Rainforest Research Project #3
Discovery of the Nightcap Oak
 Nightcap Oak |
Rainforests continue to be a place of amazing discoveries. Just two years ago, Robert Kooyman discovered a species new to science in the rainforests of Northern New South Wales. The amazing thing was that some of the country's top botanists had previously climbed within metres of it! Not surprising, the adults can be quite cryptic and difficult to distinguish, despite the fact that trees can reach 40 metres in height.
The tree dates back to the ancient super continent of Gondwana. Indeed, the discovery of this 'living fossil' has been compared to that of the Wollomi Pine discovered just a few years prior. Its incredibly primitive white flowers are made up of a small hermaphrodytic flower surrounded by 6-10 males. Following the discovery, Robert, working together with New South Wales Botanical Gardens research specialist Dr Peter Weston, confirmed the new species as belonging to the Eiothea genus of the Proteaceae family - the same family to which Australia's much-loved Macadamias, Grevillias and Banksias belong.
The Nightcap Oak is classified as Endangered. Without knowing the ecology of this species, how will rainforest managers know how to protect it?
"Studies on the endangered rainforest tree Eidothea hardeniana Weston & Kooyman. These studies are being conducted in association with Dr Peter Weston and Dr Maurizio Rossetto at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, and currently include research into the genetics of the species (and genus), pollination biology and floral visitation, ecology and environment of the species, and demography and population biology (as examples). Results will feed into the recovery plans of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
More Information
- Rainforest Research #1 - The Private Life of the Peach Myrtle
- Rainforest Research #2 - Walking with Rainforests
- Rainforest Research #4 - Vital Science for Big Scrub Landcarers
- Rainforest Research #5 - Genetic Footprints of Rainforest Trees
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