Welwitschia mirabilis
July 30, 2008 by Luka
Welwitchia Mirabilis is an extraordinary plant. It can live for more than thousand years and some of them have their leaves several metres long and they never stop growing. The plant has actually only two leaves, but the wind and bad weather tear them apart into hundreds of stripes and it looks like there are several. Wikipedia has a nice article of Welwitchia if you are interested in more.
It was first discovered by an explorer and botanist Friedrich Welwitsch from Austrian empire. It is named after him although he wanted to give this plant different name – like the local people were naming it. But it was such amazing discovery that scientists named it after him. Actually Welwitsch was from Slovenian origin, his Slovenian name was Friderik Velbic and since there was no independent Slovenia at that times he was an Austrian citizen. Not a lot of people know that Welwitchia has also a Slovenian name – Velbicevka or Velbicica.
This photo was taken at Welwitchia plains, just half an hour drive out of Swakopmund. Trully amazing area! The Welwitchia on the photo is a female – almost forgot to mention:)
This blog is about my two greatest passions; photography and travelling. I want to share my experiences with as many people as possible. If you like this place, leave me a comment and show it to your friends as well! Enjoy! 
I enjoyed all the photographs on Africa , I have five little children I foster in my home in Ghana West Africa, your pictures were so good I extended the childrens time for going to bed and educated and guided them through Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania. Thoroughly enjoyed it.