welwitschia

/ wɛlˈwɪtʃɪə /

noun

1. a gymnosperm plant, Welwitschia mirabilis, of the Namib Desert in SW Africa, consisting of two large woody leaves lying on the ground with a conelike structure arising between them: phylum Gnetophyta

Word History and Origins

Origin of welwitschia¹

C19: named after F. M. J. Welwitsch (1807–72), Portuguese botanist, born in Austria

Example Sentences

In Welwitschia also the megaspore is filled with prothallus-tissue, but single egg-cells take the place of archegonia.

From Project Gutenberg

I am plodding away at Welwitschia by night and Genera Plantarum by day.

From Project Gutenberg