Published on 17 June 2024, Last updated on 17 June 2024.
By Andrew Hofmeyr in Where to See.
Diverse and vast Africa has some weird and wonderful botanical wonders. The continent hosts fascinating plants, from giant trees that are not trees, to tiny pebble plants, corpse flowers, and nondescript living fossils over 2000 years old! Explore some of Africa’s weirdest and most wonderful botanical marvels.
Many of these plants are nondescript survivors of the arid landscapes of the Richtersveld and the Namib desert, while others are tropical wonders that thrive along the east coast. No matter where you travel on your African safari,keep your eyes peeled for some of these unique plants.
The Welwitschia of Namibia
The Welwitschia is a living fossil of the Namibian desert. A strange-looking plant, described by some as an “octopus-looking pile of dried out leaves” In Afrikaans, the Welwitschia is called “tweeblaarkanniedood” which means two leaves that cannot die, an apt description for a plant that has only two leaves that will grow throughout its life. As the leaves lengthen, the ends wither and die but living sections can be up to 9 meters in length. These leaves grow out of a small woody stem. The Welwitschia plant has deep roots that access subterranean water. They grow in a narrow coastal mist belt, no more than 100km inland and are pollinated by the Welwitschia beetle. Some Welwitchia plants are estimated to be over 3000 years old.
Hydnora, a Plant Without Roots or Leaves
The Hydnora looks like a monster from a 1950s horror movie, often mistaken for fungi due to its bizarre appearance. Found in Africa, Madagascar and on the Arabian Peninsula, this rare plant exists mostly underground and only occasionally flowers, emitting a stench of rotting flesh. Hydnora is parasitic, lacking roots and photosynthesis, and instead uses haustoria to penetrate host plants for water, minerals, and nutrients.
When its strange flower opens, it traps insect pollinators to ensure pollination before releasing them once the job is done. Interestingly, the fruit of the Hydnora is a favourite of the African fox, or Jakkals, earning it the Afrikaans name "Jakkalskos," meaning "jakkals food."
The Half People Tree ofNamibia
The Halfmens plant, native to Namibia, is a quirky and fascinating succulent. Picture a cactus that looks like it's halfway through a yoga stretch, and you've got the Halfmens. Its name, which means "half-human" in Afrikaans, fits perfectly due to its oddly human-like silhouette. Growing in the rugged Richtersveld desert in the northern Cape of South Africa and southern Namibia, these plants stand tall, with their spiky tops reaching towards the sun. The Halfmens is the subject of local myth and folklore. One of the most fascinating tales linking the Halfmens to the people of Namaqualand is the legend of their origin. According to Nama folklore, a tribe, once living in a gentler part of southern Namibia, was driven south after a fierce conflict. As they fled to the harsh Richtersveld, some paused to look back at their beloved homeland. The gods, moved by their sorrow, turned them into the Halfmens plants, forever gazing northward to their lost home.
The Tree of Life (Baobab)
The baobab of Africa, often called the "upside-down tree," is one of Africa’s most fascinating natural wonders. Unusually for a tree of this size and stature, the baobab tree is not a tree at all, its a succulent and stores water in its trunk. These iconic trees can live for thousands of years, storing water in their enormous trunks to survive the harsh dry seasons. The baobab commands respect and in Madagascar where they call it Renala, “the Mother of the Forest”. These huge trees are the traditional resting place of ancestral spirits and must be treated with reverence. In Africa, the baobab is steeped in folklore, and the usefulness of the baobab has led to its second moniker, the Tree of Life. The seeds of the baobab dry on the tree and are enjoyed by animals and humans alike and have several remarkable properties. Read more about baobabs here.
Giant Groundsels, the Tree Impersonators of Kilimanjaro
The giant groundsel, found exclusively in the montane regions of central and East Africa, is a sight to behold—think of a pineapple wearing a sweater! Closely related to daisies, giant groundsels won’t grow below 2100 meters and can reach up to 10 meters in height. There are 11 distinct species, often called rosette plants due to their leaf arrangement. New leaves grow from the top and open outwards, while old leaves die but stay attached, insulating the stem from the cold nights and giving the plant its unique look. At night, these plants form a “night-bud” by curling their leaves inward, reopening during the day. Although they flower infrequently, they can display synchronized flowering, with many plants blooming at once. Some giant groundsels may even be up to 250 years old. To catch a glimpse of these unique plants, plan a safari hike up Kilimanjaro.
Small Knob Thorn,Dragon's Tail Tree
The Knob thorn tree is a forest species that grows from Zimbabwe south to the Western Cape. The trunk of the Knob thorn tree is covered with protrusions that look like teeth, or the scales on a dragon's tail, giving the forest an aspect of mystery and fantasy. The tree is a popular medicinal plant that contains chemicals that are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. The Knob Thorn has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by the Zulu and Xhosa people of South Africa. In South Africa, the Knob thorn is a protected tree. The tree is the host plant for swallowtail butterflies, while the leaves are browsed by antelope, and the fruit is eaten by vervet and mango monkeys, baboons, and birds.
Lithops, the Living Stones
Living stones, or Lithops, are delightful little succulents that have perfected the art of disguise. Native to southern Africa, these plants look just like the pebbles and rocks around them, making them uniquely camouflaged. Living stones range between 10 and 50mm, grow close to the ground, and can live for decades. The name "Lithops" comes from Ancient Greek, meaning "stone face," which fits their stone-like appearance perfectly. Their leaves are fenestrated and come in shades of cream, grey, and brown, with intricate patterns of dots and lines for remarkable camouflage. Lithops blend seamlessly with their environment but their unique appearance has made them hugely popular with succulent enthusiasts and plant collectors. To see them in their natural habitat you must visit the northern Cape Karoo of South Africa and southern Namibia. these fascinating plants blend seamlessly into their rocky habitats.
The Quiver Tree, Kokerboom
Quiver Trees, or Aloidendron dichotomum, are fascinating wonky plants that grow in the arid regions of southern Africa. The name “Quiver Tree” comes from the San Bushman who used hollowed-out branches to make quivers for their arrows. Despite their name, these "trees" are actually a type of aloe, that can grow up to 10 meters tall. Quiver Trees have white waxy bark that protects them from the harsh desert environment but it is another unique ability that pushes them into the weird and wonderful botanical realm. When disease strikes or the plants are particularly distressed during a drought, the Kokerboom can cut off nutrients to certain limbs and self-amputate, thus saving the rest of the plant from disease and living to flower another day. Usually growing alone, there is a Kokerboom Forest near Keetmanshoop in Namibia which was declared a National Monument in 1995. Visiting the Quiver Tree Forest, you'll see young trees sprouting from rock crevices, with the oldest estimated to be 200-300 years old. This unusual quiver tree forest is ecologically important and attracts wildlife, insects, and birds.
Check out days 8 & 9 of this 9-day Namibia Camping and Lodge Safari
Madussa’s Head Succulent
The genus Euphorbia is home to many fascinating and beautiful plants, but the Medusa’s Head euphorbia stands out as one of the most unique. Native to the Cape region of South Africa, these plants feature numerous greyish-green, snake-like branches that radiate from a central hub, which supplies them with moisture and nutrients. Medusa’s Head succulents can spread up to 1 meter across. In spring and summer, yellowish-green blooms appear around the hub, adding to its striking appearance. Euphorbias are widely collected for medicinal purposes and sold in traditional ‘muthi’ markets. They are versatile plants, their latex is used during pregnancy, as a purgative, and on wounds and skin lesions, some are even used as building material, yeast, and poisons for hunting and fishing.
The Flame Lilly, Beautiful but Deadly
The Flame Lily, Gloriosa superba, is a rare flower native to southern Africa and Asia. Its fiery red or orange flowers with yellow edges and wavy, flame-like petals are stunning, though lethally toxic. This spectacular shrub climbs using coiling tips and can grow up to 1 meter high from a tuber. The flame lily is Zimbabwe’s national flower, symbolizing national pride. When Queen Elizabeth visited Zimbabwe as the crown princess in 1947, she received a gift of a diamond brooch designed in the shape of a flame lily during her visit. Despite its beauty, all parts of the plant are poisonous. The seeds are used as decorative beads, and the plant - in proper dosages - is used medicinally to treat intestinal worms and disinfect wounds. The Flame Lily blooms from November to March.
Carrion Flowers, the Zulu Giant
The Aasblom, carrion flower, corpse flower, or starfish flower for a more pleasing moniker, refers to a diverse group of succulents that grow throughout southern Africa. Belonging to the genus Stapelia, Orbea, and Huernia, these intriguing succulents are renowned for their star-shaped flowers and unusual pollination methods. These weird succulents produce multifarious blooms, large, small, and brilliantly coloured. They are a favourite of collectors for their stunning appearance, but come with a small caveat, the flowers stink. To be precise, the flowers smell of rotting flesh or carrion, an adaptation to ensure that they are pollinated by flies. One of the most impressive members is the Zulu Giant. The Zulu Giant, Stapelia Gigantia, is the largest of these plants and the blossoms bloom to an impressive 35 cm (14 inches) across. Impressive for a hairy and smelly flower that is!
Plant Safaris to Africa?
Southern Africa is a botanical hotspot attracting plant enthusiasts from around the world. Many plants are rare and grow only in the arid areas of Southern Africa. To get the most out of a botanical safari, consider travelling in September, the southern hemisphere spring, when the flowers in Namaqualand erupt, turning the desert landscape into a carpet of joy.
African Budget Safaris specialises in small group and bespoke safaris. Talk to one of our expert African safari consultants about combining a wildlife safari with a botanical expedition and see some of the incredible botanical wonders of Africa.
Andrew Hofmeyr Naturalist, Artist & Writer
On the outskirts of Marloth Nature Reserve, Andrew can be found walking and swimming in the beautiful Langeburg Mountains. He is passionate about animals, birds, reptiles, and plants and loves nothing more than an adventure in nature. An established artist with a master's in English literature, Andrew has traveled far and wide but South Africa still has his heart.
