These odd ancient conifers are wind-pollinated. They have only two leaves. This is easy to see in young plants, but the leaves get shredded by the wind into streamers in older specimens. Individual plants are either male or female, with the female plants growing cones. Various insects live on the plants. Very little else can survive here.
Moonlandscape
This badlands area was carved by the Swakop River.
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Last modified 4 November 2019