The Welwitschia mirabilis can be seen on the Welwitschia Drive, near Swakopmund, in the vicinity of the Petrified Forest and near Twyfelfontein and Khorixas.
The Welwitschia plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, was first observed
by Austrian botanist Friedrich Welwitsch in 1860 in the northern Namib
Desert in the southern part of Angola. The oldest living specimens are
estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000 years old. Due to the great age
of the plant, it is also known as ‘the fossil plant’, and has become
one of Namibia’s well-known attractions.
The Welwitschia is a national symbol of Namibia, appearing on the national coat of arms.
The plant grows mainly in isolated pockets from the Kuiseb River to
just south of Mossamedes in Angola. Some of the largest specimens are
found on the Welwitschia Plains in the Namib Naukluft Park, 50 km east
of Swakopmund, where the Khan and Swakop Rivers meet. In areas such as
the Petrified forest smaller specimens are found.
One of the largest plants, the Pforte Welwitschia, can be seen in this
area. It is 1,2 m high and has a diameter of slightly less than 9 m.
The Welwitschia is not a particularly attractive looking plant. Its
attraction lies in the great age that it reaches, and the magnificent
manner in which it has adapted to the very dry environment.
The stem of the Welwitschia splits in two. A wide leaf grows from the
each side of the stem of the plant. These two leaves split as they
grow, resembling many smaller leaves. The leaves are very wide and may
grow to a length of as much as 6 m. The points of the leaf furthest
from the plant die, while those areas nearest the (stem)leaf are still
green.
The plant survives in very dry conditions with less than 25 mm annual
rain and 50 mm fog and mist condensation. In order to make the best use
of the very small amount of water, the plants leaves have adapted to
gathering water in addition to water gathering by the roots. Pores on
the leaves, known as stomata, open when the fog and mist come in, and
close when it gets hotter.
The leaves of the plant have other interesting uses. They help to keep
the ground around the plant cool so that water does not evaporate as
quickly, and they also help to protect the soil from erosion.
The roots of the plant grow to a depth of 30 m. The root system also includes sponge and lateral roots.
Note: travellers should not walk to near to the Welwitschia as the lateral roots are shallow and footsteps may damage them.
The female Welwitschia has 60 – 100 cones which produce up to 10,000
seeds. The male plant produces flowers. The male plant produces pollen
from six stamens, each consisting of an anther which is the pollen sac,
and a pistil which is normally the female reproductive organ of a
plant, but in the case of the male Welwitschia, the pistil is sterile.
The male plant fertilises the female plant by wind, and with the
assistance of a little insect known as a Probergrothiussexpunctalis.
The Welwitschia is the only member of the cone-bearing group of plants
in Namibia. Another interesting fact about the Welwitschia is the fact
that although it has characteristics of an angiosperm (flowering
plant), it also has characteristics of a gymnosperm (pine-bearing
plant).
Once the seeds are fertilised, they form wing-like husks and are blown
off by the wind. Most of the seeds have very little chance of
germinating and growing.
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