Chamaegigas
Encyclopedia
Chamaegigas is a genus which contains only one species, Chamaegigas intrepidus, an aquatic plant that is native to central-west Namibia
, growing in semi-arid
and savanna
regions. It grows in shallow temporary pools on granite inselbergs, surviving regular environmental extremes that include drastic daily changes in temperature and pH, along with extreme fluctuations in wetting and drying. Chamaegigas intrepidus means "intrepid dwarf giant", referring to the tiny plant's ability to thrive even in the desert.
growing in a combination of sand, organic debris, leaf remains, and animal dung that is 1 cm (0.393700787401575 in) deep. The flowers have two lips, and are white or pale pink with purple speckles.
Chamaegigas intrepidus is one of approximately 330 desiccant-tolerant vascular plant
s, 90% of which are found growing on inselbergs. It is one of the rare desiccant-tolerant vascular plants that is not a fern
or monocotyledon
. The basal leaves can survive complete drying for 4.5 months, with more than 50% of them reviving after receiving moisture—so the plants simply resume growing once the pools fill again after a dry spell. New floating leaves, which do not survive drying as well as the basal leaves, can reach the water surface as soon as 2-4 days after the pool refills, with flowers appearing as early as 4 days after breaking dormancy.
in 1909. The full binomial name translates to "intrepid dwarf giant", referring to the small plant's ability to survive the most extreme conditions. It is considered to be a resurrection plant
because it quickly revives from complete dormancy.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, growing in semi-arid
Semi-arid
A semi-arid climate or steppe climate describes climatic regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not extremely...
and savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
regions. It grows in shallow temporary pools on granite inselbergs, surviving regular environmental extremes that include drastic daily changes in temperature and pH, along with extreme fluctuations in wetting and drying. Chamaegigas intrepidus means "intrepid dwarf giant", referring to the tiny plant's ability to thrive even in the desert.
Description
Chamaegigas intrepidus grows in intertwined mats, with two different leaves. One is an underwater awl-shaped leaf that is 1 to 2 cm (0.393700787401575 to 0.78740157480315 in) long. Two pairs of unequal length leaves float on the water, 5 to 7 mm (0.196850393700787 to 0.275590551181102 in) and oval-shaped. The plant grows from a small 1 mm (0.0393700787401575 in) rhizomeRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
growing in a combination of sand, organic debris, leaf remains, and animal dung that is 1 cm (0.393700787401575 in) deep. The flowers have two lips, and are white or pale pink with purple speckles.
Chamaegigas intrepidus is one of approximately 330 desiccant-tolerant vascular plant
Vascular plant
Vascular plants are those plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the clubmosses, Equisetum, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms...
s, 90% of which are found growing on inselbergs. It is one of the rare desiccant-tolerant vascular plants that is not a fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
or monocotyledon
Monocotyledon
Monocotyledons, also known as monocots, are one of two major groups of flowering plants that are traditionally recognized, the other being dicotyledons, or dicots. Monocot seedlings typically have one cotyledon , in contrast to the two cotyledons typical of dicots...
. The basal leaves can survive complete drying for 4.5 months, with more than 50% of them reviving after receiving moisture—so the plants simply resume growing once the pools fill again after a dry spell. New floating leaves, which do not survive drying as well as the basal leaves, can reach the water surface as soon as 2-4 days after the pool refills, with flowers appearing as early as 4 days after breaking dormancy.
Habitat and distribution
The plant is native to central-west Namibia, growing in semi-arid conditions in very shallow (15 cm (5.9 in)) temporary pools in granitic rock. The pools can dry out and refill 15 to 20 times each year. The pools also go through daily extremes of temperature and pH. Water temperatures can range from 6 to 40 °C (42.8 to 104 °F) between day and night, while the late afternoon water pH can be greater than 10 and morning pH less than 6. The rhizomes can also be exposed to 50 °C (122 °F) temperatures during the 11-month dry season.Taxonomy
Chamaegigas intrepidus was discovered by German botanist Kurt DinterKurt Dinter
Moritz Kurt Dinter , was a German botanist and explorer in South West Africa.- Education and career :...
in 1909. The full binomial name translates to "intrepid dwarf giant", referring to the small plant's ability to survive the most extreme conditions. It is considered to be a resurrection plant
Resurrection plant
A resurrection plant is any plant with the habit of reviving after seeming to be dead or of seeming to revive when being in fact dead.Examples include...
because it quickly revives from complete dormancy.