Have you ever heard of the 'dinosaur' tree? It looks a bit like your average Christmas tree. But there is nothing average about this tree. In the wild it is not one tree but a whole clump of trees joined together. Scientists have worked out the oldest stems in the grove may be up to 1,000 years old. This makes it one of the oldest trees in the world. What's more, because it is so rare its home is kept a secret. It is the Wollemi Pine. (Pronounced Woll-em-eye.) So what is so special about the 'dinosaur' tree?

Why is it called a 'dinosaur tree'?
Scientists thought this pine was extinct. The pollen from this tree looks like fossil pollen over 100 million years old. This is from the time of the dinosaurs! The discovery of the tree was like finding a dinosaur walking around on the earth. It has even been called 'a living fossil'.
Where is the 'dinosaur' tree found?
The tree lives in a secret valley not far from Sydney, the largest city in Australia. David Noble, a park ranger, was the first person to discover the group of trees in 1994. He was exploring a hidden valley in the Wollemi National Park. Because it was too difficult to walk there, he used a rope to climb down the steep valley sides. He took a small cutting back with him to show scientists and they were shocked.

How big is it?
The Wollemi Pine is 40 metres high. Only 130 feet, you say? That's not as high as some trees. But this tree is different because it can have hundreds of trunks. At one place in the Wollemi State Forest over one hundred tree stems were found to be exactly the same. This happens because of the special way the tree grows. As an old tree is growing, a new stem sprouts from its base. One day the roots divide and the trees keep growing independently. So the one hundred stems are part of a single tree and it gets larger by growing sideways. In fact, it's a bit like cloning!

What does it look like?
The Wollemi Pine is a member of the conifer family, a cousin to the common Norfolk Island Pine. The leaves are like ferns and lime-green in colour. The bark of this tree is unusual, as it has bubbles like tiny balls of chocolate.

How can you get to see a Wollemi Pine tree?
If you want to visit the Wollemi Pine in its National Park you are blindfolded and you have to be taken by helicopter. (Of course the helicopter pilot knows the way.) The Wollemi Pine is so precious, scientists don't want too many visitors. People wandering into the park may trample the new shoots. You even have to cover your shoes so you don't carry in horrible diseases which might kill the beautiful 'dinosaur'.

But don't worry---people are taking good care of the tree. Scientists are growing the tree from small shoots at the Botanical Gardens in Australia to send all over the world. It is amazing that something so old will continue to live. You may even be able to grow your own 'dinosaur' tree in your garden tomorrow.

Already a chemical to help fight cancer has been found in the tree. Who knows what other secrets the Wollemi Pine holds for us? Long live the 'dinosaur' tree!

Neat Stuff about the 'dinosaur' tree:
You can order your own Wollemi Pine to plant in your backyard from this website: http://www.wollemipine.com. The tree will survive in temperatures between -5 degrees and 35 degrees Celsius.


Bibliography

Woodford, James. The Wollemi Pine. Melbourne: Text Publishing, 2000.

Internet:
http://www.rbgsyd.gov.au/information_about_plants/wollemi_pine
http://earthsci.org/geotime/wollemi/wollemi.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/quantum/stories/s181.htm

Photos courtesy of P. O'Brien, 2005.

Margaret Etherton is a teacher, tutor and freelance writer. She has taught a range of subjects, such as reading, writing, mathematics and computers to people of all ages--- from small kids to seniors! Margaret lives close to the beach in Sydney with her husband, two of her four children and her cat, Mushka.

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