Welwitschia mirabilis Hook.f. belongs to the Welwitschiaceae family. Flora of the World contains 4 recorded occurrences of this taxon, distributed across 3 countries.
Welwitschia mirabilis--South Africa. Cape Province. Stellenbosch B. G. 21 Nov. 02. 042.jpg
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Gnetopsida
Order
Welwitschiales
Family
Welwitschiaceae
Genus
Welwitschia
Specific Epithet
mirabilis
Authorship
Hook.f.
Source
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
What is EDGE?
Evolutionary distinctiveness
Very high
ED 114.6
Among the most evolutionarily isolated plants known — losing it erases an irreplaceable branch of the plant tree of life.
Threat status
Not evaluated
EDGE score
39.3
Global rank
#4 of 1,090
Top 100 globally
This lineage appears to have diverged from its closest living relatives roughly 115 million years ago — a long, lonely branch of the plant tree of life.
Source: Gymnosperms EDGE assessment →Location
South Africa, Western Cape (Stellenbosch University Botanic Garden)
Location Remarks
Van Riebeeck St., Stellenbosch 7600
Collectors
No collectors specified
Location
Namibia, Opuwo District, Kunene Region
-19.260028, 13.877306
Location Remarks
Location withheld.
Collectors
Leevi Nanyeni, Christopher Davidson, Sharon R. Christoph, Christopher Dalzell
Notes
Healthy population of both genders with many small and medium-sized plants, no large individuals. The hemipteran insect is Probergrothius angolensis (Pyrrhocoridae), often associated with Welwitschia. Sometimes credited with pollen transfer, its functional role is in doubt.
Location
United States, Illinois (Garfield Park Conservatory)
Location Remarks
300 N. Central Park, between 5th Ave. & Carroll Ave., Chicago
Collectors
No collectors specified
Location
Namibia, Khoraxis District, Erongo Region
-22.077278, 15.240917
Location Remarks
C. 41 km southwest of Usakos on Highway B2. 1064 m elev.
Collectors
Leevi Nanyeni, Christopher Davidson, Sharon R. Christoph, Christopher Dalzell
Notes
Many large individuals, few if any small ones. Coordinates withheld.
