Welwitschia
Welwitschia mirabilis

Family: Welwitschiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It has a taproot. It has a fat trunk. It grows 2 m tall. The trunk is dark grey and cracked. There are 2 leaves growing on either side of the trunk. They are thick and leathery. The flower is a cone. Male and female cones are on separate plants. The seeds are 7 mm long by 5 mm wide and 2 mm dep. The mature seed has wings. A female plant can have 100-200 cones each with 100 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid places. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall below 200 mm. It grows in deep soils often over limestone. It grows between 30-150 m above sea level. It can resist wind. It is resistant to drought. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Namibia, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten raw and also in vegetable dishes. The fresh green cones especially from female plants are eaten after rains by roasting in ashes or eating them raw.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed but need moisture to overcome the germination inhibitor.

It grows slowly. Plants can live for a very long time.

Its other names

Local names

Onyanga, Oyjitumbo, Wonderplant

Synonyms

Welwitschia bainesii (Hook. f.) Carr.;