Living Fossil of the Namib Desert: The Welwitschia Plant Has Been Around for Over 200 Million Years an Can Live for Millennia
Brandberg Mountain in the northwestern Namib Desert, with Welwitschia mirabilis in the foreground. Photo: Erongoguy
Welwitschia mirabilis is renowned for its remarkable longevity. Some specimens have been estimated to be over 2,000 years old, making them some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Their slow growth rate, with an average of only 1-2 inches of leaf growth per year, contributes to their extended lifespan. Plant age is determined through radiocarbon dating due to the absence of annual rings in the species.
The plant reproduces by producing cones that contain seeds. The cones open when they are wet, releasing the seeds onto the ground. However, the conditions in the Namib Desert are not conducive to germination, and it is estimated that only one in a million seeds will successfully sprout.
Welwitschia mirabilis is renowned for its remarkable longevity. Some specimens have been estimated to be over 2,000 years old, making them some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Their slow growth rate, with an average of only 1-2 inches of leaf growth per year, contributes to their extended lifespan. Plant age is determined through radiocarbon dating due to the absence of annual rings in the species.
The plant reproduces by producing cones that contain seeds. The cones open when they are wet, releasing the seeds onto the ground. However, the conditions in the Namib Desert are not conducive to germination, and it is estimated that only one in a million seeds will successfully sprout.
Advertisements
20 February 2024
Advertisements
