Science & Nature: The Welwitschia (Well-Witch-Ee-A) Plant, Which Grows In Desert Areas Of Namibia And Angola, Two Countries In Africa, Looks Like An _______ And Can Live For 1,000 Years. The Welwitschia Has Only Two Leaves That Shred Into Many Long, Leathery Pieces As They Grow. Welwitschias Provide Shelter For Small Desert Animals And Are An Important Part Of The Web Of Life In The Desert