The rare living fossil discovered in a remote Australian canyon

Gardening · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1994, a bushwalker stumbled upon a tree that shouldn't have existed. Although part of a 200-million-year-old plant lineage, this uncommon evergreen was only identified by scientists quite recently. Today, this prehistoric survivor faces extinction in the wild, despite a global effort to save it.

The Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis) is a biological anomaly. Discovered by David Noble in a remote gorge within New South Wales’ Wollemi National Park, it is the sole surviving member of its genus. While the tree is a modern discovery, its lineage dates back 200 million years, making it a true 'living fossil' that shares characteristics with ancient prehistoric flora. This evergreen belongs to the Araucariaceae family. It can reach heights of 40 metres.

The species faces extreme vulnerability due to its restricted distribution and tiny population. In the wild, the population consists of approximately 80 mature individuals and about 300 seedlings, found across three sites within 200 kilometres of Sydney. This small numberset makes the species susceptible to stochastic events, invasive species, and pathogens like Phytophthora cinnamonii. Even forest fires and climate-driven changes in temperature and rainfall pose significant threats to these ancient survivors. The trees thrive in warm temperate rainforests. They typically grow within deep, narrow sandstone gorges.

To prevent total extinction, a propagation program was launched, making the trees available for public purchase starting in 2006. This has created a fascinating demographic shift: private collectors and horticulturists may now hold more specimens in cultivation than exist in the wild. For example, gardener Baz Blain, who began studying horticulture around the time of the tree's commercial release, has grown so many from seed that his private collection potentially rivals the wild population in number. This monoecious species produces both male and female cones. These cones appear on branch tips once the tree exceeds ten years of age.

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