Rare, 90-million-year-old tree for sale
mongabay.com
September 20, 2006
The National Geographic Society announced it will sell the Wollemi Pine, one of the world’s oldest and rarest trees, to consumers in the United States this holiday season. Fewer than 100 tree exist in the wild.
National Geographic sees the sales as an opportunity to conserve and propagate the species, which was believed to be extinct until a small grove of trees was discovered in Australia’s Blue Mountains in 1994. The tree is believed to have existed since the time of dinosaurs. A portion of the proceed from sales of the $99.95 tree will go towards conservation efforts of the species.
National Geographic says the species is “easy to grow either an indoor plant or a garden plant in partial shade or full sun” and is “capable of surviving a broad range of temperatures, from 23 degrees F to 113 degrees F.”
The will will be available starting in October 2006 at www.nationalgeographic.com/Wollemipine