Which critically endangered Australian conifer was discovered in 1994?

The Wollemi pine is the critically endangered Australian conifer discovered in 1994.

The Wollemi pine is Wollemia nobilis, the only living species in the genus Wollemia. It was found in a remote rainforest gorge in Wollemi National Park, New South Wales, about 150 kilometres northwest of Sydney. Although its common name says “pine,” it is not a true pine; it belongs to the ancient conifer family Araucariaceae, alongside Araucaria and Agathis.

David Noble discovered the trees on or around 10 September 1994 while exploring the national park. Botanists later recognized that the plant represented an entirely new genus and species. Its discovery was especially striking because fossils resembling its relatives date back roughly 200 million years, leading to its popular “living fossil” reputation.

The wild population is extraordinarily small: fewer than 60 mature trees are known from four nearby locations, and many stems may be connected to the same root systems. Genetic testing found little variation among wild trees, suggesting a severe ancient population bottleneck. Huon pine, Bunya pine, and Norfolk Island pine are also Australian-region conifers, but none matches the 1994 discovery clue.