Plant Culture of Welwitschia

Birthday Star

Their leaves are evergreen, and each plant has only two pairs of leaves that are broad and flat. The widest pair was found in the Flache area and is as tall as an adult man. But how does it manage to live so long? That's right, their leaves can grow 12-14cm each year, and the leaves lie flat on the ground. Even when the wind is strong, they cannot damage the soil underneath.

Not only can it resist soil erosion caused by wind, but it can also absorb enough water with its huge surface area, which is also a necessary condition for their survival! But how can such large leaves last for a hundred years? Of course there are other reasons. First of all, this desert is close to the sea, and a large amount of sea fog can keep the leaves moist. Secondly, the roots deeply rooted in the sand can also absorb a certain amount of water, so they can stay vibrant all year round!

Leaves do not fall off

This plant has only four leaves in total, two of which are true leaves. These two leaves will not fall off, they will only grow bigger and bigger. In other words, their lifespan is the lifespan of the entire plant. Their leaves have a growth zone, and the cells nearby have a certain ability to divide and will continuously produce new tissues, so that the entire leaf will become larger and larger. In fact, their front ends are also constantly aging, and the old part has long disappeared. However, the growth zones are constantly replaced by new tissues, so we may mistakenly believe that they will not be damaged. This is the secret of why it never gets old.