Vegetative regenerationVegetative regeneration

Vegetative regeneration

The Wollemi Pine is capable of vegetative regeneration (re-sprouting) which occurs through undifferentiated, actively dividing plant tissues (meristems). These are carried in the upper axils between vertical shoots and their leaves and slowly develop into young buds (primordia) within the thickening bark. This is an unusual characteristic in conifers which are usually devoid of bud-forming potential (Burrows 1999, Burrows et al. 2003). These buds can replace the leading shoot if it is damaged but may also spontaneously develop into secondary orthotropic shoots. New shoots may also arise from the basal region possibly through adventitious bud formation, but this form of vegetative regeneration is poorly understood (Burrows et al. 2003). It appears that this unusual long-lived meristematic potential exists in most (if not all) leaf axils and many will develop into bud primordia. This slow but continued development provides a ready source of additional or replacement leaders and thus new branches and leaves. Basal coppicing can lead to a number of trunks of various ages on a mature tree.