The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-04-11
The Table Tree OF Western Africa.


About 1000 miles north from the
Cape of Good Hope, on the western
side of Africa, there is an extensive dis
frlct OF sterile country, extending north
ward to the Portuguese settlement Of
rBenguela. These regions are almost,
ifn altogether, rainless. Heavy dews
fall at night, and supply the little moist
nre required for the scanty vegetation,
which consists of few plants especial
ly fitted by their organization to endure
the continuous rays of the tropical sun.
These plants, from the thickness of the
skin which covers their leaves, and the
structure of their stomates, are able to
retain the little moisture they require
for the necessities of their lie
Among the few plants scattered over
these arid, sandy plains is one which is
properly called Mirabilis, as it is one Of
the most wonderful plants anywhere to
DE found on the surface of the earth.
1t was discovered IN the year 1860 by
the eminent scientific traveller DR..
Welwitsch, whose name has been assO-
ciated with it by DIR. Hooker, III COM
memoration of his successful botanical
explorations III Central Africa.
The Welwitschia is tree which lives
Tor many years, some specimens being
estimated by their discoverer as at least
100 years old, and which every year OF
its life increases in size, yet never grows
higher. Rising just above the ground,
this strange plant, looking like rough,
roundish table, regularly enlarges by
adding concentric layers to its circum
ference.
The fiat upper surface of the trunk
) is very hard and dark, resembling III
color and texture the crust of an over
baked loaf. In shape it is a somewhat
compressed disk with more or less deep
groove through the center Of its long
est diameter, dividing it into two lobes.
J Each new ridge or concentric layer sup
ports large number of fruits in the
form of beautifully regular and bright
scarlet cones, somewhat resembling the
fruits of the fir tree of our forests, to
which the Welwitschia, though so diff
ferent in aspect. has close affinity.
Sometimes, in old plants, the margins
of the lobes are much split. The trunk
attains a size of from fourteen to
eighteen feet in circumference, but is
never more than few inches above the
ground, and gradually tapers down
ward, forming Il large top-root. pene-
trating several feet into the ground.
When young plant springs from tie
seed, it sends up two small green
leaves, resembling the seed leaves OF
the oak or beech. Instead of falling
off, as 10 the leaves of most other
plants, they are retained. 1t never
loses these first leaves, and nevergets
any more. The plant is really an in'
FAINT tree. attaining the age of 100
years, yet never getting rid Of its early
imperfect condition. The leaves rise
from two deep grooves in the margin OF
the trunk, one spr,nglng from each
lobe. They increase in size from veal
to year with the growth of the plant,
until they attain length Of six feet OF
more They are quite flat. leathery
long, and frequently split into numer
ous straps, that lie curling upon the
= surface Of the barren soil. A less in
viting landscape can scarcely be i'm
ag.ned than the sandy desert, sparsely
covered with short, dry grass, ano
scattered specimens of this extraordi
nary plant, looking more like the re
mains of some forest cleared by the
settler than collection Of living, grow
ing plants. When covered with it'
bright scarlet cones, it relieves some
what the monotony of the scene. Will
all it's peculiarities, and, indeed, chief,
because of them, the Nelwltschla i
singularly adopted to the physical con
ditions under which it lives.