Strangely, a tree from prehistoric times is still immortal in Africa

As the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro has a rather special climate, so it has many strange plantrare and hardly found anywhere else on Earth.One of the most striking plants is called Dendrosenecio kilimanjari. Species exotic plants This is like a hybrid between a cactus and a pineapple. However, Dendrosenecio kilimanjari is classified as a flowering plant in the daisy family.To survive on such high mountain terrain with super-cold temperatures at night, plants have evolved to store water in their stems, and leaves to shrivel when the temperature drops.This tree grows to 10m tall, it forms a woody trunk (about 40cm in diameter) with large asterisk-shaped leaves on top. These stems branch after flowering and over time grow similar to giant candles.Natural forest covers about 1,000 km² on Kilimanjaro, of which Dendrosenecio kilimanjari grows in wet moors at an altitude of 2,700 – 3,350m and is found only on Mount Kilimanjaro.This strange plant is a member of the dandelion family, and scientists think they evolved from a common plant about 1 million years ago.It is possible that they were originally a plant that formed underground, but over time their seeds were gradually carried up the high mountains and eventually turned into a new species.To survive in such a harsh environment, where temperatures frequently drop below freezing, giant tree These plants have evolved the ability to store water in their stems, with leaves closing when it gets too cold.Besides being naturally “freeze-resistant”, these plants also possess the ability to insulate themselves through withering and dying foliage (which is part of why they look so unusual).The incredible Dendrosenecio forest near the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro belongs to the most unusual forests in the world.The breathtaking landscape here is dotted with alien-looking plants – giant trees and poplars.Mount Kilimanjaro began to form about 3 million years ago, and the last major eruptions took place about 350,000 years ago. This is a long enough time for the development of species unique to this isolated mountain.>>>Watch more videos: Stunned by the appearance of the Huacrapona palm tree. Source: Kienthucnet.

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