"Unique" is a word thrown about rather
loosely and completely inappropriately,
as of course it means "one of a kind"….
period.
Biologist believe Welwitschia mirabilis, however, deserves the title
"unique plant," as it's the last remaining plant in its genus, a claim
that if true makes it the only organism on Earth that is the last of
its order.
Mirabilis means "marvelous," which certainly doesn't describe its
looks, but would apply to its longevity. It has been around for 200
million years, coexisting with the dinosaurs. The plant is native
to only a 60-mile wide desert strip, starting about half way up the
Namibian coast and extending into lower Angola. The plant survives
in this desert climate despite a root system described as "rather
shallow and simple." Ground water and precipitation from fog keep
the plants alive for a very long time—a 1,000 years or more, with
some plants believed to be more than 2,000 years old.
Artist and photographer Rachel Sussman has photographed some
of the planet's oldest survivors, including Welwitschia in her recent
book The Oldest Things in the World.
129
LASN Marketplace, June 2014
Park
&
Recreation
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 0 9
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 0 8
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 0 7
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 1 9
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 1 8
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 2 0
I n f o r m a t i o n R e q u e s t # 3 1 7
Biologist believe Welwitschia mirabilis is the last
of its genus on earth.
photo: WIkIpedIa Commons
Last of Its Order
107-136 MP.indd 129 5/23/14 3:05 PM