Loscam Leader Volume 11
12 pages
Publié par
flexo
Copyright :
Tous droits réservés
A
t the time when dinosaurs dominated the world,
they chewed on conifers which had only been
seen by palaeontologists in fossils recovered
millions of years later.
Until 1994, that conifer was
thought - like the dinosaur - to be...
[Plus]
A
t the time when dinosaurs dominated the world,
they chewed on conifers which had only been
seen by palaeontologists in fossils recovered
millions of years later.
Until 1994, that conifer was
thought - like the dinosaur - to be extinct.
Until an
enthusiastic bush-walker on a hike through the
Wollemi National Park in the Blue Mountains just
outside Sydney, discovered this 70 million-year-old
conifer by chance, hidden away in a narrow canyon.
The excitement and interest spread throughout the botanical
world because this tree, which was named Wollemi nobelis or
Wollemi pine, is considered to be one of the rarest tree species
found on earth, with just 100 trees discovered in the wild.
Over
the evolution of the planet, the conifer has survived 17 ice ages
and has shown itself to be incredibly adaptable to wide ranges in
temperature.
The Wollemi pine has been propagated and nurtured over
many years by Forestry Plantations Queensland for the Botanic
Garden Trust Sydney, until there was enough to be offered to
the keen collector both here and overseas.
These first generation
propagated offspring, became known as the "Collectors
Edition" and were deemed so precious, lots were auctioned
by internationally-known auction house Sotheby s.
The 292 trees were sold in 148 lots, and sold for thousands
of dollars.
The lots were snapped up by botanical gardens and
individual enthusiasts around the world.
All monies raised have
gone back into conservation programs for the Wollemi and
other Australian species.
The interest created, and the growing number of trees meant
that ordinary gardeners had a chance to purchase their own
pine, even though it wasn t part of the original "Collectors
Edition" (and wouldn t be priced in the thousands of dollars).
"The growing of the trees takes place in Queensland and it
took about nine years to work out how to propagate it.
I S S U E 1 1
David van Berkel, Managing Director (left), and Warren Briggs with Loscam pallets
and collars filled with the unique Wollemi Pine.
The Botanical Corporation, which developed and propagated
the original trees, needed a reliable, well-known horticultural
company who could market these unique trees to Australian
gardening enthusiasts.
One of the companies selected was
Van Berkel Distributors, based in Monbulk outside Melbourne.
Van Berkel s third generation Managing Director, David van
Berkel, said the company was selected because it had been in
business for more than 50 years and already sold to both the
nursery industry, supermarkets and via mail order.
"We package and distribute flower bulbs and pot plants sold
through the retail nurseries and chain stores," explained David.
"My grandfather came out from Holland and started growing
tulips.
From selling flowers we were asked to provide bulbs and
attach labels to them.
We purchased a machine that did this
efficiently and from there the company has gone from strength
to strength.
About half our business is now mail order and we
have added the Wollemi pines to our catalogue of plants.
"
David said the Wollemi management s initial request was
for Van Berkel to handle sales and fulfilment of the pines on-line
at a size that could be shipped Australia-wide.
”The pallets and collars are
fantastic for moving plants,
because they can breathe.
”
Loscam charged with transporting
90 million year-old conifers
A 90 million year-old
species which you can
have in your garden.
Loscom news 11 A4 30/3/08 12:55 PM Page 1
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