This tangled mess of tattered and withered leaves has been called one of the ugliest plants in the world.
While it certainly isnt pretty, it definitely is one of the most remarkable members of the Plant Kingdom.
Welwitschia mirabilisgrows only in the arid deserts of Namibia and Angola.
The pair of leaves are the original baby leaves it grew when the plant was a seedling.
Many of these plants are over 1,000 years old.
Welwitschia mirablilis, the most remarkable plant, looks like a mess.
Photo credit:Hans Hillewaert/Wikimedia
Welwitschia mirablilisis a very lonely plant.
Over time, all of its relatives slowly disappeared, butWelwitschiaremained.
The leaves grow an average 8 to 15 centimeter per year.
Some of the largest specimens can be 4 meters across.
Because of the dependence on fog, the plant is seldom found more than 100 km from the coast.
The plant also provides shade to snakes and lizards.
In recent years,Welwitschiahas become increasingly important as a tourist attraction.
A youngWelwitschia mirablilisplant in Liberec botanical garden, Czech Republic.
Photo credit:Petr Kosina/Flickr
The female flowers of theWelwitschia mirablilis.
Photo credit:Petr Kosina/Flickr
The female cones of theWelwitschia mirablilis.
Photo credit:Richard Droker/Flickr
Photo credit:Petr Kosina/Flickr
Photo credit:jbdodane/Flickr
Sources:www.kew.org/www.plantzafrica.com/www.krugerpark.co.za/www.llifle.com
