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Unique Desert Plants of AfricaWelwitschia Mirabilis is a Plant Survivor in a Harsh Desert WorldAlthough not a species known for its beauty or color, Welwitschia is one of earth's fascinating treasures and it is worth taking a trip to the Namib Desert to see.
DiscoveryAustrian botanist Friedrich Welwitschia discovered this unusual plant in 1860 and it was named after him in recognition of his research. Earlier than that, indigenous peoples used the core of the female plant as food - baking it in hot ashes or eating it raw. Welwitschia is referred to locally as 'Tumboa' or 'N'Tumbo' in Angola, 'Onyanga' by the Herero people (meaning 'Onion of the Desert') or Tweeblaarkanniedood in Afrikaans (meaning 'Two Leaves that Cannot Die'). DescriptionWelwitschia Mirabilis comprises of only two leaves that continue to grow from a seedling throughout its life. These leaves are leathery, broad and lie along the ground. In time these two leaves become shredded and tattered by the wind, eventually making the plant look as if it has many frayed leaves. Welwitschia is gymnosperm (gymno = naked) (sperma = seeds) and this refers to the condition of the seeds not being enclosed within the ovule as with flowering plants. Other examples of gymnosperm plants are Cycads, Yews and Conifers. Welwitshia is thought to be a living relic from the Jurassic period when gymnosperms were the dominant land plants in the age of dinosaurs. They are certainly survivors in an incredibly harsh and arid desert climate. They are able to live for hundreds of years, the estimated lifespan being 400 - 1500 years old, with some larger specimens thought to be 2000 years old. The trunk is woody and protrudes from the ground. Unlike other plants the stomata is open in foggy weather and closes when it is hot which allows it to absorb water and ensures that no moisture evaporates during the heat of the day when ground temperatures sometimes reach 65 degrees Celsius. The Welwitschia absorbs moisture from the thick fog that flows over the Namib desert, a region with an annual rainfall of less than 25mm. These amazing plants depend on this fog for enough moisture to survive. LocationThe plant in its natural environment is unique on earth. It grows only in South West Africa in the Namib Desert of Namibia and the Mossamedes desert in Southern Angola. Some of the best specimens are found in the 'Welwitschia Flats' in Namibia with one specimen rising 1.5m from the surface with a circumference at the base of over 8m, the age of which is said to be approximately 1500 years with some speculating that it was thriving as a seedling when Jesus Christ walked on earth! While it is possible to cultivate a Welwitschia out of its natural environment, why not take a trip to Namibia to see this hardy plant in its own natural garden? There is plenty more to do in Namibia and lots to see, for example the unique Fish River Canyon, the Etosha National Park and Skeleton Coast National Park as well as the variety of landscapes in the Namib Desert.
The copyright of the article Unique Desert Plants of Africa in High Desert Plants is owned by Fleur Hupston. Permission to republish Unique Desert Plants of Africa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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