Wollemi Pine - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Wollemia nobilis

Conservation status in NSW: Critically Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Gazetted date: 02 Oct 2015

Profile last updated: 21 Aug 2019

Description

A tree that grows up to 40 m tall and is often multi-stemmed at the base. The crown is slender and column like. On younger stems the bark is thin and fragile and peels off in scales and in older trees becomes densely covered with soft and spongy nodules. Branches are arranged in successive whorls from the main stem. The side branches terminate in a male or female cone. Adult vertically growing branches have a helical arrangement of leaves which are 3-10mm long and 2-4mm wide. These leaves are narrowly triangular and taper to a sharp point at the tip. The leaves on juvenile and lower canopy lateral shoots are twisted and arranged in two opposite ranks. Seeds are flat, brown and papery with a single wing surrounding the seed. Seeds are 7-11mm long and 5-9mm wide.

Distribution

Restricted to remote canyons in the Wollemi National Park, north-west of Sydney.

Habitat and ecology

Little is known about the ecology of this recently-discovered species; ecological research is currently ongoing.
Occurs in warm temperate rainforest and rain forest margins in remote sandstone canyons.
Seed is persistent in the canopy and most probably matures in autumn.The seed cones take 16 to 19 months to mature.
Seeds are light and winged and most probably dispersed by wind.
The Wollemi Pine is a long lived tree with a coppicing habit, making it difficult to distinguish individuals.

Threats

Unauthorised access to wild populations resulting in damage to seedlings and adults, and possible introduction of pathogens, such as Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Phytophthora cinnamomi has been found to result in mortality of this species in controlled experiments.
Catastrophic fire events.
Small population size.
Potential infestation of populations by blackberry or other invasive woody weeds.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Maintain genetically representative ex-situ populations within botanic gardens.
Protect sites to minimise threats to wild population.
Commercially release propagated plants to the public to raise funds to assist management of wild populations.
Undertake ecological studies of wild population.
Survey potential habitat to locate any new populations.

Information sources

Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW) (2005) Wollemia nobilis (the Wollemi pine) Draft Recovery Plan. NSW DEC, Sydney.
Jones, W.G., Hill, K.D. and Allen, J.M. (1995) Wollemia nobilis, a new living Australian genus and species in the Araucariaceae. Telopea, Vol 6 (pp. 2-3).
Offord, C. (1995) Conservation of the Wollemi Pine: An integrated approach. Danthonia 5(2), pp. 12-14.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Images

Adult trees, Wollemi Pine Image 1 of 5.
View slideshow.

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