Order Welwitschiales
Family Welwitschiaceae
Genus Welwitschia
Welwitschia occurs only in the area from Latitude 15 deg. S. to the Tropic of Capricorn near the west coast of SW Africa. The plant grows under extreme desert conditions where rainfall is irregular and some-times lacking for 4 or 5 years. There is only one species known as Welwitschia mirabilis.
Closeup and habit pictures of megasporangiate strobili. Pictures at the Chicago Natural History Museum.
Closeup and habit pictures of microsporangiate strobili. Pictures at the Chicago Natural History Museum.
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