Welwitschia (Noun)
Meaning
Curious plant of arid regions of southwestern Africa having a yard-high and yard-wide trunk like a turnip with a deep taproot and two large persistent woody straplike leaves growing from the base; living relic of a flora long disappeared; some may be 700-5000 years old.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The welwitschia, with its unusual strap-like leaves, has fascinated botanists for centuries due to its unique characteristics and incredible longevity.
- A visit to the Namib Desert is not complete without catching a glimpse of the remarkable welwitschia, often referred to as a 'living fossil'.
- This extraordinary plant, also known as welwitschia, is able to thrive in the harsh conditions of the arid southwestern African landscape.
- Researchers studying the welwitschia have been able to date some specimens to be as old as 5000 years, offering valuable insights into the region's past ecosystems.
- Due to its limited geographic range and extreme age, the welwitschia is considered an important conservation priority in southwestern Africa.