Vachellia (Acacia) xanthophloea
The beautiful Fever Tree is a large thorn tree with a spreading crown, growing up to 25m high and characterised by its smooth, greenish-yellow bark. It grows on river banks, in swampy areas and in savanna and woodland with a high water table, occasionally forming “fever tree forests” that are, to me, among the most beautiful scenes to be enjoyed in some of our favourite South African wild places – among which the Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park and uMkhuze Game Reserve in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Early European settlers noted that malaria is often contracted in areas in which this tree grew, from there the name “Fever Tree”. It was only later that the vector for malaria was identified as mosquitoes, which of course also occurs in great numbers in the swampy areas the Fever Tree prefers to grow in. The leaves, shoots, gum, flowers and pods of young fever trees are eaten by browsing herbivores, while the bark is used in traditional medicine concoctions.
South Africa’s only naturally occurring populations of the Fever Tree is to be found in the north of Kwazulu-Natal, through the Lowveld and into the Limpopo Valley. However, despite being rather prone to frost, it has been planted widely as an ornamental plant in other parts of the country.
The light trunk of the tree makes it look like it’s lit from within. They make for great photos.
Interesting how the tree got its name!
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They really are beautiful, and I’ve often thought of them looking as if they’re glowing in the dark when seen after dusk!
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ooo – wouldn’t that be a sight to see trees that glow in the dark?! 😉
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Would be magical!
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Stunningly beautiful trees! I recall seeing them in the KNP… and, if I’m not mistaken, somewhere in the Caprivi??
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That may very well be, AJ – the hot and wet Caprivi would be the perfect environment for the fever tree!
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You have some wonderful photos of these beautiful trees. I recognise the Mkuze picnic site trees at
Nsumo Pan. I was sad to see on our last visit there that some of the old trees there have fallen down.
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Sadly the terrible drought of a few years ago took a heavy toll on these water-loving trees in some of their strongholds, like uMkhuze.
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It was also sad to see so many tree skeletons in a section of the Sontuli Loop on our recent visit to iMfolozi too. We weren’t sure if they were killed by drought or fire or a combination of both.
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I think the blame for that lies squarely with the drought as well, for the ground cover was so denuded when those trees died during the drought that even if there was a fire started it wouldn’t have been able to spread to that extent.
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Yes that’s true. I can remember how Sontuli Loop vegetation was before the devastation from the incredible floods due to cyclone Demoina way back in 1984. It has been interesting to watch the recovery, but that was until the drought. And although there has been rain it is still not good in the region.
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Sadly my first visit to Hluhluwe and Umfolozi came about a decade after the ravages of Demoina, but I have seen photos of the lush riverine forests and everytime we visit I try to imagine what it will look like again one day.
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We have a tendency to think the bush is immutable, but of course it’s not, and is more dynamic than we sometimes realise. I also wonder about those forests regenerating.
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Interestring story of this tree. Thanks!
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Glad we could share some interesting facts about these beautiful trees!
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Amazingly tall trees!
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Not our biggest by any means, but certainly one of our most attractive!
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Beautiful tree and the little story about them. So much we know today… if people also knew to protect our nature…
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Seems the more we know John, the more we mess up!
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Mooiste mooi bome…een van my gunstelinge!
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Vir ons ook, Dina. Saam met die kremetart, die kameeldoring en die wildevye.
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‘n Baie mooi boom met sy eteriese groen stam en takke, maar ai, ek bly hartseer as dit langs die strate in Pretoria, gewese Jakarandastad, aangeplant word!
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Mooi as wat hulle is, is ek nie n “fan” van Jakarandas nie, Tannie Frannie – hulle vernietig regtig soveel van die klein bietjie inheemse woude wat ons nog oor het. Maar ek stem saam dat Pretoria se sypaadjies ook nie die plek is vir koorsbome nie – hier in die beboude gebied kom hul skoonheid nie vir my tot sy volle reg nie.
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‘n Diplomatiese antwoord! (Het geweet jy sal ‘n ekologiese standpunt inneem oor die jakarandas) 🙂
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😉
Jy ken ons nie van gister af nie, ne Tannie Frannie!?
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Dis ‘n gunsteling boom vir baie mense!!
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Met goeie rede, voel ek!
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Verseker!
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Fun fact: It’s from the bark of a different tree – the cinchona – that quinine is extracted – the basis of tonic water which was mixed with gin (to counter quinine’s horrid bitter flavour) to try and ward off malaria caused by the mozzies that thrive in the vicinity of the Fever Tree. Negligible quinine in modern day tonic water though.
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Good thing we don’t have cinchona trees growing in Africa, for then many of our wonderful wildlife Parks on this continent would’ve been settled by humans – thankfully the malaria kept people at bay and environments pristine so that we can enjoy them today as sanctuaries!
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Interesting. I had never heard of this tree, and such a story of how it’s name came to be. Very beautiful tree
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Then we’re very glad that we could introduce you to this beauty! And welcome here too!
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Graceful and whimsical… I can see why they are a favorite. Interesting how they got the name “Fever Tree.” Shows how easy it can be to make an incorrect deduction!
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I’m very grateful for the association between fever trees, mosquitoes and malaria causing people to avoid settling such places and today those places remain havens for nature!
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Thank you for the information on this tree.
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Done gladly, Tim!
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Iets magies omtrent die koorsbome, ek is altyd betower deur hulle. Daai klompe bymekaar in Oom Paul se Willetuin is asemrowend mooi.
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Absoluut! Hulle skep soveel atmosfees waar hul voorkom, en n klomp bymekaar is seer sekerlik van ons mooiste natuurtonele. Daar in Mkuze se wereld in Natal is daar net sulke mooi voorbeelde van Koorsbomwoude as by Pafuri in die Wildtuin.
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Very beautiful trees! I’d love to see a “forest” of them!
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Come visit South Africa, Montucky, and we’ll go show you a forest of fever trees!
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I wish!
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We’ll cross our fingers with you!
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they are SO beautiful
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I agree 110%, Gavin!
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It’s a very elegant tree. Interesting info as to how it got its name, Dries.
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Thanks Sylvia! They’re one of my favourite plants for sure.
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