Welwitschia mirabilis
Perhaps unfairly labelled as one of the world's ugliest plants, Welwitschia mirabilis was first discovered by the Austrian botanist Friedrich Welwitsch in 1859. With leaves that capture moisture from sea fogs and long taproots that search out any underground water it is well adapted to the harsh arid environments of the Namib Desert. Welwitschia mirablilis is comprised of only two leaves, a stem base and a taproot.
From seedlings the first leaves continue to grow horizontally from the stem base for the lifespan of the plant, a most unusual, if not unique, characteristic. The circumference of the leaves at contact with the sand may exceed 8 m. Weathering eventually causes the leaves to become frayed and split along parallel margins preventing the leaves from extending across the desert ground for more than a few metres. The torn and twisted leaves of the adult plant give the impression that there are multiple leaves, hence the description 'octopus-like'. Male and female reproductive parts (cones) are produced on separate plants. The plant in the photo shows ripe female cones after seed dispersal. The age of individual plants is difficult to assess, but many plants may be over 1000 years old, some may be more than 2000 years old.
Welwitschia mirabilis
Perhaps unfairly labelled as one of the world's ugliest plants, Welwitschia mirabilis was first discovered by the Austrian botanist Friedrich Welwitsch in 1859. With leaves that capture moisture from sea fogs and long taproots that search out any underground water it is well adapted to the harsh arid environments of the Namib Desert. Welwitschia mirablilis is comprised of only two leaves, a stem base and a taproot.
From seedlings the first leaves continue to grow horizontally from the stem base for the lifespan of the plant, a most unusual, if not unique, characteristic. The circumference of the leaves at contact with the sand may exceed 8 m. Weathering eventually causes the leaves to become frayed and split along parallel margins preventing the leaves from extending across the desert ground for more than a few metres. The torn and twisted leaves of the adult plant give the impression that there are multiple leaves, hence the description 'octopus-like'. Male and female reproductive parts (cones) are produced on separate plants. The plant in the photo shows ripe female cones after seed dispersal. The age of individual plants is difficult to assess, but many plants may be over 1000 years old, some may be more than 2000 years old.