Wollemia Nobilis

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 17 January 2008 in Plant & Nature.

This unique tree has been considered extinct. Youngest fossil records date back 2 million years ago. In 1994, bush walker David Noble discovered the very last few specimens at a remote spot somewhere in Wollemi National Park, not far away from Sydney. They are all genetically identical. Since it's possible to purchase Wollemias for some time, I call this one my very own. It consists of the same gene set like its Australian relatives and I'm totally fascinated by this living fossil.
The photograph shows a growing twig.

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Comments (11)

Steven from Montreal, Canada

Love the lines and the color!

17 Jan 2008 8:14am

@Steven: Thank you! They will grow darker after some time (like the older parts of the twig you can see in the upper part of the image).

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

Gorgeous detail and color. Really nice, MS.

17 Jan 2008 9:21am

@Michael Skorulski: Thank you :-) I really love this one.

eddy from Tehran, Iran

very nice and sharp image!

17 Jan 2008 2:42pm

@eddy: Thank you, much appreciated! Hope I'll get old enough to see it mature.

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

It's a beauty!

17 Jan 2008 4:45pm

@Laurie: I highly encourage people to grow their own Wollemia. This plant species survived seventeen ice-ages! It's the plant that was there when dinos went on earth. It didn't change all the time, truly amazing!

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

This is an amazing story and a very nice photo; I did not know such a plant exists.

18 Jan 2008 3:01am

@Viewfinder: To know that there are just hundred specimens left in the wild and no one knew until 1994 is indeed exciting! Australian governemnt has developed a great recovery plan to save this plant for the world. Hence it's possible to purchase young plants and grow them at home. I'm very delighted to have one and to be able to help this species surviving.

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

The colour is very brilliant, it looks like a very healthy tree.

18 Jan 2008 3:15am

@JoeB: Thank you! I'm still a bit chicken about winter protection. British conifer society disagrees with its hardiness and I have to figure out how to protect it correctly. Fortunately, our winters usually aren't that cold and my Wollemia is doing fine so far :-)

Tali from Serendipity, United States

How lovely! Very interesting and what a beautiful color of green!!

18 Jan 2008 5:21am

@Tali: According to my sources, its leaves should have developed a coppery tone in autumn. But it's still green, just getting a little bit darker. I'm fine with that :-)

Porcsin from Debrecen, Hungary

Awesome green!
I think it is a new part of the plan too!

18 Jan 2008 6:32pm

@Porcsin: Yes, it fortunately started growing some weeks after I acquired it. However, the whole plant is quite small and just touches my knees.

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

I take it you are very interested in plants. What drives this interest? I took a look at your website. I haven't been in Europe for about 10 years now, so I don't know what the, lets say, "intellectual" atmosphere is like today, but I'm old enough to have witnessed a rather obvious dumbing down in my own country, a nearly complete absence of rationalism in public discourse, and a simultaneous increase in emotionalism. It is truly a world turned upside down --from a logical and rational perspective.

20 Jan 2008 3:59pm

@Twelvebit: My answer just got way too long and OT - I've sent you a mail! :-)