"A tree thought to have died out millions of years ago reappeared in public in London yesterday and will be widely available as a patio pot plant within a year.

"The Wollemi pine, which flourished alongside dinosaurs during the Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago, is thought to be the first endangered tree to be protected through mass commercial cultivation."

Complete story on the Telegraph's on-line version.

Chris

Trouble is, I think they've been saying "next year" for about the last 5 years . . .

So I don't know!

Resin

Yes the Wollemi Pine is due for release, world wide some time 2005/6.

The tree was discovered by David Noble in 1994, while bush-walking in a remote part of the Wollemi National Park, about 200km from Sydney.

A total of 3 stands, consisting of <100 plants, have now been found, all of which are virtually genetically identical. They appear to have propagated by coppicing, with none of the seed appearing to have germinated in situ, probably because of poor light conditions in the deep canyons.

Here are 3 photos I took recently at the Mt. Annan Botanical Gardens. This specimen is <10yrs old, having been propagated from field collected material.

Pollen Cone

Seed Cone

When you first see the plant, it is obviously 'different'. It's foliage looks a bit 'fern like', but it's obviously not a fern, and it's bark can only be described as resembling a mass of swarming bees.

I have attached a link to the Wollemi Pine Web Site where you can find more information and register to get one of these when they become available.

As the subject line states 'Be the first to own a plant that is 'second cousin' to a dinosaur'.

LOL

Fof