A dinosaur-era tree that was believed to have been extinct for 2 million years will be available for a limited time to U.S. residents who can help ensure its survival. National Geographic is introducing the Wollemi Pine, which was discovered in Australia's Blue Mountains by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service Officer David Noble. Fewer than 100 of the trees exist in the wild, which has prompted extensive efforts to propagate the species.
Buying a pine will not only help protect the species but will also safeguard its continued survival. (The pines will retail at $99.95 for an approximately 10-inch-tall plant and will be introduced in October 2006 in limited supply via the National Geographic Holiday Catalog 888-225-5647 and at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wollemipine ).
Dubbed "the botanical find of the century" by renowned botanist Ken Hill of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, the tree is a member of the 200-million-year- old Araucariaceae family, and boasts many unusual characteristics, such as distinctive bark that looks like bubbling chocolate, multiple trunks and deep green fern-like foliage. It is capable of surviving a broad range of temperatures, from 23 degrees F to 113 degrees F.
"We are working with Floragem, a company that creates consumer horticultural products, to bring the Wollemi Pine to North America, offering consumers here the chance to be a part of this incredible living history and help ensure the continued survival of this ancient tree," said Krista Newberry, National Geographic vice president, licensing, home category.
Through National Geographic's licensing partnership with Floragem, a portion of the sales will go directly to Wollemi Pine International Pty. Ltd., whose mission is to conserve the Wollemi Pine for future generations and to raise awareness of conservation internationally. Through public participation, Wollemi Pine International will repopulate the Wollemi Pine and return royalties to fund conservation of these trees and other threatened and endangered species.
