeks top 10 click The link below to E-mail the editor if there's something you'd like to share or want to clarify something pertaining to this particular article thanks for reading and kind regards:-).

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A little Honourable mention for the Black Thorn Tree(Acacia Mellifera) that didn't make the list, this time round but still loved by many in this part of the world.

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