Tuesday 19 March 2024 - The Curatoreum Closed
The gift shop will be closed for the team to undertake stocktake. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Science


One of the Arboretum's most important roles is to generate research and new knowledge about its trees, forests, and their ecology.

The trees on the Arboretum site have faced droughts, floods, hot winds and severe frosts. These extreme conditions offer opportunities to see how the trees and forests respond to different environmental factors including season, weather, soil condition, moisture, nutrition, aspect, pests and diseases. This is a rich vein for research and learning about the cultivation, adaptation and possible preservation of some of the rarest trees in the world.

With assistance from our volunteers, Friends of the Arboretum and the Australian National University, the Arboretum is collecting baseline data through monitoring and analysing the relationship between the growth and condition of the trees. Together with additional provenance information, the data will be collated to form a long-term database and reference resource.

Research proposals and enquiries

All enquiries about current research and research proposals should be directed to the Arboretum, by phone on 02 6205 4056 or email: arboretum@act.gov.au

Research Projects

 

Articles

Research Article - Unusual branching in Wollemia nobilis

Secondary branching in Wollemia nobilis (Araucariaceae), an unexpected occurrence.

Author: Roger Hnatiuk

Read more (you will be directed to the CSIRO website)

An Introduction to Mosses at the National Arboretum Canberra

In this article, we will explore the intriguing features and ecological significance of mosses. Mosses can be found on exposed soil, on bark of trees, on foot paths, and on the rocky outcrops at the Arboretum.

Read more

An Introduction to Lichens at the National Arboretum Canberra

In this article, we will explore the remarkable features and ecological significance of lichens, with a particular focus on their growth and colonisation on rocks.

Read more

Friends Wollemi Propagation Project

7 September 2023

Today, Wollemi pines donated to the Arboretum by the Friends of the Arboretum were planted in Forest 32, marking a significant milestone throughout a project which also involved seed collection, germination, and scientific study.

Read more