{"id":1095,"date":"2020-12-16T18:51:21","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T09:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/?p=1095"},"modified":"2025-01-29T18:48:38","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T09:48:38","slug":"%e3%82%ad%e3%82%bd%e3%82%a6%e3%83%86%e3%83%b3%e3%82%ac%e3%82%a4%e3%80%80%e5%a5%87%e6%83%b3%e5%a4%a9%e5%a4%96%e3%80%80welwitschia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/?p=1095","title":{"rendered":"\u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\u3000\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u3000Welwitschia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1096\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309902.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309902.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309902-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\uff08\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\uff09\u306f\u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\u79d1\u552f\u4e00\u306e\u7a2e\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002\u30ca\u30df\u30d3\u30a2\u3068\u30a2\u30f3\u30b4\u30e9\u306b\u307e\u305f\u304c\u308b\u30ca\u30df\u30d6\u7802\u6f20\u3060\u3051\u306b\u81ea\u751f\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p><i>Welwitschia mirabilis <\/i>is the only species in the family Welwitschiaceae. It is distributed only in the Namib desert of Namibia and Angola.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1097\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309903.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309903.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309903-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306f\u3001\u767a\u82bd\u5f8c\u3001\u4e8c\u679a\u306e\u5b50\u8449\u3001\u305d\u3057\u3066\u3001\uff12\u679a\u306e\u5b50\u8449\u306e\u9593\u306e\u830e\u9802\u5206\u88c2\u7d44\u7e54\u304b\u3089\u5bfe\u751f\u3059\u308b\uff12\u679a\u306e\u672c\u8449\u3092\u5f62\u6210\u3059\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p>After germination, <em>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/em> produces two cotyledons, followed by two opposite true leaves emerging from the shoot apical meristem between the cotyledons.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1098\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309904.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309904.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309904-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\u3000\u4ed6\u306e\u7a2e\u5b50\u690d\u7269\u3068\u7570\u306a\u308a\u3001\u7b2c\u4e8c\u8449\u306f\u51fa\u306a\u3044\u3002\u7b2c\u4e00\u8449\u306b\u5e73\u884c\u306a\u4f4d\u7f6e\u306b\u3001\u830e\u9802\u5206\u88c2\u7d44\u7e54\u3092\u631f\u3080\u3088\u3046\u306b\uff12\u679a\u306e\u9c57\u7247\u4f53\u304c\u5f62\u6210\u3055\u308c\u308b(Pham and Sinha 2003)\u3002\u7b2c\u4e8c\u8449\u306f\u7b2c\u4e00\u8449\u3068\u5e73\u884c\u306b\u5f62\u6210\u3055\u308c\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306f\u7121\u3044\u306e\u3067\u3001\u9c57\u7247\u8449\u306f\u7b2c\u4e8c\u8449\u3068\u76f8\u540c\u3067\u306f\u306a\u3044\u3002\u9c57\u7247\u8449\u304c\u4ed6\u306e\u690d\u7269\u306e\u3069\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306a\u5668\u5b98\u3068\u76f8\u540c\u306a\u306e\u304b\u3001\u3069\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306a\u767a\u751f\u6a5f\u69cb\u306b\u3088\u3063\u3066\u751f\u3058\u3001\u9032\u5316\u3057\u305f\u306e\u304b\u306f\u308f\u304b\u3063\u3066\u3044\u306a\u3044(Pham and Sinha 2003)\u3002<\/p>\n<p>Unlike other seed plants, <em>Welwitschia<\/em> does not produce a second pair of leaves. Instead, two scale-like structures form parallel to the first leaves, flanking the shoot apical meristem (Pham and Sinha 2003). Since the second leaves of other plants do not develop parallel to the first pair, these scale leaves are not homologous to the second leaves. It remains unclear to which structures in other plants the scale leaves are homologous, as well as the developmental mechanisms that generate them and their evolutionary origin (Pham and Sinha 2003).<\/p>\n<p>Pham, T., and Sinha, N. (2003). Role of Knox genes in shoot development of Welwitschia mirabilis. Int. J. Plant Sci. <i>164<\/i>, 333\u2013343.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1099\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309905.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309905.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309905-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\u3000\u4e8c\u679a\u306e\u8449\u306f1\u65e5\u3042\u305f\u308a0.37 mm\u7a0b\u5ea6\u4f38\u9577\u3059\u308b(Henschel and Seely 2000)\u306e\u3067\u3001\u5e74\u9593135 mm\u304f\u3089\u3044\u8449\u304c\u4f38\u3073\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306b\u306a\u308b\u3002\u8449\u306e\u5148\u306f\u5f90\u3005\u306b\u67af\u308c\u7e26\u306b\u88c2\u3051\u308b\u3002\u8449\u306e\u751f\u304d\u305f\u90e8\u5206\u304c2.5 m\u306b\u3082\u9054\u3059\u308b\u500b\u4f53\u3082\u3042\u308b\u3002\u8449\u5148\u304c\u67af\u308c\u3066\u3044\u304f\u306e\u3067\u3001\u4f55\u5e74\u304f\u3089\u3044\u751f\u304d\u3066\u3044\u308b\u304b\u306f\u4e0d\u660e\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p>The two leaves extend at a rate of approximately 0.37 mm per day (Henschel and Seely 2000), resulting in an annual growth of about 135 mm. The leaf tips gradually wither and split longitudinally. In some individuals, the living portion of the leaves can reach up to 2.5 meters in length. Since the leaf tips continuously wither, the exact lifespan of the leaves remains unknown.<\/p>\n<p>Henschel, J.R., and Seely, M.K. (2000). Long-term growth patterns of <i>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/i>, a long-lived plant of the Namib Desert (including a bibliography). Plant Ecology, pp. 7\u201326.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1100\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309906.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309906.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309906-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\u3000<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1101\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309907.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309907.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309907-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u30ca\u30df\u30d6\u7802\u6f20\u306b\u751f\u3048\u308b\u30d2\u30e6\u79d1\u3084\u30cf\u30de\u30d3\u30b7\u79d1\u306e\u690d\u7269\u306f\u584a\u72b6\u306b\u306a\u3063\u3066\u751f\u3048\u308b\u3002\u3053\u306e\u5f62\u614b\u306f\u3001\u671d\u306e\u6e7f\u5ea6\u306e\u9ad8\u3044\u7a7a\u6c17\u304b\u3089\u6c34\u5206\u3092\u5438\u53ce\u3059\u308b\u306e\u306b\u9069\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u306a\u3044\u3002\u3057\u304b\u3057\u3001\u305d\u308c\u305e\u308c\u306e\u30d1\u30c3\u30c1\u304c\u7e4b\u304c\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306a\u304f\u3001\u5c0f\u3055\u306a\u584a\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3001\u96e2\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u306f\u3069\u3046\u3057\u3066\u306a\u306e\u3060\u308d\u3046\u304b\u3002<\/p>\n<p>In the Namib Desert, plants of the families Amaranthaceae and Zygophyllaceae grow in compact clumps. This growth form may help them absorb moisture from the humid morning air. However, it remains unclear why these patches do not merge into larger clusters and instead remain as small, isolated clumps.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1102\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309908.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309908.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309908-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306f\u7802\u6f20\u306b\u3070\u3089\u3070\u3089\u3068\u751f\u3048\u3066\u304a\u308a\u3001\u4ed6\u306e\u7802\u6f20\u690d\u7269\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306b\u3001\u30af\u30e9\u30f3\u30d7\u72b6\u306b\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p><i>Welwitschia<\/i>\u00a0plants are also sparsely dispersed in the Namib desert, and form clumps.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1103\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309909.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309909.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309909-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u3053\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306a\u3053\u3093\u3082\u308a\u3057\u305f\u5f62\u614b\u306f\u9727\u304b\u3089\u6c34\u5206\u3092\u53d6\u308b\u306e\u306b\u9069\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002\u3057\u304b\u3057\u306a\u304c\u3089\u3001\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306fC3\u690d\u7269\u3067\u65e5\u4e2d\u306b\u6c17\u5b54\u3092\u958b\u3044\u3066\u5149\u5408\u6210\u3092\u884c\u3046\u305f\u3081\u00a0(vonWillert et al. 1982; Eller et al. 1983)\u3001\u6bce\u65e51\u30ea\u30c3\u30c8\u30eb\u306e\u6c34\u3092\u84b8\u6563\u306b\u3088\u3063\u3066\u5931\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b(Eller et al. 1983, Henschel and Seely 2000)\u3002\u9727\u3060\u3051\u304b\u30891\u30ea\u30c3\u30c8\u30eb\u306e\u6c34\u3092\u3068\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306f\u3067\u304d\u308b\u3060\u308d\u3046\u304b\u3002\u91d1\u5c5e\u88fd\u306e\uff11\u5e73\u65b9\u30e1\u30fc\u30c8\u30eb\u306e\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306e\u6a21\u578b\u3092\u4f5c\u3063\u3066\u9727\u304b\u3089\u5f97\u3089\u308c\u308b\u6c34\u3092\u8a08\u6e2c\u3059\u308b\u30681\u65e5\u5f53\u305f\u308a6.5 ml\u3057\u304b\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f\uff08Henschel et al. 1998\uff09\u3002\u3053\u306e\u3053\u3068\u304b\u3089\u3001\u6b8b\u308a\u306e\u6c34\u306f\u6839\u306b\u3088\u3063\u3066\u5730\u4e2d\u304b\u3089\u5438\u53ce\u3055\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3053\u3068\u306b\u306a\u308b (Henschel and Seely 2000)\u3002\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306f\u666e\u901a\u306e\u690d\u7269\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306b\u3001\u5730\u4e2d\u306e\u6c34\u5206\u306b\u4f9d\u5b58\u3057\u3001\u3057\u304b\u3082\u3001\uff11\u65e51\u30ea\u30c3\u30c8\u30eb\u8fd1\u304f\u3082\u306e\u6c34\u3092\u6839\u304b\u3089\u5438\u53ce\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p>This compact growth form is well-suited for capturing moisture from fog. However, <em>Welwitschia <\/em>is a C\u2083 plant that opens its stomata during the day for photosynthesis (von Willert et al. 1982; Eller et al. 1983) and loses approximately one liter of water daily through transpiration (Eller et al. 1983; Henschel and Seely 2000). Can it obtain this much water solely from fog?<\/p>\n<p>When researchers constructed a one-square-meter metal model of <em>Welwitschia<\/em> to measure water collection from fog, it yielded only 6.5 ml per day (Henschel et al. 1998). This finding indicates that the remaining water must be absorbed from the ground through its roots (Henschel and Seely 2000). Thus, <em>Welwitschia<\/em> relies on underground water like typical plants and absorbs nearly one liter of water per day through its roots.<\/p>\n<p>Eller, B. M., von Willert, D. J., Brinckmann, E. &amp; Baasch, R. 1983. Ecophysiological studies on Welwitschia mirabilis in the Namib desert. South Afr. J. Bot. 2: 209\u2013223.<\/p>\n<p>Henschel, J.R., and Seely, M.K. (2000). Long-term growth patterns of <i>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/i>, a long-lived plant of the Namib Desert (including a bibliography). Plant Ecology, pp. 7\u201326.<\/p>\n<p>Henschel, J. R., Mtuleni, V., Gruntkowski, N., Seely, M. K. &amp; Shanyengana, S. E. 1998. Namfog: Namibian Application of Fog-Collecting Systems, Phase I: Evaluation of Fog-Water Harvesting. Occasional Paper No.8, Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, Gobabeb, 62 pp.<\/p>\n<p>von Willert, D. J., Eller, B. M., Brinckmann, E. and Baasch, R. 1982. CO2 gas exchange and transpiration of Welwitschia mirabilis Hook. fil. in the central Namib desert. Oecologia 55: 21\u201329.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1104\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309910.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309910.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309910-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306f\u7802\u6f20\u4e00\u9762\u306b\u3070\u3089\u3070\u3089\u3068\u751f\u3048\u3066\u3044\u308b\u308f\u3051\u3067\u306f\u306a\u3044\u3002<\/p>\n<p><em>Welwitschia <\/em>does not grow scattered randomly across the entire desert.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1105\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309911.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309911.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309911-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u7dda\u72b6\u306b\u4e26\u3093\u3067\u751f\u3048\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3088\u3046\u306b\u898b\u3048\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p>It appears to grow in linear formations.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1106\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309912.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309912.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309912-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u30ca\u30df\u30d6\u7802\u6f20\u306b\u306f\u5e74\u9593\u3001\u5e73\u5747\u306716.2 +\/- 16.9 mm \u306e\u96e8\u3057\u304b\u964d\u3089\u306a\u3044\u3002\u6771\u4eac\u306e1\/100\u4ee5\u4e0b\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002\u3057\u304b\u3057\u300150\u5e74\u306b\u4e00\u5ea6\u307b\u306925\u500d\u4ee5\u4e0a\u306e\u96e8\u304c\u964d\u308b\u5e74\u304c\u3042\u308a\u3001\u964d\u3063\u305f\u96e8\u304c\u5ddd\u3068\u306a\u308b\u3002\u305d\u306e\u5ddd\u306e\u7e01\u3084\u5ddd\u5e95\u306b\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306f\u751f\u3048\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002<\/p>\n<p>The Namib Desert receives an average annual rainfall of only 16.2 \u00b1 16.9 mm, less than one-hundredth of Tokyo&#8217;s rainfall. However, approximately once every 50 years, rainfall can exceed 25 times the average, forming temporary rivers. <em>Welwitschia<\/em>\u00a0grows along the edges and beds of these rivers.<\/p>\n<p>Henschel, J.R., and Seely, M.K. (2000). Long-term growth patterns of <i>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/i>, a long-lived plant of the Namib Desert (including a bibliography). Plant Ecology, pp. 7\u201326.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1272\" style=\"width: 2510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1272\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1272 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/4.3.Pinales.jpg\" alt=\"seeds of Welwitschia\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1875\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1272\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u96cc\u682a\u306f\u6bce\u5e741\u4e07\u304b\u3089\uff12\u4e07\u306e\u7ffc\u72b6\u306b\u5e83\u304c\u3063\u305f\u5c0f\u82de\u306b\u88ab\u308f\u308c\u305f\u7a2e\u5b50\u3092\u5f62\u6210\u3059\u308b\uff08Bornman 1978; Bustard 1990\uff09\u304c\u3001\u7a2e\u5b50\u304c\u767a\u82bd\u3059\u308b\u306b\u306f\u300112.5 mm\u306e\u96e8\u30683\u304b\u308921\u65e5\u9593\u6e7f\u3089\u305b\u3066\u304a\u304f\u5fc5\u8981\u304c\u3042\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u77e5\u3089\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b(Bornman et al. 1972)\u3002\u5f93\u3063\u3066\u300150\u5e74\u306b\u4e00\u5ea6\u306e\u5927\u96e8\u306e\u5e74\u4ee5\u5916\u306f\u3001\u307b\u3068\u3093\u3069\u306e\u7a2e\u5b50\u306f\u767a\u82bd\u3067\u304d\u306a\u3044\u3068\u8003\u3048\u3089\u308c\u3066\u3044\u308b (Henschel and Seely 2000)\u3002<\/p>\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 whitespace-normal break-words text-start [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"b4630c58-1139-4471-99c4-d916912e4828\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-4o-mini\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[3px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light\">\n<p>A female plant produces between 10,000 and 20,000 seeds each year and each seed is covered by fused bracteoles (Bornman 1978; Bustard 1990). However, it is known that the seeds require at least 12.5 mm of rainfall and 3 to 21 days of moisture to germinate (Bornman et al. 1972). Therefore, it is believed that most seeds cannot germinate except in the rare years of heavy rainfall that occur once every 50 years (Henschel and Seely 2000).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Bornman, C. H. 1972. Welwitschia: paradox of a parched paradise. C. Struik Publishers, Cape Town<\/p>\n<p>Bustard, L. 1990. The ugliest plant of the world: the story of <i>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/i>. Kew Magazine 7: 85\u201390.<\/p>\n<p>Henschel, J.R., and Seely, M.K. (2000). Long-term growth patterns of <i>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/i>, a long-lived plant of the Namib Desert (including a bibliography). Plant Ecology, pp. 7\u201326.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1108\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309914.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309914.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309914-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u6bce\u5e74\u3067\u304d\u308b1\u4e07\u304b\u3089\uff12\u4e07\u306e\u7a2e\u5b50\u306e\u307b\u3068\u3093\u3069\u306f\u30af\u30ed\u30b3\u30a6\u30b8\u30ab\u30d3\u306b\u611f\u67d3\u3055\u308c\u6b7b\u3093\u3067\u3057\u307e\u3046(Bornman et al. 1972, \u00a0van Jaarsveld 1992, Whitaker et al. 2008)\u3002\u30af\u30ed\u30b3\u30a6\u30b8\u30ab\u30d3\u306e\u80de\u5b50\u306f\u53d7\u7c89\u6ef4\u3092\u901a\u3057\u3066\u7a2e\u5b50\u306b\u53d6\u308a\u8fbc\u307e\u308c\u305f\u308a\u3001\u7a2e\u5b50\u3084\u80de\u5b50\u56a2\u7a42\u3092\u6355\u98df\u3059\u308b<i>Probergrothius<\/i> <i>sexpunctatis<\/i> \u306b\u3088\u3063\u3066\u5a92\u4ecb\u3055\u308c\u308b\uff08Whitaker et al. 2008)\u3002<\/p>\n<p>Most of the 10,000 to 20,000 seeds produced each year are infected by <em>Aspergillus<\/em> mold and die (Bornman et al. 1972; van Jaarsveld 1992; Whitaker et al. 2008). The spores of <em>Aspergillus<\/em> are taken up by the seeds through pollination droplets or are transmitted by <em>Probergrothius sexpunctatis<\/em>, which preys on the seeds or spore capsules (Whitaker et al. 2008).<\/p>\n<p>Bornman, C. H. 1972. Welwitschia mirabilis: paradox of the Namib Desert. Endeavour 31 (113): 95\u201399.<\/p>\n<p>van Jaarsveld, E. 1992. Welwitschia mirabilis in cultivation at Kirstenbosch. Veld &amp; Flora 12: 119\u2013121.<\/p>\n<p>Whitaker, C., Pammenter, N.W., and Berjak, P. (2008). Infection of the cones and seeds of Welwitschia mirabilis by Aspergillus niger var. phoenicis in the Namib-Naukluft Park. South African J. Bot. <i>74<\/i>, 41\u201350.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1109\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309915.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309915.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309915-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u767a\u82bd\u5f8c\u3001\u6839\u306f1\u65e55\u304b\u308910 mm\u306e\u901f\u3055\u3067\u4f38\u9577\u3057\u30018\u30f6\u6708\u30671 m\u306b\u3082\u306a\u308b (Butler et al. 1973, Eller et al. 1983, von Willert 1994) \u30021934\u5e74\u304b\u30891935\u5e74\u306b\u304b\u3051\u3066\u5927\u96e8\u304c\u8a18\u9332\u3055\u308c\u3066\u304a\u308a\u30011987\u5e74\u306b\u306f\u96e8\u306e\u3042\u30686\u30f6\u6708\u6c34\u5206\u304c\u7dad\u6301\u3055\u308c\u305f\u5e74\u304c\u3042\u3063\u305f\uff08Henschel and Seely 2000)\u306e\u3067\u3001\u6570\u5341\u5e74\u306b\u4e00\u5ea6\u304f\u3089\u3044\u306e\u5927\u96e8\u306e\u964d\u308b\u5e74\u306b\u306f\u3001\u96e8\u6c34\u306e\u6d41\u8def\u306e\u5468\u8fba\u3067\u306f\u6570\u30f6\u6708\u6c34\u5206\u304c\u7dad\u6301\u3055\u308c\u3001\u3053\u306e\u9593\u306b\u3046\u307e\u304f\u767a\u82bd\u3057\u3001\u3055\u3089\u306b\u6839\u304c\u5730\u4e2d\u306e\u6e7f\u3063\u305f\u5c64\u306b\u5230\u9054\u3067\u304d\u305f\u500b\u4f53\u3060\u3051\u304c\u751f\u304d\u6b8b\u308c\u308b\u306e\u3060\u308d\u3046\uff08Henschel and Seely 2000)\u3002 \u5199\u771f\u306e\u500b\u4f53\u306f\u8449\u306e\u9577\u3055\u304c30 cm\u7a0b\u5ea6\u3067\u4ed6\u306e\u500b\u4f53\u3088\u308a\u3082\u5c0f\u3055\u304b\u3063\u305f\u306e\u3067\u3001\u6700\u8fd1\u306e\u5927\u96e8\u306b\u3088\u3063\u3066\u767a\u82bd\u3057\u305f\u3082\u306e\u304b\u3082\u3057\u308c\u306a\u3044\u3002<\/p>\n<p>After germination, the roots grow at a rate of 5 to 10 mm per day and can reach 1 meter in length within 8 months (Butler et al. 1973; Eller et al. 1983; von Willert 1994). There was a record of heavy rainfall between 1934 and 1935, and in 1987, moisture was maintained for six months after rainfall (Henschel and Seely 2000). Therefore, in years with heavy rainfall occurring once every several decades, moisture is likely to be maintained for several months along the channels where rainwater flows. During this time, only the plants that successfully germinate and reach the moist underground layers with their roots are able to survive (Henschel and Seely 2000). The individual in the photo, which has leaves approximately 30 cm long and is smaller than others, may have germinated following recent heavy rainfall.<\/p>\n<p>Henschel, J.R., and Seely, M.K. (2000). Long-term growth patterns of <i>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/i>, a long-lived plant of the Namib Desert (including a bibliography). Plant Ecology, pp. 7\u201326.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1110\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309916.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309916.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309916-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1111\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309917.jpeg\" alt=\"Welwitschia \u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309917.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/\u30b9\u30e9\u30a4\u30c8\u309917-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306f\u6bce\u5e74\u7121\u99c4\u306b\u7a2e\u3092\u4f5c\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002\u3057\u304b\u3057\u3001\u5927\u96e8\u306f\u6570\u5341\u5e74\u306b\uff11\u56de\u3001\u4e88\u5146\u7121\u304f\u6765\u308b\u3002\u4e88\u5146\u304c\u7121\u3044\u306e\u3067\u3001\u7121\u99c4\u306b\u306a\u3063\u3066\u3082\u3001\u6bce\u5e74\u7a2e\u3092\u4f5c\u308a\u7d9a\u3051\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3001\u6570\u5341\u5e74\u306b\uff11\u5ea6\u306e\u5927\u96e8\u306e\u5e74\u3092\u9003\u3055\u306a\u3044\u6709\u52b9\u306a\u624b\u6bb5\u306a\u306e\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u306e\u751f\u304d\u65b9\u306f\u57fa\u790e\u79d1\u5b66\u306b\u4f3c\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002\u3044\u3064\u6210\u529f\u3059\u308b\u304b\u308f\u304b\u3089\u306a\u3044\u3051\u3069\u6bce\u5e74\u6bce\u5e74\u7814\u7a76\u3092\u7d9a\u3051\u3001\u3042\u308b\u3068\u304d\u3001\u5076\u7136\u3001\u5927\u767a\u898b\u3078\u3068\u7e4b\u304c\u308b\u3002\u4e00\u898b\u7121\u99c4\u306b\u898b\u3048\u308b\u3088\u3046\u306a\u6bce\u5e74\u6bce\u5e74\u306e\u7814\u7a76\u3092\u7d9a\u3051\u3066\u3044\u308b\u304b\u3089\u3053\u305d\u3001\u4e88\u671f\u305b\u306c\u5927\u767a\u898b\u306b\u5099\u3048\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3067\u304d\u308b\u3093\u3058\u3083\u306a\u3044\u3060\u308d\u3046\u304b\u3002\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\u304c\u3068\u3066\u3082\u3044\u3068\u304a\u3057\u304f\u601d\u3048\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n<p><em>Welwitschia mirabilis<\/em> produces seeds every year, seemingly in vain. However, heavy rains occur only once every few decades, without warning. Since there is no way to predict when the rains will come, continuing to produce seeds every year is the effective way to ensure survival during those rare years of abundant rainfall. In this way, the life of <em>Welwitschia<\/em> mirrors that of basic scientific research. While success is uncertain, researchers continue their work year after year, and sometimes, by chance, a breakthrough occurs. It is through these seemingly insignificant efforts that we are prepared for unexpected discoveries. In this sense, I find <em>Welwitschia<\/em> deeply endearing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\uff08\u5947\u60f3\u5929\u5916\uff09\u306f\u30ad\u30bd\u30a6\u30c6\u30f3\u30ac\u30a4\u79d1\u552f\u4e00\u306e\u7a2e\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3002\u30ca\u30df\u30d3\u30a2\u3068\u30a2\u30f3\u30b4\u30e9\u306b &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/?p=1095\">\u7d9a\u304d\u3092\u8aad\u3080 <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[30,183,117],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1095"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1095"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1274,"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1095\/revisions\/1274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.nibb.ac.jp\/plantdic\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}