Paleoendemics of Lutruwita/Tasmania
A solo overnight walk plan to see the Turning of Fagus in high country alpine Tasmanian region of Wulinantikala/Cradle Mountain turned into three nights of taking in the autumn colour sights and sounds, contemplating the grandeur of ancient Gondwanan paleoendemic (once widespread now restricted to a small area) trees of Nothofagus gunnii - Tasmania’s only deciduous species; Pencil Pines (Athrotaxis cupressoides), and King Billy Pines (Athrotaxis selaginoides). Can you believe these are the oldest trees in the world and are found only in Tasmania..!! Nothofagus gunnii as individuals are up to 350 years old, and fossil records date them to be up to 35 million years old.. Pencil Pines and King Billy pines are extremely slow growing, and thus extremely susceptible to fires. Delicately gorgeous and very hardy. The bonsai miniatures among them too. Combining with dolerite faces that which we recognize as Cradle Mountain, and over the quartzite rock formations of Hansen’s Peak.. honestly how can one’s mind not explode from this amazingness?! Again, all of these species and their habitats should be preserved and protected..
From afternoon light to golden hour to dusk and blue hour light, moonrise and starlit nights behind a thin layer of haze, to first light, moonset to sunrise light, harsh middle day light, to moody storm brewing cloud forming and then some.. well, no doubt love it all. Here’s an initial first batch.
