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Story: Conifers

Fossil cone

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Fossil cone

This fossil cone belongs to the extinct conifer Wairarapia mildenhallii and was found near Tīnui, Wairarapa, in rocks 92–108 million years old. The conifer is of the Araucariaceae family, and is thought to be related to Wollemia, the ancient conifer discovered in Australia in 1994.

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GNS Science

by Kate Whitley

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Conifers – What are conifers?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13564/fossil-cone (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 1 March 2009.