Axillary Meristems and the Development of Epicormic Buds in Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)

Epicormic buds in Wollemi Pine

Undamaged specimens of the rare and ancient Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis) routinely produce epicormic buds, an unusual development for a conifer. Burrows et al. (pp. 835-844) show that small meristems are located in the leaf axils and beneath the stem surface. Some of these meristems develop slowly into buds beneath the bark. Such buds are a ready source of epicormic shoots and thus replacement leaders, branches and leaves.