Cereus-validus schreef
Welwitschia is indeed a tree in the botanical sense of the word.

********
Not in any botany book I ever saw.
You confusing your 'Gardener's World' (or whatever it is called) for the
ultimate authority on botany again?
PvR

You should go to the library more often. You might actually learn something
new! You can't get all your info from reading old copies of "Organic
Gardening", babe!!

You must never have actually read anything on Welwitschia itself and all
your info is second-hand innuendo.


"P van Rijckevorsel" wrote in message
...
Cereus-validus schreef
Welwitschia is indeed a tree in the botanical sense of the word.

********
Not in any botany book I ever saw.
You confusing your 'Gardener's World' (or whatever it is called) for the
ultimate authority on botany again?
PvR

Not in any botany book I ever saw.

How about Trees of Southern Africa by Palgrave?
And another book of the same name by Palmer & Pitman. The reason you don't
often see it descibed in serious botanical books is that once the botanist
starts writing about it, he can't stop laughing.

Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

Iris Cohen schreef
How about Trees of Southern Africa by Palgrave?

***
Touché! Point to you.

Not that you would recognise a tree from reading their description of
Welwitschia mirabilis. Maybe they just wanted an excuse to include this
oddity.
*****

And another book of the same name by Palmer & Pitman. The reason you don't
often see it descibed in serious botanical books is that once the botanist
starts writing about it, he can't stop laughing.

***
Actually Welwitschia is in lots of botany books, but never* described as a
tree. Reading a description of Welwitschia by a German botanist I don't
sense any laughter (with the author), but only a yawn (rising within
myself).
PvR

* Excepting the mentioned books

Not that you would recognise a tree from reading their description of
Welwitschia mirabilis.

OK. I have given several reasons why Welwitschia is a tree:
1. It is a conifer, in a group where almost all its relatives are trees.
2. It has a single definite woody trunk.
3. It has leaves coming out of the top.
4. It is a perennial.

Incidentally, besides pictures, I have met them personally.
Now tell me why Welwitschia is *not* a tree.

Reading a description of Welwitschia by a German botanist I don't sense any
laughter

German botanists don't count. Do any of them have a sense of humor? (I know one
personally, although he was born in Belgium.)
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

Reading a description of Welwitschia by a German botanist I don't sense any
laughter

German botanists don't count. Do any of them have a sense of humor? (I know one
personally, although he was born in Belgium.)

This reminded me of a couple of things. Firstly, when I was in the US
some years ago, I noticed that all our old Irish jokes were told about
Poles. Presumably because the Irish have rather more influence over
there than they do here.

Secondly, some years ago I mentioned the Scottish characteristic of
parsimony (as seen by most of the rest of the world). This was
challenged by a Dutchman who pointed out that while the Scots had the
reputation, it was the Dutch who had the application to excel in this
endeavour. In fact, he pointed out that the Belgians had an old joke
that copper wire was invented by two Dutchmen fighting over a penny.


Cheers, Phred.

--
LID

Phred schreef
Secondly, some years ago I mentioned the Scottish characteristic of
parsimony (as seen by most of the rest of the world). This was
challenged by a Dutchman who pointed out that while the Scots had the
reputation, it was the Dutch who had the application to excel in this
endeavour. In fact, he pointed out that the Belgians had an old joke
that copper wire was invented by two Dutchmen fighting over a penny.

*******
The Scots borrowed lots of things from the Dutch, like golf.
PvR

In article , Phred wrote:
the Belgians had an old joke
that copper wire was invented by two Dutchmen fighting over a penny.

8-)

Roger (who has found people in both nations to be generous)

How great the white man's burden must be!!!

So why was he named for a pimple?


"Roger Whitehead" wrote in message
...
In article , Phred wrote:
the Belgians had an old joke
that copper wire was invented by two Dutchmen fighting over a penny.

8-)

Roger (who has found people in both nations to be generous)