Auction of Jurassic Trees Brings in Over a Million Dollars

The Wollemi pine, a tree thought to have been extinct for millions of years, was discovered in Australia in 1994. Since then, the species has been a focus of fascination for botanists. Wollemia nobilis apparently survived in isolation in a small pocket of sheltered forest about 150 kilometres north of Sydney. Fewer than 40 adult trees in two small groves were discovered in the wild. The exact location of the groves has been kept secret.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney held a special exhibition to promote and fund research and preservation of the Wollemi pine. A display grove was created from the first generation of plants grown from cuttings taken from the wild trees. 292 of the rare trees offered in an international Sotheby's auction at the close of the exhibition, raised over $ 1 million for conservation efforts.

Links:

• Dinosaur trees attract a mint from The Australian


• The Wollemi Pine Global Launch from Wollemi Pine International Pty Ltd


• Hawkesbury Valley Wollemi Pine a descriptive page about Wollemi pine from the Hawkesbury (tourist information)

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 2:08 PM on October 31, 2005

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