There are only six of these trees left in the wild. Conservationists are cloning them
The trees are estimated to be between 3,000 to 6,000 years old but they have no future without intervention.
Only six Eucalyptus recurva trees exist in the wild, making them the rarest and most threatened gum trees in Australia. Discovered near Canberra, their age is estimated at 3,000 to 6,000 years old. Senior conservationist Peter Bredell describes the tree as likely being Australia's rarest eucalypt. Due to their isolation, the wild plants cannot naturally reproduce, and without intervention, the species faces extinction.
Conservationists have successfully cloned the trees by grafting cuttings onto hybrid rootstock. To ensure the species' survival, they must induce flowering, pollination, fruiting, and seed production. Flowering is unpredictable, taking up to 20 years, and requires meticulous control of pollinators to maintain genetic purity. This long-term project demands unwavering dedication, but the team remains committed to saving Australia's most unique eucalypt.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
