-The Tree Tumbo is documented as one of the world's ugliest plants. It has a very long taproot to reach underground water supplies. Two very long and leathery leaves extend horizontally from a stem base. In it's lifetime, the plant only has the two leaves, which never get shed and just continually grow. It's leaves droop down towards the ground. This is because during fog, water condenses on the leaves, and runs down to the ground, near the roots. Through many years of wear, the leaves get worn and tattered towards the ends. The typical height for this plant is one meter, but it can grow up to two meters in height. After a seed has been planted, it matures at about 9 months, but it takes about two and a half years for it to flower for the first time. It is a gymnosperm which means it disperses seeds using cones. It also has corky bark which helps resist fires. Unlike many plants, a Tree Tumbo plant is either male or female, not both.
-This plant requires an extremely specific habitat. It lives in an arid and semi-arid desert. In order to survive, it doesn't grow in areas with much rain, but one that receives consistent amounts of fog. The only place where it has been found to grow is in small, isolated regions in the Namib Desert, which spreads across Northern Namibia and southern Angola.
- Because it is a plant, it does not have normal social or food behaviors. It does interact with other animals however. It provides some food to antelope and rhinos in dry seasons. This doesn't damage the plant however, because only the leaves are consumed and they will regrow. The core of the plant was consumed by some early African cultures. It's leaves also provide some shelter to small insects, arachnids, and mammals.