DR. J. D. HOOKER ON WELWITSCHIA. 5 
Again, since the receipt of the specimens mentioned in this letter, I received, only 
ten days ago, a further supply from the same indefatigable correspondent, consisting 
of four very large specimens of a much shorter obconic form than any heretofore received, 
and with the terminal lobes greatly dilated, much divided, and almost erect, so that the 
crown of the plant, with its dark rugose ridges, bears a fanciful resemblance to the open 
mouth and palate of some monstrous animal ; these I have had figured at Plate V. figs. 1-4. 
I have also to acknowledge the receipt of a very fine Damara Land specimen (Plate V. 
fig. 5) from Mr. C. J. Andersson, the same gentleman who forwarded the cones and 
drawing from Mr. Baines, and through whom Sir W. Hooker had written to Mr. 
Baines, begging him to procure some more specimens with as little delay as possible, and 
to favour him with any information about their habits and habitat. Mr. Baines being 
absent, this letter was answered by Mr. Andersson himself, and I have now the pleasure 
of laying its interesting contents before the Society. 
“To Sir William Hooker. 
“ Damara Land, Otjim Cingué, February 12th, 1862. 
“Sir,—Mr. J. Logier, of Cape Town, forwarded to me lately a letter from you to Mr. Thos. Baines, 
artist, now travelling in the interior of these parts. As Mr. Logier correctly conjectured that his friend 
would not just now be within hail, he requested me to peruse the letter in question, in hopes of my being 
able to throw some light on the subject of your inquiries. It is on the strength of this that I now 
address you. 
“The plant sent you by Mr. Baines from Damara Land, and which seems so much to have awakened 
your curiosity, is, I think, well known to me. Indeed, it is so peculiar as scarcely to be mistaken even 
by the rudest description. In the first instance, it is only found in one single locality—that is, as regards 
Damara Land—which locality is exceedingly circumscribed. It grows moreover in sandy soil, and 
luxuriates when it can find a few stones where to fix its extraordinary tap-root, penetrating often several 
feet deep; so that it is, indeed, a work of labour and patience to extract one single plant. I have been 
thus occupied more than an hour, and even then I have come away with only a portion of the root. It 
has ‘leaves’ of a dark-green colour, of which several spring from the same stem or root, spreading and 
curling along the ground. They will tear into innumerable shreds, each of which is exceedingly strong 
and tenacious; they are straight-grained—that is, you can tear them from top to bottom without deviating 
a single line from a straight course ; and they attain sometimes a length of several feet. A small portion 
towards the points, and sometimes the sides, will be found slightly withered; in other respects they 
might almost be considered evergreen. The plant has cones. The root is usually found flush with the 
surface, or just rising an inch or two above it, the soi-disant leaves springing immediately from it. 
“Rain rarely or never falls where this plant exists*. I have crossed and recrossed Damara Land 
throughout its entire length and breadth, but only found the plant growing on that desperately arid flat 
stretching far and wide about Waalvisch Bay, or between the 22nd and 23rd degrees of S. lat. It is most 
full wine-skin. I was told that Dr. Welwitsch pronounced it to be a great curiosity: it is called by the Portuguese, 
from its appearance, ‘ Odres.’ Some of them could not have weighed less than a ton. I have here with me two young 
plants in a flourishing condition, as well as another plant brought by a Portuguese trader from the Gambos country 
in the far interior, on account of the wonderful medicinal virtues of its milky juice. It bears most curious unsymme- 
trical little flowers. These, as well as several other botanical curiosities, I shall forward as soon as your climate allows 
them a warmer welcome.” 
* Mr. Galton informs me that, though no rain ever falls, the night dews are so heavy that a small party of men, 
residing on the coast, is supplied thereby with water throughout the year. 
