Bristlecone pines or Bristlecone pines are the longest-lived trees on the planet. They withstand practically everything, to the point of surviving in extremely harsh and demanding environments. In fact, for some they are the oldest living organisms in the world. In fact, their life can last over 5.000 years. An infinity when compared with the very short duration of human life
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Pines with bristle cones or pin bristle cones are the longest-lived trees on the planet. They withstand practically everything, to the point of surviving in extremely harsh and demanding environments. In fact, for some they are the oldest living organisms in the world. In fact, their life can last over 5.000 years. An infinity when compared with the very short duration of human life.
The oldest fossil specimens of these plants have been discovered in the Thunder Mountains (46 million years), Nevada (42 million years), New Mexico (32 million years) and Colorado (27 million years).
This kind of pine grow up between 1.500 and 3.000 meters above sea level. At these heights, the wind blows almost constantly and temperatures can drop well below freezing. The soil is dry and receives little rain every year. But it is these extreme conditions that cause trees to grow so slowly, and some years fail to add even a ring of growth. The tree's needles, which grow in clusters of five, can also stay green for 40 years.
The oldest Pinus longaeva was discovered in the White Mountains of eastern California. The tree has a truly astonishing age: 5.062 years and is still alive. Another example nicknamed "Matusalemme“, Also located in the White Mountains near Bishop, is 4.843 years old. The exact location of both trees is kept secret to prevent tourists and hikers from harming them, perhaps in the hopes of seeing them up close. In the past, another 4.862-year-old old specimen, Prometheus, was shot down shortly after its discovery in 1964 by a geologist.
Most of these beautiful trees live in a number of areas owned by the United States federal government, including the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in California's White Mountains and Great Basin National Park in Nevada. Here are some pictures:
Il wood of Pinus longaeva is very dense and resinous and therefore resistant to the invasion of insects, fungi and other potential parasites. The extreme durability of the wood plays an important role in the longevity of the plant. While other tree species growing nearby undergo rot processes, these pines can remain intact even after death for many centuries. Instead of rotting, the wood undergoes an erosion process similar to that of stones, which gives it unusual shapes.
A real miracle of Nature.
Francesca Mancuso
Photo and source: Amusingplanet.com
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