vaalbos, noun

/ˈfɑːlbɔs/
Forms:
Formerly also vaal-bosch, vaal-boschje.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, vaal grey + bos (earlier bosch, see boschje) bush.
Any of several drought-resistant small trees or shrubs. 1. Either of two species of the Asteraceae with greyish-green, hairy leaves and an aromatic smell: a. Tarchonanthus camphoratus; wild sage sense (b), see wild sense a; b. Brachylaena discolor; also called saliehout (see salie sense 2). 2. saltbush sense a. In both senses also called vaal bush.
1855 Queenstown Free Press 6 Oct. (Pettman)This tract of country, which is covered as far as the eye can see by a short bush called Vaal bosch, is, however, a good grass veldt.
1910 J. Angove In Early Days 16The only vegetation of the kopjes is the Vaalbosch and haakdoorn, which grows profusely, covering miles of country.
1913 A. Glossop Barnes’s S. Afr. Hsehold Guide 316Salt Bush, Try for brak ground both the Australian and Colonial ‘Vaal boschje.’
1937 S. Cloete Turning Wheels 17An old wildebeeste bull that had been sleeping in the shade of a vaal-bos sprang up under his horse’s feet.
1958 R.E. Lighton Out of Strong 232The olive hues of the vaalbos were fading into powdery silver.
1961 Palmer & Pitman Trees of S. Afr. 325The Vaalbos is an important small tree or shrub in the dry western parts of the country where it is one of the chief fodder trees.
1971 S. Afr. Panorama Feb. 19People say they enjoy life in Sishen, where not so long ago the bare ground sustained only vaalbos.
1974 Weekend Post 2 Nov. 12Commonly seen in coastal gardens is Brachylema discolor, sometimes known as ‘Vaalbos’ or ‘salie’.
1986 S. Afr. Panorama June 11At the farm Rita Green drove us to the site through thick clumps of vaalbos (low nutritious silvery bushes).
Tarchonanthus camphoratus; wild sage sense (b), see wild sense a;
Brachylaena discolor; also called saliehout (see salie sense 2).
saltbush sense a. In both senses also called vaal bush.
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18551986

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Afrikaans
vaal, adjectiveadj.vaal bush, noun phrasen. phr.
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