The Great Welwitschia mirabilis

Heading West towards the Atlantic Coast of Namibia to inspect one of the strangest and coolest plants of all time : Welwitschia mirabilis, technically a conifer and certainly a remnant of the Jurassic.
Most interesting, we show how the landscape changes from East to West, becoming increasingly barren and dry by the time we reach the narrow strip of land where Welwitschia grows.
Your contributions support this content. It sounds clichéd, but it's true. Whether it's travel expenses, vehicle repair, or medical costs for urushiol poisoning (or rockfalls, beestings, hand slices, toxic sap, etc), your financial support allows this content to continue so the beauty of Earth's flora can be made accessible to the rest of us in the degenerate public. At a time when so much is disappearing beneath the human footprint, CPBBD is willing to do whatever it takes to document these plant species and the ecological communities they are a part of before they're gone for good.
Plants make people feel good. Plants quell homicidal (and suicidal!) thoughts. To support Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't, consider donating a few bucks to the venmo account "societyishell" or the PayPal account email [e-mail]...
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Thanks, GFY.

[@sawarunan]

Always love this bit from the the Welwitschia Wikipedia article: "Plants in Angola are better protected than those in Namibia, because the relatively high concentration of land mines in Angola keep collectors away."

[@Mohammad__M__]

Now your giving me ideas😂 Do you know any good DIY on land mines?

[@gloverelaxis]

@@Mohammad__M__ no but you can probably hit up Henry Kissinger for some old surplus stock

[@Mohammad__M__]

@@gloverelaxis Great idea! Knowing him, as I'm on the weaker side, he'll deliver those to me himself!

[@gustavosavala9347]

Tony, you are one foul mouthed cynical heart filled with Gold. I now walk past trees, bushes, flowers, rocks and soils, with respect to their evolution. Thank you.

[@88partiesmoreharder]

"Wat a weirdo" I'm so enamored by the way you talk about these weirdos.

[@itookallthenames]

I’ve started calling plants weirdos now

[@evilsharkey8954]

I’m glad you finally got to meet your bucket list plant. It’s a shame the occasion was dampened by devastating news. I hope your kid responds well to treatment.

[@mjade1673]

What🥺 what happened

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@mjade1673 his kid has cancer

[@ZalyQQ]

"Look at those two bugs just bangin on the megastrobilus". *Zooms in*

[@chezmoi42]

Where's etsywitch? We need a remix! 🎶 Bangin' on the megastrobilus 🎵

[@pamappleby1400]

First-keeping your family in my thoughts Joey. Thank you for showing us these amazing plants, I love the weird ones almost as much as you and that Welwitschia is the top of the charts. Also thanks for answering a nagging question about what may have lived on the land mass before the continents split- that still lives on in some form today.

[@MrEiht]

You are funny...not even my sun flower behaves "normal" or is tame. My orchids demands serano ham and are bigger than an igloo. I have peyotle here which don't bother to have roots. ~6 years since the grafting stock died but they are aight without any roots...just chilling. One day I would LOVE to see a plant which is NOT wicked or teenager-like :)

[@Handles-R-Lame]

@SHIIEEEThuh? what you praying for? do you like just being on ur knees or something 🤔

[@williamharberts5514]

At last! Welwitschia. I've been waiting since the first South Africa video. That plant has to be at the top of any botanist's list of plants most unlike anything else , anywhere. Thanks for the video.

[@Meskarune]

Agree, its my fav plant

[@benjaminschwartz7616]

Namibia has an excellent petrified forest national park with knowledgeable guides that share some of the fascinating natural, geologic, and botanical history of the area.

[@lineinthesand663]

What a welcome surprise. As a Namibian, I approve of this video. BTW, the locust at 4:55 is called an armoured corn cricket. They are herbivores in youth and later become cannibalistic. When one is run over on the road, others pour out to devour them. Gondwana broke up along the S. Atlantric ~130MaBP.

[@14beans]

Thanks for the nightmares

[@SageandDust]

We have crickets in the western US that do that. Plus these 2-inch-long cannibalistic katydids called Mormon Crickets that cover the roads so thick that they cause car accidents when the cars hit a swarm and slide off the road because their guts make the road slick.

[@jerrythornton7167]

Thank you! This is 1000% more information on Welwitschia than I ever got while seeing it in person.

[@gaywizard2000]

You were just in Namibia for the food scene?

[@benjaminsnell3393]

Wishing you the best with said shitty news.. You are probably the most awesome dad in the entire world (at least one of them)

[@TheSkeletor1993]

Your vocabulary is astounding. I could watch your videos all day. Just let me grab my pocket dictionary really quick.

[@katiekane5247]

Keeping you in my thoughts Joey, nothing hurts worse than ur kid being unwell & not being able to fix it. Hope better news is coming your way. Edit: think about letting ads run folks, even if ur a Patreon supporter

[@evilsharkey8954]

Maybe click on some of them

[@gaywizard2000]

What's going on with his child? There's a child?

[@Ludvig11]

A singular donation will do much more than the few cents (or so) each ad does, so I just subscribed on the Patreon...

[@craighoover1495]

Thank you Joey for taking us to see this particular plant in it's native habitat. I got a lot out of this.

[@BDSM_ME]

got your book delivered yesterday, congrats on the book deal, great artwork, very unique.

[@greenbeecolony1911]

Good job tony your spirit is far from evil you do good brother your a good person

[@JenniferLupine]

Beautiful plant tour! Thanks for the trip to Namibia! 🌟☀⭐

[@calarbor7495]

Happy you mentioned the conservatory at UCD! It was great to see it when I went there for ecological management and restoration. Welwitschia mirabilis in the wild is a bucket list plant for me as well; however, seeing it at the conservatory will likely be the only time I see it. It’s such a neat lil weirdo.

[@john6100]

Just found this channel. Where has it been all my life!!

[@alveolate]

welwitschia is ALWAYS the craziest kid in the room - and everyone enjoys the heck out of him! and then this madlad is literally in namibia showing us a whole patch of em live :D what a hero!

[@JessHull]

Seeing a Welwitschia in its proper habitat is one of my life long dreams. I know I'll never be able to actually go see them so I've been growing them from seed. I have several that maybe close to finally throwing up some strobili. I'm in the central valley of California and they seem to do really well, as long as I protect them in the winter. One thing that really surprises people whenever they ask me for growing advice is how much water they actually need. They need a lot! especially when they're young seedlings. For about the first 6 months or so after germination they don't really tolerate drying out. So you have to keep them somewhat moist inbetween waterings. I'm so happy to see the fog they get you showed. So thank you so much for showing that. That is a part of the Welwitchia habitat not often seen/shown/discussed in some of the videos I've seen on them.

[@fantasticsituation9461]

your channel is one of my favourite things ever brother. thanks for sharing your passion and enthusiasm with the world

[@instakillgaming]

Oh. My. God. The best channel covering the best plant

[@edwincastro4284]

Love the videos. Thank you so much for bringing us so many interesting plants. Your way of putting things together your comments, love them, take care and my bes wishes.

[@cindyferguson8855]

Greetings....from the Western North Carolina Mountains....! Thanks.....that was great. I feel privileged to see a botanists "bucket list" plant..... very cool. Thanks for sharing..... (and please remember....waterfalls are healers).

[@mandoguy8789]

I've read about this plant, and I can't think of a better person to show it to me. Thank you for doing so.

[@timihobbs1992]

I like the camera close-ups of the plants and that cool insect, your voice is enjoyable, you speak clearly and I like hearing the Latin names, thanks!

[@hinerron]

The absolute best episode of Crime Pays I've ever watched. I've come back to it and watched the whole things a few times at this point I guess.

[@TraphouseTCG]

The thumbnail literally looks like a wildstyle. These goddamn plants are amazing

[@arnoldmmbb]

Yeah I was waiting for this one to come!! amazing alien looking plant

[@KeefBox]

i really enjoy your videos and adventures. and most importantly, your use of proper botanical nomenclature. Ive learned and laughed a lot. thanks

[@sacramentofoodforest]

Finding one of these in the wild is on my bucket list!! It looks like mars where you found it haha What a find man! That locus was BEEF😂

[@gaywizard2000]

Locust

[@csl110]

I'm learning so many new words. Never cared for Botany but I'm going to change that.

[@leeanncory91]

Such beautiful scenery!!

[@Mordecaithehunter]

love you Joey. Thank you for everything, always

[@terryallaway5881]

Happy I got to my bucket list plant vicariously through your efforts! Have appreciated Welwitschia since the teacher of my first botany class gave me seeds. Great video, thanks!

[@jeffhidalgo8457]

Thank you for the amazing video. Wow! What an adventure. Cheers!

[@transistor754]

Yay! VERY glad you liked the Welwitschia... knew you would appreciate it, thanks for the explanations.

[@Arelenedhel]

Been catching up on your videos and now you upload a new one. Great timing!

[@mr.infinity8409]

I still remember seeing Welwitschia on the Itchy Boots channel a while back and thinking Crime Pays needs to check those out!

[@ianpowder3187]

The episode I've been waiting for!

[@frankmacleod2565]

Amazing. Ive always been fascinated with these things. You went and saw them in the wild. Amazing

[@hbabycakes]

I hope there's some better news for you in the near future (edit: just figured out what the "expressly" poor news was, so sorry to hear that). I always love learning about plants and CPBBD is the best place for that in my personal opinion. Keep up the great work!

[@user255]

What happened?

[@hbabycakes]

His kid was just diagnosed with some sort of cancer. Sounded pretty bad, it's mentioned in the latest Sunday Morning Rash.

[@user255]

@@hbabycakes Oh man, that sucks. Thanks for the info.

[@bgbthabun627]

@@hbabycakes thanks for this info.

[@droogsurgeon1440]

Enjoyed this video pretty thoroughly. Great job on keepin me edumacated

[@purnen]

"anyone who knows this plant is pretty enthralled by it" I've finally gotten my hands on one grown from seed and im just in awe of how huge the ones in this video are........................

[@metafuel]

Take care good man. Really sorry to hear about your bad news.

[@bgiv2010]

It's like you have adventure game in real life! Thank you for this tour!

[@nllg1273]

Welwitschia being a 'bucket list' plant is such a great descriptor.

[@brianballa3086]

Love it.. Thanks for sharing..

[@Heothbremel]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ sending good vibes as needed....

[@gianniguizzunti1442]

Amazing, thanks for sharing!

[@Intervaloverdose]

Same to you and I hope you and yours are well, thanks from me and mine

[@CoinsAndCapsaicin]

That one part when you were like who the shit are you at the the beetles. I giggled.

[@winetalent]

Hope all is well with your family! I saw the title of this episode and immediately was jazzed to watch it. Saw our crazy 2 leaved plantt at the ZA Cape Town botanical gardens and was happy. Didn’t know it was at UCD but that’s where I first learned about it in Evolutionary Botany (think that’s the class). While Botany may not pay, it’s hella cool.

[@Gearmond]

One of my favorite plants that I have, through methods varying in morality, tried to grow on and off for years. Allegedly easy to care for once it's about a year old according to a guy at UC Davis who would sell seeds to fundraise

[@phoenixrising6028]

I have a huge crush on this man. Am I alone in this feeling? I doubt it.

[@bybeach4865]

An interesting environment and habitat I will never see on my own. Thank you.

[@adamvega9007]

I always prefer welwitschias to naysayers

[@urMom4sherriff]

Incredible!!

[@carlosfraile2550]

For sure the most incredible plant I’ve ever seen

[@SmarmyNarwhal]

What a bizarre plant. I never tire of seeing pictures of Welwitschia.

[@64Pete]

Cheers brother, mind blown once again. ✌🇦🇺

[@dama9150]

Thanks for bringing the wondrous weird world to us...

[@DeborahLArmstrong]

I love that you do these videos! There is so much that I wouldn't even notice if you didn't point it out!

[@Yabbagabbagool]

Been thinking about this wonderful plant ever since I heard you mention it a few years back (in a podcast?? cant remember). So glad you got to see them in habitat & treat us to some primo footage.

[@Love2Destroy]

The Welwitschia! My favorite plant

[@shaunrichardson2346]

You amazing bastard! Glad ya made it to another continent, I know youve been looking forward to it!! grats bro. hope youre feeling better.

[@davidplants]

One of the coolest videos I've ever seen

[@dougblack9638]

Yes! Was going to ask about this one!!

[@bingbongtoysKY]

👏👏👏Fantastic!

[@rockwest001]

beautiful!

[@salsung73]

I love 💕 your videos 🌵🌳🌴

[@YeszCore]

Beautiful and archaic

[@illustriouschin]

Everywhere you go it's like visiting an alien planet, so much diversity!

[@fly4ace435]

Absolutely love the book BTW.

[@chefntoast]

Bruhhhh whoodathunk my Brian ...Punk Steve Erwin modern day in the flesh, dooin da tings... well done sir🙏🏽

[@Scorponox93]

Tony wasn't lying, that plant can shaped

[@profmuthandi]

superNICE! Thanks for this video and greetings from germany

[@herbbirdsfoot]

The UC Berkeley Bot Garden has a Welwitschia growing in their arid house. The story is that about twenty years ago a volunteer decided to “trim the leaves” and cut off many, many years of growth. Oops! What an awesome plant and a cool ecosystem.

[@darinsullivan748]

very cool weird plant. this is on my bucket list to see

[@TobyJin]

Welwitschia is such a strange and unique plant, it's wonderful to see them still abundant in their natural habitat.

[@randomations11]

"Lookit that, those two bugs bangin' on the megostrobilis"

[@aacallison1535]

Working at UGA botany greenhouses was enjoyable and educational. We had a gymnosperm collection... Ephedra, Gnetum,Welwitcia. And more.

[@AndorianBlues]

Amazing plant.

[@scottgardner397]

This is my first time watching this guy. Fascinating! I got to say, is this guy from Chicago or WHAT?!

[@user-ol2mr4bx7c]

we're blessed, you still took the time give us our fix

[@williamlohrmann2021]

Amazing!! Nice to see more African stuff.

[@heavymetalhomesteading]

Can't freakin' wait to get your book. With all the drawings and whatnot.

[@EK-xz8ig]

Sending best wishes and best of luck, bought your book today.

[@jaredknapp8886]

Keeping ya in my thoughts homie.

[@lucyb15]

wow! thanks

[@diegop2311]

Love you brother✊

[@rgpark69]

Amazing stuff one of my favorites. And you seem calm. But I like a rant every once in a while. GFY

[@SolopsistSocionaut]

have a great trip!

[@ryandrest2056]

Very very very cool

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

1:50 those beautiful flowers look like little owls getting ready to take out some gnarly prey! 👀 🦉 💯🌼😎👍🌼💯

[@MrEiht]

This plant inspired me, so I say: Cell division is a blessing and a curse. It is too amazing how slows down time - any quantum guy like me has to love 'em. Einstein approved, you see?!

[@filmchild78]

This guy is amazing, instant sub

[@chezmoi42]

You're new here? Welcome. You have a world of enjoyment before you.

[@MrPedur]

wow - what a great flora. Do you have an age estimate on the huge Aloe Littoralis at 3: 25 ? Those Welwitchia are truely fantastic.

[@placidpond]

Need to make a plush toy outa that mint family flower

[@katiekane5247]

Looks like mini snowy owls inside

[@repeatdefender6032]

I love welwitschia!! I learned about it from that youtube show with Tasha the Amazon on it.