Fever Tree

Afrikaans name: Koorsboom

Photo © Steven Herbert

Acacia xanthophloea

The Fever Tree is a member of the Acacia genus and it is probably one of the best known of the many species of Acacia.

Although this tree naturally occurs in a range from South Africa to East Africa it has been planted in many other countries because of its unusual colours.

The name of the Fever Tree stems from it being found in or near swampy areas where one is likely to catch malaria and this was attributed to the trees and not the mosquitos.

The tree can grow to an impressive height of 25 metres. It produces bright yellow flowers between August and November. They are roundish and are borne in clusters. The resulting seed-pods ripen between January to April.

Fever Trees are popular nesting places for Weavers and other birds. The tree has quite a few thorns which seem to give the nest some protection from would-be predators such as snakes. Various animals feed off parts of the tree including Elephants, Vervet Monkeys and Giraffes.

References and further reading

What s that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 57

Wild Issue 18 - Author: - Published: 2012 - Page: 43

Wild Issue 41 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 80

Trees of Kruger - Author: Braam and Piet van Wyk - Published: 2023 - Page: 143

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 303

The Natal Bushveld - Volume 1 - Author: Natal Parks Board - Published: 1981 - Page: 53

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 140

Sasol First Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1999 - Page: 13

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 60

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 126

Sappi Tree Spotting: Lowveld - Author: Jacana - Published: 1997 - Page: 34

Pocket Guide - Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2013 - Page: 36

Pollinators, Predators and Parasites - Author: C. Scholtz, J. Scholtz, H. De Klerk - Published: 2021 - Page: 196

SA Wild Flower Guide No 4 - Transvaal Lowveld - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1984 - Page: 102

Piet van Wyk s Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st editi - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 77

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 98

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 45

Know Them by their Fruit - Author: AT Ankiewicz - Published: 2021 - Page: 280

Kruger - Portrait of a National Park - Author: David Paynter with Wilf Nussey - Published: 1986 - Page: 25

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 54

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 11

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 390

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 159

A site-by-site guide to trees in the Kruger National Park - Author: Marissa Greeff - Published: 2017 - Page: 102

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 254

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 77

Field Guide to the Acacias of South Africa - Author: Nico Smit - Published: 2008 - Page: 68

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 143

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 129

For more info: SANBI

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