Stoeberia frutescens, the donkievy

Stoeberia frutescens is a large shrub, a mesemb of the arid northwest. One colloquial name, rooi-tkooi, is formed from the Afrikaans word rooi meaning red and the Nama word t’kooi, the meaning of which is unknown, probably lost.

Cultures mix without losing the last traces of their origins that serve in enriching blends to follow. The reference to red probably relates to the pinkish colouring often found in the stamen or staminode tips of the flower.

The fruit capsule of this plant has five wedge-shaped locules. Once the somewhat triangular valves of a Stoeberia capsule have opened, they never close again. Some other mesemb plants have capsules that open with rain and close again as they dry, possibly retaining some seed for release during a later shower.

A couple of other members of the Stoeberia genus are known for being the tallest members of the mesemb family. These are S. utilis and S. arborea, both also found in the northwest of South Africa.

These plants have a tree-like habit, rubbing branches with the taller inhabitants of this sparsely vegetated land. The wood of both these plants becomes brittle when dry, sometimes used as firewood (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Smith, et al, 1998; Herre, 1971; iNaturalist).