Spekboom, the miracle plant that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere 

Are you a plant lover who owns a home garden and spend a lot of time caring for plants? After all, it can be both fun and rewarding. Now, if you are fond of plants, chances are you have explored quite a bit about them. But have you ever heard of a shrub that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (CO2)? We are talking about the South African plant called spekboom. Here is all you need to know about this miracle plant.  

Spekboom and its miraculous capacity to take in CO2
As already mentioned, instead of giving out carbon dioxide, this plant absorbs it from the atmosphere. Are you totally taken by surprise? Well, so were we! Now, here comes another valid question. How do they possibly manage to take in CO2? Turns out, it photosynthesises differently as compared to other plants. How? Well, unlike other plants, it opens its stomata (tiny pores on the leaf or stem of a plant through which gases and water vapour pass) during the day and sucks in carbon dioxide. Can you even imagine what this means? Yes, that’s correct. Spekboom has the power to reduce carbon footprint from our planet and positively contribute to climate change. In fact, scientists estimate that one hectare of spekboom can absorb an average individual’s annual carbon footprint. You may also find it interesting to note that spekboom has the ability to create its own microclimate and bring in water and biodiversity into the surrounding biomes. The best part is of course its super lengthy life cycle that can go up to 200 years. 

Spekboom: A favourite among South African elephants 
Yes, you read that right. Elephants love this plant. Maybe that’s why this plant has two other nicknames, ‘elephant bush’ and ‘elephant food’. 

Spekboom is essentially a shrub that is grown in semi-arid regions. It has green succulent leaves that are often used as fodder. This robust woody shrub that is both drought-resistant and fire-retardant has its leaves growing alongside pink flowers on a reddish stem.  

Interestingly, the word spekboom has an African that literally translates to ‘bacon tree’ in English. No wonder the locals deem it as the ‘pork bush’. In fact, sources cite that spekboom leaves are so juicy that they are often used as ingredients in salads and stews.  

But that’s not all spekboom is used for. The plant is also said to have medicinal quality that can help treat dehydration, sore throat and even infections. Locals are known to use spekboom for skin problems such as rashes and sunburn.