One of the world’s oldest and rarest trees survives at a secret gorge in Australia, but it still faces many threats — from fire to fungi.
Wollemi pines are among the rarest plants in the world, with fewer than 100 trees left in their native habitat. They were known only by fossil records until 1994, when a thicket of about 40 massive, conifer-type trees was discovered in Wollemi National Park, in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
Scientists quickly dug into identifying these then-unidentified trees, working in heavy secrecy to protect their location. Eventually they found fossil evidence in stone that matched the living trees — confirming that a tree species they had thought was extinct, in fact, still existed.
Since then, scientists and horticulturists have worked to ensure that this species survives. One way is through propagation techniques and growing the trees in gardens. It’s a slow process: The Wollemi pine has very controlled growth, sometimes taking up to 25 years to reach its first 20 feet in height.
Species Spotlight: Wollemi Pine, A ‘Living Fossil’ We’re Saving From Extinction • The Revelator
Wollemi pines are among the rarest plants in the world, with fewer than 100 trees left in their native habitat. They were known only by fossil records until 1994, when a thicket of about 40 massive, conifer-type trees was discovered in Wollemi National Park, in Australia’s Blue Mountains.
Scientists quickly dug into identifying these then-unidentified trees, working in heavy secrecy to protect their location. Eventually they found fossil evidence in stone that matched the living trees — confirming that a tree species they had thought was extinct, in fact, still existed.
Since then, scientists and horticulturists have worked to ensure that this species survives. One way is through propagation techniques and growing the trees in gardens. It’s a slow process: The Wollemi pine has very controlled growth, sometimes taking up to 25 years to reach its first 20 feet in height.
Species Spotlight: Wollemi Pine, A ‘Living Fossil’ We’re Saving From Extinction • The Revelator