Pine tree is nearly 5,000 years old

A pine tree in the United States has sprouted since the ancient Egyptians had not yet built the pyramids and today it continues to grow.

Methuselah tree is about 4,841 years old.Photo: sina.com.cn

Grows on a white ridge in the White Mountains, California, USA, the tree is named Methuselah. According to the Bible, Methuselah is the name of the oldest living person in the world (969 years). In fact, it is a Bristlecone pine tree ( Pinus longaeva ). The two scientists found Methuselah in 1957. Scientists claim, as of 2010, trees have survived 4,841 years. At that age, it is the tallest non-reproductive asexual creature on the planet.

Page Answers said that the exact location of Methuselah was not disclosed because the scientific community and authorities were concerned that vandals would seek it. People only say it grows in a place called "Methuselah forest" at an altitude of 2,900-3,000 m.

Pine trees in the White Mountains live in extremely harsh conditions. The average rainfall in the mountains is less than 30 cm / year so they always lack water. Their roots plug into lime lava, which has almost no nutrients. In order to survive, Bristlecone pine only uses very little nutrients. So, despite their lifespan of thousands of years, their bodies are not very tall - maximum of about 18 m. Each year the stem length is only increased by about 0.25 mm.

If a Bristlecone pine named Prometheus is not cut down in 1964, the title of champion of longevity in the plant world will not belong to Methuselah. According to scientific calculations, Prometheus trees have a life of 4,844 years when it is cut. It was also discovered that a tree of the same species as Methuselah is approximately 4,600 years old and still alive.