welwitschia
Syllabification: (wel·wit·schi·a)
Pronunciation: /welˈwiCHēə/
Definition of welwitschia
noun
- a gymnospermous plant of desert regions in southwestern Africa that has a dwarf, massive trunk, two long strap-shaped leaves, and male and female flowers in the scales of scarlet cones. It is remarkable for its ability to extract moisture from fog.
- Genus Welwitschia, family Welwitschiaceae: one species, W. mirabilis
Origin:
mid 19th century: modern Latin, named after Friedrich Welwitsch (1806–72), Austrian botanist