African Geographic Pictures Collection
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| Image number: | 2484 |
| Feature : | Welwitschia mirabilis |
| Grouping : | desert vegetation |
| Discipline : | botany |
| Year : | 2009 |
| Locality : | Namib Desert |
| Country : | Namibia |
| Region - tribe : | Namib Desert |
| Physiographic region : | Namib Desert |
| Notice : | The Welwitschia mirabilis, considered a prehistoric plant, is found exclusively in the Namib Desert. Some protected individuals are estimated to be over 1000 years old. The welwitschia harvests water from dew drops formed during the night. It has only two leaves, which have been shredded by the wind, growing directly from its trunk. The species is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. This plant is female, and probably about 500 years old. |
| Reference : | Vandecasteele, Ine, 2009 Image 2484. In : Moeyersons, Jan : "African Geographic Pictures", http://www.africamuseum.be/de/research/collections_libraries/earth_sciences/collections/geopic" |