Dinosaurs' snack that survived T-Rex extension bears fruit for couple
One of the oldest and rarest tree species that once formed part of a dinosaur's diet is now bearing fruit for the first time, after a retired couple planted a specimen in their garden. Wollemi pines, referred to as dinosaur trees, boast a history exceeding 90 million years and were initially believed to have been wiped out by the time the last T-Rex roamed the Earth.
However, a cluster of these ancient conifers was discovered in 1994 in a region 125 miles west of Sydney, Australia. Saplings and cuttings were subsequently sold worldwide, including one purchased by retired couple Pamela and Alistair Thompson.
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The couple invested £70 in an 18-inch (45.7 cm) tall sapling acquired from the Shopping Channel. In 2010, they replanted the tree in their garden in Wichenford, Malvern, Worcestershire, and following years of dedicated nurturing, it has flourished and now stands over 13 feet (4 meters) tall.
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Pamela and Alistair Thompson from Wichenford are very proud of their Wollemi pine -Credit:Emma Trimble / SWNS
This month, retired police officer Pamela, 75, was astonished to discover that the tree had produced fruit for the first time. Her aspiration is to propagate seeds from the evergreen tree to cultivate more of this endangered species.
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Pamela expressed her excitement, saying: "It would be amazing, absolutely amazing, to have seedlings and to propagate from the world's rarest tree.
"I couldn't imagine being so lucky to do it. I saw a small tree for sale for more than £1,000 which shows just how rare they are."
One of the world's rarest and oldest trees which dinosaurs used to snack on is bearing fruit for the first time after a retired couple planted it in their garden -Credit:SWNS
Wollemi pines are related to monkey puzzle trees and bear both male and female fruit. Pamela, who has three-grandchildren, added: "The long pendulous fruits are actually the male cone and the globular spiky fruits are the female cones.
"So what we're really hoping later in the year would be to collect and germinate some of the seeds from it. That would be really something but we will just have to wait and see.'
Pamela and Alistair, 75, a retired spinal surgeon, are opening their garden to the public as part of the National Garden Scheme on Sunday, May 4.
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