The Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis) is now part of Marimurtra’s flora and can be enjoyed by our visitors. This conifer, belonging to the Araucariaceae family, is an exceptional addition, not only because of the circumstances surrounding its discovery, but also because of its biological characteristics. Today, this lineage includes only three living genera in the world: Araucaria, Agathis and Wollemia.
The discovery of a “living fossil” and its conservation
The species was discovered in 1994 in the Blue Mountains, a few dozen kilometres west of the Australian city of Sydney. The discovery was made by David Noble, a young park ranger, while he was abseiling and exploring difficult-to-access canyons. The plant’s unique morphological features fully justified the creation of a new genus and species for science. The generic name, Wollemia, refers to the national park where the plant was found, Wollemi, while the specific epithet, nobilis, pays tribute to its discoverer and to the majesty of its appearance; in Latin, nobilis means noble.
Fossil remains with some resemblance to this plant have been found in various locations across the southern hemisphere, ranging from 200 million years ago to the most recent remains, which date back around 2 million years.
In the wild, the species is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the very small number of living specimens. The exact location where it grows, an intact and pristine area, remains hidden as a preventive measure against phytosanitary risks and illegal removal. Nevertheless, an international distribution of cloned individuals and seeds was carried out to various botanical gardens and scientific institutions in order to ensure its ex situ conservation.
Its arrival at Marimurtra: an exceptional donation
The individual now growing at Marimurtra, currently a tree just over 4 metres tall, is a generous donation from a private collection in France, offered by Ludovic Nouhaud. The transport logistics were carried out by Ivan Soto, head of gardening and tree management, with the support of his team. Together with the curator of the biological collections, Enric Barril, and the scientific director, Dr Josep A. Rosselló, they coordinated the selection of the most suitable location in the Garden to ensure the tree’s survival.
The challenge of adaptation: a tailor-made transplant
Its final transplant required a delicate technical intervention. Since Wollemia nobilis requires acidic soil and perfect drainage, and is highly sensitive to the fungal pathogen Phytophthora, and given that both Marimurtra’s substrate and the irrigation water in Blanes are slightly alkaline, with a pH between 7 and 8, the gardening team designed a specific soil amendment to support its planting:
Highly porous substrate: a mixture made up of 60% pumice stone, which provides excellent drainage, and 40% substrate for acid-loving plants with a pH of 5.2 was used.
Raised planting: the specimen was positioned slightly above ground level to prevent suffocation or water stagnation around the root collar.
Surface acidification: 50 grams of micronised sulphur were applied to the surface to ensure slow decomposition and maintain acidity.
Organic mulching: a layer of pine needles was spread to protect moisture and continuously encourage acidic soil decomposition.
With this valuable addition, Marimurtra Botanical Garden reaffirms its commitment to science, the quality and excellence of its collections, and the safeguarding of global biodiversity.
