The Oldest Trees Around
Do you know the ages of the world's oldest trees? Hey, wait! Do not chop up any tree to count its annual rings just yet! Save your efforts because I have all the facts of the oldest living trees right here for you! Read on!
The old and living legendary tree: Methuselah, the Great Basin bristlecone pine
Present age: about 4,838 years old
Location: the White Mountains of eastern California
About this legendary tree: Do you know that bristlecone pines can live up to an age of 5 000 years? Well, I really hope this does not mean Methuselah have just another 162 more years to live. Anyway, there are three species of the bristlecone pine. They are the Rocky Mountains bristlecone pine, the Foxtail pine and the Great Basin bristlecone pine. Methuselah belongs to the Great Basin bristlecone pine family and is named after a long-living Biblical figure that was believed to have lived some 969 years ago! Methuselah is such a guarded tree that its actual location in the White Mountains is a secret. Had the public been told of the location of Methuselah, everyone would be scampering to be photographed beside the oldest tree in the world, hence stressing its roots.
Besides Methuselah, there is a bristlecone that is much older – the 5000-year-old Prometheus. Sadly, Prometheus was accidentally cut down by a researcher in 1964.
Its secret of longevity: Bristlecone pines have several survival strategies that might make other plants turn green with envy (pardon my humour). Firstly, bristlecone pines live in places where practically no other living things can be found , so there is little competition for water and nutrients. Bristlecone pines can freely spread their roots to take in the water and nutrients found in the soil. Bristlecone pines are also resistant to the cold temperature, dry soil and strong winds, but because of these harsh conditions, they grow very slowly. The wood of bristlecone pines is also resistant to insects, fungi and other pests, so bristlecone pines are almost disease-free. These are the reasons why the Methuselah and its family can live for so long! Now, if only we have these characteristics as well…
Singapore's old and living legendary tree: Tembusu tree
Present age: 150 years old
Location: Singapore Botanic Gardens
About this legendary tree: Many years ago, Tembusu trees were commonly planted here and can be found at Singapore Botanic Gardens , Tanglin area and along Bukit Timah Expressway.
Do you know that two Tembusu trees in the Singapore Botanic Gardens have been nominated as our Heritage Trees! One of these trees is believed to have existed even before the Singapore Botanic Gardens was built in 1859. The width of its trunk is an astounding 5.3 m and its branches are so strong that they can support our weight! If you have a $5 note, check out the picture of a tree that is captured on the back of the note –that is the picture of the oldest and famous tree in Singapore!
In general, Tembusu trees can grow to a height of 40 m! Its trunk is dark brown and cracked and is often used to make chopping boards. The hardy and durable wood of the Tembusu tree is often used for heavy constructions, flooring and furniture. Malays believed that the parts of the Tembusu trees have medicinal values. Its leaves measure about 5 cm to 8 cm, is light green in colour and have protective leaf tips. When the Tembusu blooms in May and October, it bears sweet-smelling white or yellow flowers and bitter red berries.
Its secret of longevity: The Tembusu will not be damaged if it is radically pruned. Instead , it will soon produce a crop of new shoots. Just like the Methuselah, the Tembusu is slow-growing. This hardy tree, however, can flourish well in heavy clay soil. The Tembusu is also resistant to pests and diseases. So, now we know its secret for a long life!
What about the oldest living human? Well, at present, the oldest living man is 114-year-old Yone Minagawa. I do not know his secret of longevity, but I think it has to do with a healthy lifestyle and a positive outlook of life. What do you think?