Land of the quiver trees - Werner Van Steen - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007: In Praise of Plants and Fungi - Highly Commended

Werner Van Steen Enlarge image Land of the quiver trees

Werner Van Steen (Belgium)

Land of the quiver trees

'When I arrived at the Quiver Tree Forest in Namibia I wanted to take the first plane home. I'd heard so much about these surreal plants, but they looked dull and grey. But when I went back at sunset, the colours had intensified, and I was so overwhelmed by their beauty. Rolls of film flew through my camera.' The quiver tree is an aloe, a succulent, indigenous to South Africa and Namibia. The soft pulpy inner tissue of its branches is easily hollowed out by bushmen to make quivers for their arrows, hence the name. Many animals drink the nectar of its flowers and sociable weavers nest on its high branches.

Fuji GX 617 + 90mm f5.6 lens; Fujichrome Velvia 50.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.