Previous plant

Aloe dichotoma

Next plant

Giant tree in a flat plain, outside of Keetmanshop.


The flowers from Garden-view.com.


The famous Kokerboom Forest outside of Keetmanshop.


Photo from Namibia by Amir Auerbach.


Photo from Namibia by Amir Auerbach.

Author: Carl Linnaeus Jr, 1782
Family:  ALOACEAE*
Origin:  Western South Africa, Namibia
Soil:  Grit - Mix
Water:  Minimum
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  180 Centimetres
Height:  5 (9) Meters
Flower:  Yellow
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  Kokerboom, Quiver tree
Synonyms:  Might be: Aloidendron dichotomum, Klopper & Gideon F.Sm. 2013.
Aloe montana, Schinz
Aloe ramosa. Haw.
Rhipidodendrum dichotomum, Willd.
(Aloidendron ramosissimum, Klopper & Gideon F.Sm., 2013)

This big member of the Aloaceae* family was described by Carl Linnaeus the younger in 1782. It is found in western South Africa into Namibia, growing in a well drained soil with little water and lots of sun. The stem can grow up to a 180 centimetres in diameter, and raise to five or even nine meters. The flowers are yellow.

The different between A. dichotoma and A. pillansii, besides from the oblivious different in adult appearance and the way the flowers grow, is the colour of the edges of the leaves. A. dichotoma have yellow thorns while A. pillansii s thorns are white. The flowers of  A. pillansii is rather hanging while A. dichotoma's grow upwards. How exactly Louise Guthrie and Bernardus Joannes Maria Zonneveld can claim it is the same species, still remains to be explained to me!

The genera name is the ancient Greek and Latin name. The species name means 'repeated forked', and the branches are!

*)Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016,  Aloaceae is now part of the Asphodelaceae.


The huge plant, 2005 and again 2008.


The huge plant, 2005 and again 2008.