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Glite Dictionary
welwitschia

welwitschia

9.9
A desert plant with a thick trunk and only two long leaves that lives for thousands of years
  • noun
  • /wɛlˈwɪtʃiə/
  • South African
translation icon : welwitschia
  • A single welwitschia can live for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest plants on Earth.

Examples

  • The welwitschia thrives in some of the harshest deserts of Namibia and Angola.

  • Scientists study the welwitschia to understand how plants adapt to extreme environments.

  • The welwitschia is a fascinating plant.

  • Have you ever seen a welwitschia in person?

  • A single welwitschia can live for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest plants on Earth.

  • The welwitschia thrives in some of the harshest deserts of Namibia and Angola.

  • Scientists study the welwitschia to understand how plants adapt to extreme environments.

Synonyms

Welwitschia mirabilis
vswelwitschia
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare desert plant from southwest Africa with a thick trunk and two long strap-like leaves that live many years

is the common or general name used instead of the formal Latin name

Compounds

genus Welwitschia
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of plants with only one type, the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis

Welwitschia mirabilis
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare desert plant from southwest Africa with a thick trunk and two long strap-like leaves that live many years

Surface Forms

welwitschia singular
welwitschias plural

Etymology

Welwitschia comes from the name Welwitsch, the plant scientist who first found this unusual desert plant, plus the plant ending -ia which means 'belonging to'. So the name reminds us that the plant was named after the person who discovered it.