Plants of the Hai||om
The Hai||om know hundred of plants for many uses, for example as bush food, medicine and poison for their arrows.

||Gâis (Colophospermum mopane, mopane) is the tree species constituting the dominant form of vegetation in many parts of Etosha - A multi-use tree for the Hai||om.

||Naraka||nais is a many-stemmed shrub which can grow up to 1.5 metres high. Its distinctive four-globed, orange-yellow berries are a delicious bush food.

The ||nuus is a perennial plant with grass-like leaves; it reaches a height of about 20 to 30 cm. It develops small, roundish tubers (||nuun) which resemble small potatoes

!Hanni is an important staple that is found throughout the Etosha area. The plant has erect, shiny green leaves.

The Hai||om used the root of !Khores (Adenium boehmianum) for making poison for their arrows
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The ‡âus occurs as a shrub or small tree, and is widely distributed throughout Etosha. The berries (‡âun) are much-liked by the Hai||om for their sweet taste

‡Gubun is widely distributed. The twining plants have large white tuberous roots that are roasted and eaten throughout the year.

The ‡habab is a large, white, fleshy tuber that was profoundly important to the Hai||om, as it was an important source of water

The ‡huis is a medium-sized tree which occurs singly throughout Etosha. When ripe the fruits are a rich source of vitamin C.

The ‡iiros, a spiny shrub, is not very common in Etosha. The orange fruit are about 25 mm in diameter and sour-sweet tasting.

Gunub (Hydnora abyssinica) might easily be mistaken for a fungus, but is in fact an unusual, leafless parasitic plant - a very popular bush food.

Naun are very large and very tasty grey-white mushrooms, with caps of up to 30 cm in diameter not being unusual, growing on termite hills.