Wollemi Pine - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

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: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2012

Description

A tree that grows up to 40 m tall, often multi-stemmed at the base. The crown is slender and column like. The bark is thin and fragile 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.

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.
Seeds are light and winged and most probably dispersed by wind.

Threats

Unauthorised access to wild populations resulting in damage to seedlings and adults, and possible introduction of pathogens, such as Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Catastrophic fire events.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 26 priority actions to help recover the Wollemi Pine in New South Wales.

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.

CMA	CMA sub-region	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Images

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

Nature conservation

Threatened species