A living fossil (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Wollemi pine
Wollemia nobilis
Museum Victoria mammalogy specimens from Victoria: Tachyglossus aculeatus, Short-beaked Echidna by Jon AugierMuseums Victoria
Wollemia nobilis is Critically Endangered, like the western long-beaked echidna.
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This is an ancient tree species that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs. Once thought to be extinct, this species grew undetected until 1994, when it was discovered in the Blue Mountains in Australia.
The wild population is very vulnerable, comprising about 80 mature trees and 300 seedlings, found only in Wollemi National Park. Cultivated specimens are now widely available.
Did you know?
Soon after its discovery, seeds of the Wollemi pine were harvested from the trees by helicopter.
Coast redwood (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Giant redwood
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Whale (2011) by Chris JordanArt Works for Change
Sequoiadendron giganteum is as endangered as the blue whale.
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Small, frequent fires do not destroy the giant redwoods; they have fire-resistant bark and few lower branches. The ashes left by the fires are perfect for seedlings to establish in.
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Heat from forest fires causes the giant redwood cones to open, dispersing their seeds in the wind.
Californian nutmeg (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Californian Nutmeg
Torreya californica
This conifer is an endemic of California. It is an evergreen which can grow up to 25 m tall.
Walrus Group, Hall of Ocean Life, 1967 by Rota, Alex J.American Museum of Natural History
Torreya californica is as vulnerable as the walrus.
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It is an evergreen which can grow up to 25 m tall. Although it is commonly known as California nutmeg, it is not closely related to true nutmeg. Native Americans used the wood for bows and roasted the seeds for food; some tribes, like the Pomo, also used the roots for basket weaving.
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In the past, this species was used by carpenters for fencing and bridges, because it is rot-resistant. Due to its rarity it is no longer used for these purposes.
Coffin tree (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Coffin Tree
Taiwania cryptomerioides
In the wild these trees can live for 1,600 years and reach a height of over 60 m, towering above the surrounding tree canopy.
Nixon In China (1972-02-22) by John DominisLIFE Photo Collection
Taiwania cryptomerioides is as vulnerable as the giant panda.
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This tree is native to China, Myanmar, Taiwan and Vietnam. Its timber is highly valued as it is light, durable and has a pleasant spicy scent. Logging, forest clearance and poor regeneration have led to a major decline in the number of trees in recent decades.
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Extracts from the tree possess anti-cancer properties and the wood is sought after to make coffin planks. One large tree can produce 12 coffins.
King William (Billy) pine (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
King William (Billy) Pine
Athrotaxis selaginoides
This tree grows in the mountains of California and is one of the largest living organisms. One specimen named ‘General Sherman’ has an 11.1 m wide trunk – that is wider than a London bus is long!
LionsAustralian Museum
Athrotaxis selaginoides is as vulnerable as the lion.
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Native to Tasmania in Australia, its name refers to William Lanne, the last Aboriginal Tasmanian. Its timber can be used for cabinet work, though most remaining trees are now within protected areas from which even dead wood cannot be taken.
Did you know?
Despite its name and appearance, this is not a true pine. It in fact belongs to the related family Cupressaceae.
Chilean plum yew (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Chilean plum yew
Prumnopitys andina
Fire and logging have been the major threats to this conifer, which has declined by about 40% in the last 200 years.
Polar Bears Across the Arctic Face Shorter Sea Ice Season (2017-12-08)NASA
Prumnopitys andina is as vulnerable as the polar bear.
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Prumnopitys andina is native to the Andes of southern Chile and westernmost Argentina.
Did you know?
The scientific name 'andina' refers to where the tree grows in the wild - the Andes.
Transcaucasian birch (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Transcaucasian birch
Betula medwediewii
The female cones are fleshy and sweet. Hungry livestock and delayed germination prevent trees from regenerating. In 2002 Chilean plum yews were planted here as part of the International Conifer Conservation Programme. In 2017 we were excited to discover that they had produced viable female cones - a rare occurrence in the UK. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh kindly supplied the plants, which were grown from collections made in Chile.
Maze by Majed AlzaabiContemporary Art Platform (CAP) Kuwait
Betula medwediewii is as rare as the plains zebra.
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Once widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, it is now confined to the Caucasus Mountains, where it was protected from the ice ages.
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This species stands out from the rest of the birch collection at the Arboretum. It has an unusual spreading and multi-stemmed habit.
Willow-leaf podocarp (2018)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Willow-leaf podocarp
Podocarpus salignus
There has been a 30% decrease in the population over the last 60 years. Many trees have been destroyed by fire or replaced by trees grown for commercial purposes. The fine-grained wood is used in local crafts and was once important for building houses.
Nile Hippopotamus by Robin Winkelman and Saint Louis ZooSaint Louis Zoo
Podocarpus salignus is as vulnerable as the hippopotamus.
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This tree grows in wet habitats in Chile.
Did you know?
These leaves are used in flower bouquets in Chile and look similar to willow leaves. With maturity the branch tips hang, and the long leaves weep much like a weeping willow.
Vietnamese golden cypress (2019)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Vietnamese Golden Cypress
Cupressus vietnamensis
This tree has hard wood that is used for local construction, building shrines and making coffins. However the difficulty of transporting timber from steep ridges limits its use in the timber trade. The golden Vietnamese cypress was the first new conifer discovered since the Wollemi pine in Australia in 1994. It is cultivated in very few arboreta – about 20 worldwide.
TapirsAustralian Museum
Cupressus vietnamensis is as endangered as the mountain tapir.
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The small and contorted habit of this tree has protected it from the timber trade
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This species was discovered in 1999 in the mountains of northern Vietnam.
Dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides (2019)Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Dawn redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
The species only grows in a limited area on the border of two Chinese provinces. Many of the older, larger trees are survivors of extensive dawn redwood forests that would have stretched unbroken across valley bottoms before farmers arrived.
Red Panda by Christopher Carter and Saint Louis ZooSaint Louis Zoo
Metasequoia glyptostroboides is as endangered as the red panda.
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The few remaining mature trees are now surrounded by agricultural land but are protected. Dawn redwoods were introduced to the USA and Europe in 1948.
Did you know?
The foliage is similar to that of the California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), however unlike this related tree, the dawn redwood is deciduous.
The small and contorted habit of this tree has protected it from the timber trade.
