Oldest Verified Living Tree

The oldest verified living tree is Methuselah, a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) in California, aged 4,857 years.

What is the oldest verified living tree?

The oldest verified living tree is Methuselah, a Great Basin bristlecone pine located in California that is aged 4,857 years.

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Explanation

This remarkable organism is a specific type of pine known scientifically as Pinus longaeva. Reaching an age of nearly five millennia, this ancient tree stands as a testament to biological endurance and the passage of deep time on Earth.

For an ordinary reader, the existence of such an ancient living being can be quite surprising, as it predates many major milestones of human history. It highlights the stark contrast between human lifespans and the extraordinary longevity found in certain parts of the natural world.

Understanding the presence of this ancient pine in California offers a glimpse into how resilient specific species can be when adapting to harsh environmental conditions over thousands of years.

Source and verification

Source
Wikipedia: List of superlative trees Tier B
Last verified
Confidence
90 out of 100
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How we verify facts

The headline, short answer and explanation on this page were drafted with AI assistance. A human editor checked them against the source before publishing.

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