Welwitschia mirabilis
Welwitschia mirabilis Hook.f.
Welwitschia mirabilis is a monotypic species in the genus Welwitschia, the sole representative of the family Welwitschiaceae. It is native to Angola and Namibia, where it is adapted to the harsh conditions of the Namib desert. The species was named after the botanist Friedrich Welwitsch and is one of three extant genera of gnetophytes, along with Gnetum and Ephedra.
Description
Welwitschia mirabilis belongs to the order Welwitschiales and is the only species in its genus. It is found in the Namib desert, where it survives in an environment characterized by high temperatures and minimal rainfall. The plant is sometimes called the tree tumbo. It was first documented in the 1850s and formally described in 1862 by Hook.f. As a gnetophyte, it represents a unique lineage within the plant kingdom and is of interest for its evolutionary distinctiveness.
Distribution
Angola · Namibia
Synonyms
Tumboa bainesiiWelwitschia bainesiiWelwitschia mirabilis subsp. mirabilisWelwitschia mirabilis subsp. namibianaTumboa strobiliferaWelwitschia namibiana