Methuselah (tree)
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Methuselah (estimated germination 2832 BC) is a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) in the White Mountains of California, which was 4,789 years old when sampled in 1957 by Schulman and Harlan. As of 2010[update], it is the oldest known living non-clonal organism at about 4,841 years.[1][2] Other longer-lived discoveries are clonal organisms, such as the 9,500 year old Norway spruce clonal colony known as Old Tjikko in Sweden,[3] and an 11,700 year old creosote plant, named "King Clone", near Lucerne Valley, California.
The tree is named after Methuselah, a Biblical figure reputed to have lived 969 years. Growing in the "Forest of Ancients" in the Methuselah Grove at 2,900–3,000 m (9,500–9,800 ft) above sea level, its exact location is currently undisclosed to the public as a protection against vandalism.[4]
An older specimen, WPN-114 and nicknamed Prometheus, was more than 4,844 years old when cut down in 1964 (estimated germination date 2880 BC). Another tree, approximately 4,600 years old, is still living. A dendrochronology, based on these trees and other bristlecone pine samples, extends back to about 9000 BC, albeit with a single gap of about 500 years.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Info and clips from documentary film
- ^ Gymnosperm Database (March 15, 2007). "Pinus longaeva". http://www.conifers.org/pi/pin/longaeva.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ Science Daily: World's Oldest Living Tree -- 9550 years old -- Discovered In Sweden
- ^ Methuselah Walk. U.S. Forest Service / Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association.
- ^ Hall, Carl (1998-08-23). "Staying Alive". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/08/23/SC72173.DTL.
[edit] External links
- Swedish spruce may be world's oldest living treeReuters April 11, 2008
