Ancient pine now available

Now ancient pine can turn your backyard into a Jurassic park

ONE of the world’s oldest and rarest trees, the Wollemi pine, went on sale officially for the first time yesterday, 12 years after it was discovered in a park west of Sydney.

The pine is now commercially available in selected garden shops and nurseries across Australia.

Sally McGeoch, of Wollemi Pine International, said it was exciting to think so many people would be able to own a tree which has prehistoric origins.

"It’s like taking home their own little baby dinosaur," Ms McGeoch said. "We’re so excited that people can grow their own and have that experience themselves."

The tree was rediscovered by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service officer David Noble while he was bushwalking in September 1994. Mr Noble had abseiled into a rainforest gorge when he came across a group of ancient-looking trees.

He took a branch sample to scientists from the Parks and Wildlife Service and the Royal Botanic Gardens, who were intrigued by what Mr Noble had found, returned to the site and were astounded by what they saw. The trees were like nothing they had ever seen before.

The tree was named the Wollemi pine after the location where it was discovered, the Wollemi National Park.

Its discovery is considered a major botanical find.

To protect the species, it was decided to cultivate the pine and to release it commercially.

Royalties from the sale of the pines will go towards the conservation of the trees in the wild, and also help to protect other rare and threatened species.

"They are officially on sale 12 years after they were first discovered," Ms McGeoch said. "It’s really a pretty major milestone in the project. We hope it will be a fantastic case study in conserving an endangered species."

The trees are available in two sizes; the 40-centimetre plant, expected to retail between $55 and $60, and the 60-centimetre pine, expected to cost between $95 about $100. At some outlets there is a 12-month guarantee.

The pines are now on sale at 88 outlets in NSW and about 170 outlets Australia-wide and will be released internationally later this year.