The Wollemi Pine UK :: Wollemi Pine makes its own bid for immortality

The Wollemi Pine is making its own bid for immortality! An eight year old tree which was propagated in Australia and imported into the UK 18 months ago is believed to be amongst the first tree ever to produce cones in the northern hemisphere. The tree is bisexual (monoecious) with both male and female cones on the same tree. Both the male and the female reproductive structures are produced on separate branches, at the very tips. The female and male cones start growing in mid-summer. In late spring the male cones release masses of pollen which is carried by the wind, to fertilise the egg cells in the female cones. The fertilised ovaries then take about 18 months to develop into seeds and the cones then split and fall apart releasing seeds that float to the ground. We have yet to see a female cone.

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Re: Wollemi Pine makes its own bid for immortality

by Ben Alofs on Wed 24 Sep 2008 00:26 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

Hello Mark, good news from North Wales. This summer one of my Wollemias in my arboretum has begun to grow cones at the tips of the two upper most levels of branches! I have 4 Wollemias in total. The first and tallest (and oldest) was planted in May 2006 and the second in October 2006. These have only grown fresh foliage so far. The third, which I bought at Seiont nurseries near Caernarfon in North Wales in September 2007 last year and was planted in the same month in honour of a visit of a Swedish friend, is the tree which has now begun to grow cones. It is about 1 metre high. I have counted 17 cones in various stages of development. The 4th Wollemia bought this spring and from the same batch as the one I bought in September 2007 has only grown new foliage.
I read your article from 8 November 2007, in which you reported that an eight year old tree imported into the UK from Australia 18 months before was among the first trees ever to produce cones in the northern hemisphere.
I wonder how many more reports you have had about Wollemias beginning to produce cones. Have more people who have planted Wollemias see any cones appear on their tree(s)? I would really appreciate if you or any one reading this blog can tell me more about this.
In the mean time I will send you photographs of the cone producing Wollemia for the photograph section of the blog.
By the way, I have not covered up my Wollemias last winter, which was not very cold. They withstood the weather well, but have not grown as much as last year. I think that this winter I will give them a nice snug cover again. Hopefully they will grow better next year.
Many regards,
Ben Alofs
23.09.2008