page_title: Richtersveld
section_title: Plant life
hierarchical_section_title: Richtersveld / Plant life
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Pachypodium namaquanum (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw., Richtersveld Nationalpark, Nordkap, Südafrika English: Halfmens, Half a man Pachypodium namaquanum (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw., Richtersveld National park, Northern Cape, South Africa Esperanto: Pakipodio, Pachypodium namaquanum (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw., Richtersveld Nacia parko, Norda Kablando, Sud-Afriko Suomi: Paksujalat, Pachypodium namaquanum (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw., Richtersveld Kansallispuisto, Northern cape, Etelä-Afrikka Lietuvių: Garbanotasis tukvis, Pachypodium namaquanum (Wyley ex Harv.) Welw., Richtersveld, Šiaurės Kapas, Pietų Afrikos Respublikos
context_page_description: The Richtersveld is a desert landscape characterised by rugged kloofs and high mountains, situated in the north-western corner of South Africa’s Northern Cape province. It is full of changing scenery from flat, sandy, coastal plains, to craggy sharp mountains of volcanic rock and the lushness of the Orange River, which forms the border with neighboring Namibia. The area ranges in altitude from sea level, to 1,377 m at Cornellberg. Located in the north-eastern side of the Northern Cape province in South Africa, the Richtersveld is regarded as the only arid biodiversity hotspot on earth and the majority of the area is inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its cultural values.
  The Nama people of Richtersveld claimed title to their traditional land and set aside this conservancy for future research and tourism. The northern part of the area was proclaimed in 1991 after 18 years of negotiations between the National Parks Board and the local Nama people who continue to live and graze their livestock in the area. It has an area of 1,624.45 square kilometres.
context_section_description: Approximately 4 849 plant species, 40 percent of which are endemic, have been documented in the Richtersveld and comprise mainly succulent and aloe species.
  
  The area is home to a number of rather unusual plants, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Chief among these is the "Halfmensboom"(Pachypodium namaquanum Welw.) meaning "half-person tree" , the name comes from the plant's resemblance to the human form. These trees are revered by the indigenous Nama people as the embodiment of their ancestors, half human, half plant, mourning for their ancient Namibian home. Also found here are three endemic species of the tree aloe Aloidendron: A. dichotomum, A. pillansii and A. ramosissimum, often referred to as "kokerbooms" or "quiver trees".
caption: Halfmensboom
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