Wollemi

Wollemia nobilis, commonly known as the Wollemi pine, is a species of evergreen conifer in the family Araucariaceae. It represents a relict lineage and is often described as a living fossil, with a lineage dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. In the wild, it is known from a small geographic area in temperate rainforest environments of New South Wales, Australia, particularly in sheltered gorges within or near Wollemi National Park.

The species was discovered in 1994 by David Noble and his son in a remote canyon of Wollemi National Park. The genus name Wollemia derives from the locality (Wollemi), and the species epithet nobilis honors Noble. The discovery received wide public attention due to the plant’s extraordinary rarity in the wild and its status as a rare, ancient conifer.

Taxonomically, Wollemia is a distinct genus within Araucariaceae and is closely related to other genera such as Araucaria and Agathis. The tree is evergreen, with a combination of juvenile, needle-like leaves and mature, scale-like leaves. It produces large woody cones and, like other conifers, reproduces by seeds contained within those cones.

Conservation and cultivation have been central to Wollemia nobilis since its discovery. The wild population remains limited and requires protection of its natural habitat. In cultivation, the Wollemi pine has been propagated widely through seeds and cuttings, and it is cultivated as an ornamental tree in suitable temperate climates around the world. Ongoing conservation efforts focus on safeguarding the species both in situ and ex situ.