Welwitschia mirabilis Hook. fil. is a unique and rare dioecious desert gymnosperm endemic to the Namib Desert. The female plants bear 90-100 megasporophylls, of which 50-60% may be fertile, but up to 80% of those fertile seeds may be infected by Aspergillus niger var. phoenicis. This contamination results in seed and seedling death, potentially negatively affecting recruitment of plants into the population. Keywords: Aspergillus niger var. phoenicis, cones, infection, seeds, Welwitschia mirabilis.