The oldest tree in the world: It is 5.066 years old and is called Methuselah
When the discussion about the oldest trees in the world is brought up, the first association for most people is giant sequoias. However, in the hilly parts of California grow trees that are unusual in many ways, writes Serbian "National Geographic".
As biologists explore our planet, they find older and older trees and push this limit. Until recently, it was thought to be the oldest tree in the world Methuselah pine (Pinus longaeva), which grows in the mountains of California and is said to be 4.849 years old.
#FactsAboutTrees🌳🌳
Did you know that until 2013, the oldest individual tree in the world was Methuselah, a 4,845-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) in the White Mountains of California?#planttrees #protecttrees #savetrees #ActOnClimate Now! pic.twitter.com/bgJwYOXVqU— Kyee Mbatha ~ Captain Green 👨✈️🌳🌳🇰🇪 (@Captain_GreenKe) February 23, 2022
Another older specimen of the Methuselah pine was later discovered, the oldest tree in the world, which lived 5.066 years. This is a very hardy, endangered species, used to survive in harsh conditions. It inhabits higher regions, poor soil, rocky areas and a dry, windy, climate with minimal rainfall. These are precisely the areas where other species cannot survive.
It has very branched and shallow roots and grows slowly, and wind and other adversities over hundreds and thousands of years force these trees into somewhat unusual shapes. The exact locations of the two oldest specimens are kept secret, precisely to ensure that these trees remain safe and live as long as possible.