Feature Plants Torn to Ribbons in the Desert Botanists puzzle over one of Earth's oddest plants By Susan Milius October 23, 2001 at 8:46 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Judy Jernstedt admits that the plant she went almost halfway around the world to see looks “like a pile of trash.” A Welwitschia blooms by growing an array of cones, male only on one plant and female on another. Donoghue Tests of the carbon in this Welwitschia mirabilis show that it’s survived some 15 centuries, and it’s still going strong.
