Determining vertical growth patterns and tissue of maximum age using radiocarbon dating in the long-lived Namib Desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis

Abstract Welwitschia mirabilis , a unique gymnosperm native to Namibia and Angola, is a keystone plant species in the Namib Desert. It represents the only extremely long-lived non-clonal plant species occurring under hyperarid desert conditions, yet limited attempts have been made to accurately determine its age. Here, we present radiocarbon dates from a dead, sectioned Welwitschia of moderate size. We find the outer caudex tissue growth to progressively increase in age from the leaf base towards the ground level in this dwarf tree, while the inner cortex tissue becomes younger. Our sampling strategy revealed that the oldest tissue from this Welwitschia , found at the base of the caudex in the middle of the lobe, was dated to 531 ± 20 14 C years, suggesting a vertical growth rate of approximately 0.47 to 0.67 mm/year. These findings can serve as a basis for future dating of larger, living individuals.