LIVING FOSSIL FOUND
AAP 15/12/2000
06:55 (AEDT) AN ancestor of the waratah dating back to prehistoric Gondwanaland has been
found in the Nightcap Range on the New South Wales north coast.
The location of the species will remain a secret to protect what state Environment
Minister Bob Debus described as a very significant botanical find.
Just 17 mature trees have been found.
The species was discovered by ecologist Robert Kooyman.
It was then identified by Royal Botanic Gardens' research specialist Dr Peter Weston as
belonging to the Eidothea genus.
The Government will seek an urgent listing of the species under the Threatened Species
Conservation Act by the state's independent Scientific Committee.
Eidothea were living fossils of the rainforests which once covered the ancient
supercontinent of Gondwanaland - now Australia, Africa, South America and New Zealand, Mr
Debus said.
"This discovery further unlocks the secrets of our native forests and offers exciting
opportunities to piece together the story of our natural heritage."END OF REPORT
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