The Wollemi Pine Trivia Quiz

Answer: New South Wales

The Wollemi Pine took its name from the Wollemi National Park where it was discovered in 1994. Fewer than 100 mature Wollemi trees existed in this rugged isolated area of the park when the trees were first sighted.

Answer: Canyons

At the time of his incredible discovery, David Noble was a field officer for the National Parks and Wildlife Service of NSW. He realised that the trees were unlike anything he had previously seen, despite being a botanist, so h e took samples. Noble fully expected those with more expertise to identify the tree.

In fact, he was privileged to have uncovered a rare and ancient tree with odd bubble like bark. The trees had a double layer of leaves along the branches and cones formed on the tip of most branches.

Answer: All of these

David Noble felt that someone would be able to recognise the unusual tree. It looked like a pine - in fact it is now known as the Wollemi Pine - but it was identified as belonging to the family Araucariaceae. These ancient conifers have existed for over 200 million years, with the oldest fossilised Wollemi style specimen estimated to be approximately 90 million years old.

Answer: Wollemia nobilis

David Noble's discovery of this rare and ancient species was given his name - Wollemia nobilis. As fate would have it - the name Noble also reflected the trees' imposing and stately grandeur. The name Wollemia was taken from the park in which the trees were discovered - Wollemi - and means "watch out, look around you".

Answer: All of these

The Wollemi Pines in the original stand consisted of mature trees as well as seedlings, suggesting they were surviving and flourishing in this moist rainforest gorge. Later, two other groves of Wollemia nobilis were discovered in the area. Strict measures were put in place to ensure the trees remained as undisturbed as possible.

One of the oldest of the Wollemi pines is "The Bill Tree". It is thought that, while the branches of the tree are at least 400 years of age, the root system is quite possibly more than 1,000 years old.

Answer: To propagate more trees outside the park

A decision to limit access to the trees and their environment meant that ensuring the survival of the Wollemi would need a careful propagation program. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney received the exclusive license to establish a propagation program - and ultimately - a marketing strategy to ensure the survival of the "dinosaur tree".

Answer: A fungus

Phytophthora cinnamomi was discovered in one tree in the Wollemi National Park in November 2005. Scientists feared it was a result of thrill seekers abseiling into the canyon to see the trees, bringing the fungus with them. Strong fungicides were used systemically and all authorised visitors must now wear sterile clothing when visiting the site.

Answer: All of these

Fossil evidence of these herbivorous dinosaurs existing in Australia around 100 million years ago - certainly when Wollemia Nobilis was alive - suggests the trees and the dinosaurs may well have co-existed. Whether the ancient conifers actually made up the diet of any of these dinosaurs is open to speculation.

Answer: They were sold at auction

It took eleven years of research and careful propagation to produce the Collectors Edition Wollemi Pines. Sotheby's auctioned all 292 trees and raised over $AU1,000,000. Most of the trees remained in Australia, but some headed overseas to the United Kingdom.

Proceeds were destined for the continuation of the Wollemi propagation program, conservation organisations around the world and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

Answer: Aboriginal rock art

In December 2005, Professor Paul Taçon announced a significant discovery of Aboriginal rock art in an area quite close to the Wollemi Pine stands. It had previously been thought that Aboriginal Dreaming tracks had not existed in this part of Australia.

Traditionally, Dreaming tracks recorded the progress of ancestral spirit journeys across the land. This discovery strongly suggested that a Dreaming track, possibly thousands of years old, ran through the Wollemi area.