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Wollemi pine trees were discovered in 1994 in the Blue Mountains.

The original wild specimens of the ancient Wollemi pine tree are safe for now as fires which have burnt more than 220,000 hectares continue throughout the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales. Yet their exact location remains secret. Associate Professor Cris Brack explained why to the ABC.

"This tree has been isolated from the general population for a long time, so there may be a whole bunch of new root fungus and root pathogens that it's never come across," Associate Professor Brack said.

"So even things that we might think are quite general in the population might be enough to kill it."

Read the full article at the ABC website.