Some very ancient trees
In our industry there is lots of talk about " old growth " trees. Most of the chatter about old growth is unfortunately what we now call "alternative facts". But this blog is going to introduce you to the real deal when it comes to old trees. If you are feeling rusty and a bit over the hill well once you see the age of these trees you will feel young again.
Our first and oldest tree takes us to Longwood Florida where we meet the tree known as "the senator". This ancient organism was named after Florida state senator Moses Overstreet
Sadly this majestic bald cypress tree is no longer with us since people do drugs and drugs make them sometimes start fires. That being said before its demise it was known as the oldest bald cypress in the world and the fifth oldest tree on the planet overall. Standing at 125 feet tall with a trunk diameter of over 17' this tree is estimated or was estimated to be around 3,500 years old. Now let us put some perspective on that shall we? 3,500 years ago was the 4th millenium BC. For further understanding of what an old fart this tree was it began its life in the bronze age about the same time as ancient Egypt began to rise in prominence. By they way, check the fro on that dude! Impressive.
The fate of the senator was at first thought to have been a lightning strike but further investigation showed it was in fact arson. Good job humanity.
Next up we leave the continent and head on over to Sweden where we find Old Tjikko. The tree was discovered by Leif Kullman, a Professor of Physical Geography at Umeå University and gave the tree its nickname "Old Tjikko" after his late dog.
Now before you start with your " well that is not very impressive " stuff let me just tell you this tree makes the senator look like a toddler at a whopping 9,558 years old. Lets see how good you look at that age! Old Tjikko is a Norway spruce tree located in Fulufjället Mountain of Dalarna province in Sweden. Now the age of this tree gets a bit complicated as it is not known as vegetative cloning. Put simply the tree we see is relatively young but the trunk and root system are thousands of years old. The tree's shape is entirely due to the harsh climate in which it exists. The mountain produces high winds and extreme cold forcing the tree into a survival mode. Old Tjikko survives by allowing the trunk to die every so often but then the root system regrows a new one. It has also adapted by using a method called layering. Layering occurs when a tree's branch comes in contact with the earth, and new roots sprout from the contact point.
Next up we find ourselves in Southern California meeting the aptly named Methusaleh tree. Since you were completely spaced out in Sunday school here is a quick primer on that name Methusaleh. Methusaleh was old, biblically old and he was Noah's grandpappy. Ok back to the tree...
I love this. What an impressive plant. The Methusaleh tree is a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) estimated to be around 4,848 years old. It is located at around 9000 feet above sea level in the White Mountains of Inyo California. This tree also benefits from the cloning method of survival much like Old Tjikko. Interesting to note that both this and the previous tree are surviving in such harsh, mountainous climates.
For our last tree I bring you the oldest living thing in Asia, Sarv-e Abarqu. This cypress tree is also known as the Zoroastrian Sarv and is estimated to be around 4000 years old.
Located in Abarkooh, Yazd province the tree is a major tourist attraction and is lovingly cared for. The tree stands an estimated 80 feet high and with a perimeter of 33 feet at its trunk and 72 feet further up around the branches. The location of the tree seems more significant in that it is found very near the birthplace of our modern civilization and started its life about the same time the spoke and the wheel were invented.
Ok so now you know something you did not before you read this and you can talk all day about real old growth trees!
Recent Articles
- October 31, 2019Happy Halloween!
- September 11, 2019Learn the true story of how we came to have wood floors
- August 8, 2019Stop what you are doing and be amazed at these trees
- July 16, 2019Prepare to be floored. A gallery of some mind blowing installations
