Living BeingsCompare species
Welwitschia
Welwitschia mirabilis
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
How to compare two organisms
Choose two species and trace their closest shared group. Then compare a trait with the same definition on each side. Check the units, life stage and context before interpreting a measurement or range.
Missing data means that the collection lacks a sourced value. Where a characteristic does not apply to a lineage, the comparison labels it separately. Open the two profiles for context and follow their sources before drawing a conclusion.
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Welwitschia | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | A low, woody stem supports two long strap-like leaves. Torn leaf tips can create the impression of many leaves, although the underlying arrangement remains a pair. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Arid landscapes of the Namib region expose plants to intense sun, wind and scarce, irregular water. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | The persistent green leaves carry out photosynthesis. Water availability includes moisture in the soil; the plant should not be described as depending exclusively on direct fog absorption. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Male and female cones occur on different plants. Insects visit the reproductive structures, and winged seeds provide a means of dispersal. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Native to Namibia and Angola. Its unusual form belongs to a geographically restricted desert lineage. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Its survival strategy illustrates a distinctive response to desert conditions, rather than a plant that has stopped evolving. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | Continued growth from protected leaf bases allows the same foliage to persist despite damage at its exposed ends. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Spermatophyta.