Strawberry "Pine" & Fond Memories of Gondwana

Microcachrys tetragona is an ancient lineage of conifer, the pollen of which has been found fossilized in Antarctica, an indication that it grew there millions of years ago when the climate was much different. Today, this rare member of the Podocarpaceae Family only occurs in one habitat in the world - the alpine regions of Central Tasmania.
In this episode of Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't, we explore some of the highland, ancient conifers here such as Diselma archeri, Athrotaxis selaginoides, and Athrotaxis cupressoides. Filmed only two weeks away from the Southern Summer Solstice, we were caught in an ice storm on this frigid December day, proving how bizarre and I predictable the weather in the Tasmanian Highlands can be.
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Thanks, GFY.

[@richardlynch1094]

This disabled old botanist really appreciates you Joe. Through poverty and disease, my travel days are limited. You bring me exactly where I want to go. Thank you and Happy New Year's!

[@SoNoFTheMoSt]

Thats beautiful man. im assuming youve seen his series on New Caledonia but if not it is by far the most awesome and thats saying a lot :)

[@TheMuerdago]

"Step away from the Wombat"...🤣

[@jfu5222]

I'm really happy that Tony has found a way to make a living with KZbin. I'll probably never make it to Tasmania, but if I do I'll be better educated because of this wonderful bastard.

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

The son of a bitch really is awesome.

[@bobbaird1275]

I am glad you are enjoying our weather.

[@i-love-comountains3850]

🤟😁

[@bumbleguppy]

What a beautiful yucca! "That's a blueberry" Okay, how about that low growing pine? "That's an oak" Hey, snake grass "No, that's a dioecious true grass" I'm going home 😵‍💫

[@stickfinderz]

😂🤣

[@dogcalledholden]

Come to Australia they said. Lovely sunny weather they said. Lots of light they said. To think Tasmania has the same distance from the equator as the South of France...I lived in Hobart for several years, and I loved it. I had 13 mountain peaks visible from my loungeroom window. I grew up on a flat coastal plain in Queensland, flat as Kansas.

[@matthewkimble6099]

Finding the Strawberry Pine and then the rainbow coming out over the lake pretty much capped off this incredible episode! Thanks for bringing us in the US this vision from the other side of the globe.

[@scottcave7383]

It’s interesting how many unrelated plants in this area have settled on that plasticy celery leaf form

[@ossoduro7794]

The wombat is the prince of marsupials because it leaves cube-shaped feces everywhere to let everyone know who they are and how they're doing; you have to be princely to pull that off, or at the very least, think you are.

[@christophermclaughlin8899]

“King Billy”, aka William Lanne (real name unknown) 1835-1869. Quite a depressing story there.

[@user-oj9sv4vx6o]

The bee is a European Bumble Bee, introduced to Tasmania. There have been many proposals to introduce them to the mainland, thankfully unsuccessfully.

[@creeperFIN123]

I hope you explore central/south Chilean flora at some point as it would be good continuation to these other south hemisphere isolated antarctic flora videos. The central-south part is full of globulus eucalyptus and radiata pines but towards the andes theres less plantations and in the nahuelbuta coastal range theres the only coastal remnants of araucaria araucana growing with Fitzroya Cupressoides and monocarps etc. Then ofc the chilean matorral with the jubea palm if you go to the cerro cantillana or rural valparaiso area you can find not only the palm but the corresponding endemic plants associated. I would love to go back to chile now that i found my passion with plants. Im half chilean but lived most of my life in finland and in winter i do miss any greenery. Thank you for transporting me somewhere lush all winter.

[@pansepot1490]

He has been in the Andes before covid I think. Visited various environments from high forests, to desert to costal. Search among his older videos.

[@creeperFIN123]

@@pansepot1490 yes he visited atacama and the foggy coasts and the high andean plateus but the southern forest are a completely different habitat and i cant find any vids on that i mean if there are any send them my way i would be interested. As there is very little information in video form about the valdivian rain forest and chilean matorral etc. It seems like ill have to drag my butt there and make some myself XD very underappreciated nature there and they keep destroying it :(

[@BubblewrapHighway]

Hey Tony. I'm 33 and was looking forward to a lot more travel in my life until I got this fucking degenerative disc disorder, now I can't lift or even sit anymore. So I can't drive or travel. These videos will probably be the only way I'll ever be able to see these landscapes. Just want to say thank you!

[@everythingallin4905]

Sorry to hear about that.. Living with pain sucks and It's easy for someone to say don't let it get you down but no one knows what you're going through. I wish you the best stranger and hope you conquer it.

[@yakncast7530]

Name is Joey.

[@stickfinderz]

Same here with degenerative disc disease..i force myself to get out when i can and when i can't, i watch videos like Joey's for a good belly laugh and much needed mind expansion with the help of a few botanicals...know your human rights 💚💘

[@BubblewrapHighway]

@@yakncast7530 His name is Joey Santore, aka Tony Santoro, aka Joe Blowe.

[@azuredivina]

"you could see across the lake they got the visitor center. you could go in a visitor center and you could get yourself thrown out the visitor center. that indeed has happened sometimes." 😂 my bf & i laughed so much at that.

[@Toddis]

That creek ASMR really had me relaxed

[@--Paws--]

Botany and geology, great episode.

[@xbc2000_]

I lived in Tasmania until I was 21 years old, and it's great to still be learning things about my island home! Thank you for these videos

[@hkaur4487]

Best channel on KZbin

[@freesocialrockclimbing]

Thanks for bringing me back to my favourite Tassie plants, my old friends

[@SamTheEnglishTeacher]

Ah man I thought this might've been New Zealand with the title possibly referring to pohutukawa trees, which are in bloom at the moment (sometimes called 'NZ Christmas tree' or similar). Hope you come to NZ, would love to learn about our flora. Plenty of interesting native plants + birds & we have virgin forest still. After doing a quick wiki read I realise our native trees have been exported, so you maybe already seen em back home.

[@tuffymartinez]

Thank You Tony.... You always fascinate, amaze me. I have trouble remembering folks names & listen to you... just amazing. Sooo I keep watching/listening/enjoying/hoping sublingually your wonderful vocabulary will rub off just a bit and I can sloooowly start to identify what I try not to step on hiking the Bay Area..... TM

[@ross1972]

Those conifers growing out of the water is like New Caledonia and the Richia are also like Dracophyllum in New Caledonia and New Zealand. I bet the wombats muching on things have influanced the plants to grow differently. Nice summer weather.

[@tonypalmer8556]

My wife was right again. She has been, and told me I would love Tazmania. Just like the weather in British Columbia. Love your job, thanks.

[@michellem3050]

First video of yours I've seen. Totally geeking out with you on all the interesting and very different plants than here in BC.

[@lucyb15]

Fascinating plants! Tasmania is a place of wonder, i prolly won't get there...thanks for sharing your experience.

[@Kentrosauruses]

Maybe it’s because you’re knowledgeable in a science I know very little about, but to me you’ve gotta be one of the most intelligent people on KZbin.

[@peterbathum2775]

Thanks. Appreciate your adventurous spirit. Still staring at the unpurchaed booklist you give out a while back but I’m still dedicated to learning this area of knowledge. Share your interest in nature, growing things, lifelong learning. Not dead yet… I live in a national forest so cheers. Keep firetruckin goin. I recommend your channel to anyone who’ll listen.

[@mecynogea]

The person ducking out in the corner of 32:30 really freaked me out.

[@StuffandThings_]

Microcachrys might just have one of my favorite of all the fleshy conifer cones, since it actually _looks_ like a cone turned to fruit. I'm surprised its not a more popular plant for cultivation in temperate regions, its just so fascinating and nice. A somewhat local nursery has some and I'm planning on growing it in my wet, oceanic west coast climate (hopefully the somewhat Mediterranean summers and increasingly unpredictable weather don't cause issues).

[@VoMFilms]

As a teen I went there on a school field trip in winter. It was freezing and windy, light rain, my mates shoes just fell apart as we started the walk, and then we had a snow ball fight over the top of a septic tank

[@k33k32]

Thank you for another stellar look at a fascinating environment I'll never see in person. Also, thanks for the Jonathan Richman reference!

[@emilymusicwithaj]

That made me smile too!

[@Idrinklight44]

What a great channel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JesseValentine]

I'm so thrilled he finally made it to Tasmania! It's everything I was hoping for.

[@BigBandLittleClub777]

Amazing to see different rain forests in the world, can't wait to see where you go next! 😀 Love & Botany, videos are highly interesting, insightful and informative 👏

[@YAIHO777]

Always enjoy your vidges... amazed at your botanical vocabulary. Thumbs up from a fellow Chicagoan.

[@betula2137]

Loggers often use the rationale: 'we can log the forest because there is no wilderness left on Tasmania, they've all been logged recently' Well explain any of the trees over 200 years old -- or the 7/10 UNESCO ranking Anyways they filmed some Walking with Dinosaurs scenes here because it captured exactly what they wanted for Gondwana

[@RobinMarks1313]

I LOVE GEORGE CARLIN !!!! In fact, I love him so much, I worship him. I worship him so much, that I've started a church to teach the prophet's teachings. It's called the Church of Carlin. So far, I'm it's only member but I'm hoping to grow the movement and share the love. So, if you aren't part of the BIG CLUB, then you are one of God's little children and I will lead you to his light. Please, open your hearts. Open your mind. Join the Church of Carlin. Be part of the joy, be a big member of C.O.C. (Church of Carlin) It's a growing movement.

[@shellyyy3945]

Been ages since I've gotten any of your videos recommended man, glad ur still posting

[@jennanidanu1]

Your so lucky to get to go to Tasmania, I have always wanted to go! The last of the Antarctic polar rain forest, it would be amazing to see it! Come to Wyoming some time soon. Take care

[@florbz5821]

Awesome video man! Learned a lot about Ericaceae this time around! Keep up the good work!

[@MartinSmith123]

Mate, f@#kn' love these vids. Have learned heaps about the weird-arse native flora in my own backyard. Cheers!

[@Joannesyoga]

Didn't realize Tasmania was so cold. Familiar with schizoid weather living in northern England. Wonderful place from a wonderful chap :)

[@rockybamf]

Such an interesting environment! & beautiful too

[@AndrewJohnClive]

Wow! I love that eucalyptus!❤

[@LeylaWilson-0]

So many bangers in this episode !

[@abenezer210]

that intro was fantastic.

[@snortkarl2070]

Thanks for the great content Tony my Italian brother

[@yakncast7530]

Name is Joey.

[@b.a.d.2086]

Dang! Weather crazier than you are! What an adventure and I'm so glad we're along for the ride! Poop cubes might be interesting in the commercial nursey trade in California to grow oleander cuttings. I want the furry pooper. Got lots of Utah lawn to eat.

[@davidgibbs8605]

12:36 in - Bombus terrestris queen, introduced from Europe, they are active in my garden in UK right now.

[@LA-jq3ur]

Bumblebees are feral in Tasmania. Introduced to enhance pollination of fruit crops and they escaped. They steal nectar that natuve bees and some birds rely on.

[@01251974]

Very cool!

[@bluefish239]

That coral lichen was super cool

[@martinhill9524]

Luv ya mate

[@fleurdickinson5626]

Ahh was last there a couple of months ago and have never seen so many wombats before on that hill where you saw one. At least a dozen. I walked cradle mountain, which is so so pretty. Wish I had watched this first. Oh well next time !

[@dynastesgigas6996]

Oh, I have Microcachrys tetragona! I'm growing it outside (Oregon, zone 8b) in a 10 inch terracotta "azalea pot" with a well-drained acidic potting mix that I made for it. It's doing well, but it definitely grows pretty slowly, even with some liquid fertilizer. Dancing Oaks nursery has it if anybody wants to get some (they do mail order; prices at the nursery are cheaper if you happen to be in the area).

[@SA-bc6jw]

Thanks for recommending the nursery. I'm a bit further north than you but will maybe give it a try anyway.

[@MrMomo182]

They never had boot scrubbing visitor centres there when I was a kid.

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

They probably didn't have Phytophthora cinnamomi yet, either. I don't think the boot scrubs will do much but it's an effort at least.

[@jaredknapp8886]

More wombats please! And southern hemisphere ericaceae.

[@ThalassTKynn]

I dunno if you've been out west, but in WA we have a parasitic tree called the Western Australia Christmas Tree (Wikipedia tells me it's Nuytsia). It's real neat, and flowers in December. The weather is better over there, too 🤣

[@karenshort3880]

My friend showed me this site. Not disappointed.

[@CuriousFrog]

The nothofagus gunnii looks like crinkle cut chips mm

[@Wedge53]

Would love to see some drone footage of Tasmania.

[@CliffordHubert]

Check out Rob Parsons on KZbin.

[@CliffordHubert]

Also Tassie Boys Prospecting. I should have said that before. Sorry Levi!

[@thedudegrowsfood284]

Weather Gods doin a Hakka

[@karenshort3880]

I learned that wombats are near sighted. And they can be quite aggressive if approached from the front.

[@SchonecrestFarms]

💚

[@bdhanes]

"My gas has not been that bad today" GFYS Joey. ❤

[@raphlvlogs271]

the growth rates can still differ a lot even within the same species depending on the amount of wind sun and water in the environment

[@Jarooosa]

You know what they say down here? If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes.

[@thesilentone4024]

You should do some city plant videos there fun sometimes. I think you should visit deserts and tropical cities and see if they use the same trees or not.

[@ethansteffes8193]

He's got some old video like that 2 or 3 years ago

[@snowstrobe]

Nice. I should see more of my birthland... I love the 'stem' structure of that tetragona (strawberry) 33:08 . Wombat poo - cubed. Bee - she. First Nation people use the word 'elder' more than 'king'. Talking of poo, my wall calendar this year is one showing different animal poo, by naturalist Chris Pakeham.

[@danisyx5804]

that nothophagus is amazing

[@c0rnsocks]

thanks

[@ThalassTKynn]

I'm from Australia but I live in Canada, and I've been tempted to try and grow a snowgum up here. Bit worried about introducing an invasive species, if it survives at all.

[@pfv1247]

nice

[@dylan8285]

Wonder how that pine that looks like a juniper but is actually a redwood tree would do in the Midwest

[@toughenupfluffy7294]

"Step away from the wombat..." LOL!

[@SrTacoman]

i can smell this video

[@spinningindaffodils]

Thats a nice wombat 10/10

[@stonehartfloydfan]

Getting the vibe that the trip to the visitors centre did not go so well.

[@Entrophonics]

Where does this dolerite get off being so intrusive?

[@gtmunch]

“Step away from the wombat miss…” 😂

[@anon6056]

Welcome to the southern hemisphere!

[@erikjohnson9223]

The strawberry pine's cone looks like a raspberry. So was the common name about flavor?

[@pierre-alexandreclement7831]

❤️

[@tombenson8702]

You make me miss Skokie

[@davidwilde4933]

Not an original observation this, but it broadly looks very much like upland areas in the UK. Get into any detail at all and it's completely unlike the UK. Just getting my head around the concept of a cool summer Mediterranean climate.

[@talanigreywolf7110]

C'mon people, if ya watched and liked then let Joey know! 👍❤❤👍

[@peterbathum2775]

Be careful, that trail’s giving me vertigo over here

[@bankiey]

That boronia citriodora is tight. Anyone here seen its fruit? I'm looking but I cant find pictures of it anywhere

[@HannahPhilbey]

Wombats can reach speeds of around 40km/hr and are prone to biting Haha..

[@kendallkahl8725]

Quasi Tundra species that could make in Taiga. Southern Taiga for sure.

[@c0rnsocks]

Shout out Duane Milligan

[@kendallkahl8725]

Seems like many of those would trive in Alaska and Canada.

[@brandonbernard4171]

26:00 first to invent the wheel

[@elevatorphish]

Invasive bumblebee

[@OGMrE]

Mighty Car modes was there.

[@jjdawg9918]

I wonder if you saw any Eucalyptus Vernicosa. I have been trying to get seeds forever

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Yes next video

[@karenshort3880]

I’ve petted a wombat before

[@STONEDay]

Cooper Sideyes gets higher? What?

[@CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt]

Athrotaxis cuppressoides is a higher elevation, more cold-tolerant tree

[@babyhands9287]

Oh, Gondwana? Beautiful girl, never medder.

[@fortyforfree]

Anyone have similar content, but en español. Recommend some channels plis Peace and love

[@stickfinderz]

Wombats shit in squares and brooks gargle...😂🤣brooks, babble over here in Alger 💚