List of oldest trees

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Pando, an 80,000-year-old colony of quaking aspen, is the oldest known clonal tree, located in Utah, United States

This is a list of the oldest known trees, as reported in reliable sources. Definitions of what constitutes an individual tree vary. In addition, tree ages are derived from a variety of sources, including documented "tree-ring" count core samples, and from estimates. For these reasons, this article presents three lists of "oldest trees", each using varying criteria.

There are three tables of trees, which are listed by age and species. The first table includes trees for which a minimum age has been directly determined, either through counting or cross-referencing tree rings or through radiocarbon dating. Many of these trees may be even older than their listed ages, but the oldest wood in the tree has rotted away. For some old trees, so much of the centre is missing that their age cannot be directly determined. Instead, estimates are made based on the tree's size and presumed growth rate. The second table includes trees with these estimated ages. The last table lists clonal colonies in which no individual tree trunks may be remarkably old but in which the organism as a whole is thought to be very old.

The current record-holders for individual, non-clonal trees are the Great Basin bristlecone pine trees from California and Nevada, in the United States. Through tree-ring cross-referencing, they have been shown to be more than five millennia old.

A clonal colony can survive for much longer than an individual tree. A colony of 47,000 quaking aspen trees (nicknamed "Pando"), covering 106 acres (43 ha) in the Fishlake National Forest of Utah, is considered one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world. The colony has been estimated to be 80,000 years old, although tree ring samples date individual, above-ground, trees at only an average of about 130 years.[1][2][3][4] A colony of Huon pine trees covering 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) on Mount Read, Tasmania is estimated to be around 10,000 years old, as determined by DNA samples taken from pollen collected from the sediment of a nearby lake. Individual trees in this group date to no more than 4,000 years old, as determined by tree ring samples.[5]

Individual trees with verified ages

Name Age (years) Species Location Notes
 ? Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Great Basin bristlecone pine
Pinus longaeva
White Mountains, California, United States Oldest known currently living tree. Tree cored by Edmund Schulman, age determined by Tom Harlan.[6]
Methuselah Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist.[nb 1] Great Basin bristlecone pine
Pinus longaeva
Inyo County, California, United States [6]
Prometheus (WPN-114) 4,844 Great Basin bristlecone pine
Pinus longaeva
Wheeler Peak, Nevada, United States Cut down in 1964.[6]
Gran Abuelo Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Patagonian cypress
Fitzroya cupressoides
Cordillera Pelada, Los Ríos, Chile Alive.[6][8] Located within Alerce Costero National Park.[9]
CBR26 3,266 Giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Sierra Nevada, California, United States Dead.[6]
D-21 3,220 Giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Sierra Nevada, California, United States Dead.[6]
The President 3,200 Giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Sierra Nevada, California, United States Alive.[6]
D-23 3,075 Giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Sierra Nevada, California, United States Dead.[6]
CMC 3 3,033 Giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Sierra Nevada, California, United States Dead.[6]
Scofield Juniper 2,675 Western Juniper
Juniperus occidentalis
Sierra Nevada, California, United States Dead.[6]
CB-90-11 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine
Pinus aristata
central Colorado, United States [6][10]
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi 2,302 Sacred fig
Ficus religiosa
Anuradhapura, North Central Province, Sri Lanka A sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which the Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.[6]
 ? 2,200 Coast Redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
northern California, United States Dead.[6]
Bennett Juniper 2,200 Western Juniper
Juniperus occidentalis
Sierra Nevada, California, United States [6]
SHP 7 2,110 Foxtail Pine
Pinus balfouriana
Sierra Nevada California, United States [6]
 ? Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Subalpine Larch
Larix lyallii
Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada [6][11]
CRE 175 1,889 Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
northern New Mexico, United States [6]
Miles Juniper Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Western Juniper
Juniperus occidentalis
Sierra Nevada, California, United States [6][12]
 ? Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Sugi
Cryptomeria japonica
Yakushima Island, Japan [13]
KET 3996 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis
Ketchum, Idaho, United States [6][14]
BFR-46 1,697 Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis
Wasatch Mountains, Utah, United States [6]
FL117 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Northern Whitecedar
Thuja occidentalis
Ontario, Canada [6][15]
ERE 1,670 Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis
northern New Mexico, United States [6]
RCR 1 1,666 Foxtail Pine
Pinus balfouriana
Sierra Nevada, California, United States [6]
 ? 1,661 Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis
South Park, Colorado, United States [6]
BBL 2 1,649 Foxtail Pine
Pinus balfouriana
Sierra Nevada, California, United States [6]
BCK 69 Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. Baldcypress
Taxodium distichum
Bladen County, North Carolina, United States [6][16]
 ? 1,636 Nootka Cypress
Callitropsis nootkatensis
Vancouver Island, Canada [6]
FL101 1,567 Northern Whitecedar
Thuja occidentalis
Ontario, Canada [6]
 ? 1,542 Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis
central Colorado, United States [6]

Old trees with estimated ages

Name Age (years) Species Location Notes
Llangernyw Yew 4,000-5,000 Common Yew
Taxus baccata
Llangernyw, Conwy, North Wales Girth of 10.75m. Situated in the churchyard of St. Dygain's Church in Llangernyw village. One of the 50 Great British Trees.
Sarv-e Abarkuh 4,000 Mediterranean cypress
Cupressus sempervirens
Abarkuh, Yazd, Iran Also called "Zoroastrian Sarv".[17][18]
The Senator 3,500 Pond cypress
Taxodium ascendens
Longwood, Florida, United States Destroyed by fire on January 16, 2012[19][20]
Alishan Sacred Tree 3,000 Formosan cypress
Chamaecyparis formosensis
Alishan National Scenic Area, Chiayi, Taiwan Collapsed on July 1, 1997, following heavy rainstorms.[21]
S’Ozzastru 3,000–4,000 Olive
Olea europaea
Luras, Sardinia, Italy [22]
Patriarca da Floresta 3,000 Cariniana legalis Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, Brazil Probably the oldest non-conifer in Brazil. Its name translates as "Patriarch of the Forest".
Raintree 3,000 Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Spring Mountains, Nevada, USA Great Basin Bristlecone Pine located near Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountain range in Southern Nevada, USA. Estimated 3000 years old but never cored.
Oliveira de Santa Iria de Azóia 2,850 Olive
Olea europaea
Santa Iria de Azóia, Portugal Magnific Olive tree, probably the last one from a large olive grove. Studied by UTAD University and now classified "Public interest tree" by the Portuguese National Forest Authority ; Tree ID
Unnamed 2,850 Olive
Olea europaea
Loures, Lisboa, Portugal Alive.[23]
Kayano Ōsugi 2,300 Japanese cedar
Cryptomeria japonica
Yamanaka Onsen, Ishikawa, Japan Girth of 9.6 m. One of the four trees believed to be sacred in the precincts in a Shinto shrine. Its name translates as "Great Sugi of Kayano".
Jōmon Sugi 2,170–7,200 Japanese cedar
Cryptomeria japonica
Yakushima, Japan Girth of 16.4 m. Exact dating is made difficult by the rotten core of the trunk. Its name is a reference to the Jōmon period of Japanese prehistory.[24][25][26]
Ballyconnell Yew 2,000–5,000 European yew
Taxus baccata
Ballyconnell, Annagh, Ireland Oldest tree in Ireland and possibly in Europe.[citation needed]
Fortingall Yew 2,000–3,000 European yew
Taxus baccata
Fortingall, Perthshire, Scotland Possibly the oldest tree in Britain[27]
Elia Vouvon 2,000–5,000 Olive
Olea europaea
Kolymvari, Crete, Greece Its name translates as "Olive Tree of Vouves".[28]
Castagnu dê Centu Cavaddi 2,000–4,000 Sweet chestnut
Castanea sativa
Sicily, Italy Its name translates as the "Hundred Horse Chestnut".
Te Matua Ngahere 2,000–3,000 Kauri
Agathis australis
Waipoua Forest, Northland, New Zealand Oldest tree in New Zealand. Its name translates as "Father of the Forest".
Ulleungdo Hyangnamu 2,000–3,000 Chinese Juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk, South Korea Girth of 4.5 m. One of the main branch was broken in 1985 by typhoon "Brenda".
Lady Liberty 2,000 Bald cypress
Taxodium distichum
Longwood, Florida, United States Sometimes called the "Companion Tree" to 'Senator".
Tnjri 2,000 Oriental plane
Platanus orientalis
Martuni Region, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Oldest tree in Nagorno-Karabakh. Its trunk is hollow. Also known as "Sose's Tree".
Stara Maslina 2,000 Olive
Olea europaea
Stari Bar, Bar Montenegro
The Pechanga Great Oak Tree 2,000 Coast live oak
Quercus agrifolia
Temecula, California, United States Oldest oak tree in the United States, possibly in the world.
 ? 2,000 Olive
Olea europaea
Tavira, Algarve, Portugal Oldest tree in Portugal.[29]
 ? 2,000 Olive
Olea europaea
Exo Hora, Zakynthos, Greece [30]
 ? 2,000 Yew
Taxus
Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia A grove known to possess several 2,000-year-old specimens.[31]
Houkisugi at Nakagawa 2,000 Japanese cedar
Cryptomeria japonica
Nakagawa Settlement, Yamakita town, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Kongeegen 1,500–2,000 Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur
Jægerspris Nordskov, Zealand, Denmark [32]
Methuselah 1,800 Coast redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
Woodside, California, United States [33]
Araucaria Madre 1,800 Araucaria Araucana Araucanía, Chile Located in Parque Nacional Conguillío. 1.800 rings account for at least 1.800 years.[34]
Granit oak 1,700 Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur
Granit, Bulgaria
Aubépines 1,500 Common hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie, Mayenne, France Oldest tree in France.[citation needed]
Angel Oak 1,500 Southern live oak
Quercus virginiana
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Highly speculative, live oaks are extremely difficult to age, and rarely live more than 500 years.[35]
Seven Sisters Oak 1,500 Southern live oak
Quercus virginiana
Mandeville, Louisiana, United States Highly speculative, live oaks are extremely difficult to age, and rarely live more than 500 years.[35]
Stelmužė Oak 1,500-2,000 Pedunculate oak
Quercus robur
Stelmužė, Zarasai, Lithuania Oldest tree in the Baltic states. Supposedly oldest oak in Europe.
Jardine Juniper 1,500 Rocky Mountain juniper
Juniperus scopulorum
Logan Canyon, Utah, United States [36]
Árbol del Tule 1,433–1,600 Montezuma cypress
Taxodium mucronatum
Santa María del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico Stoutest tree trunk in the world. Its name translates as the "Tule Tree".
Henryków Yew 1270 European yew
Taxus baccata
Henryków Lubański, Poland Oldest tree in Poland.[37]

Clonal trees

As with all long-lived plant and fungal species, no individual part of a clonal colony is alive (in the sense of active metabolism) for more than a very small fraction of the life of the entire clone. Some clonal colonies may be fully connected via their root systems, while most are not actually interconnected, but are genetically identical clones which populated an area through vegetative reproduction. Ages for clonal colonies, often based on current growth rates, are estimates.[citation needed]

Name Age (years) Species Location Notes
Pando 80,000[38]–1,000,000[39] Quaking aspen
Populus tremuloides
Fishlake National Forest, Utah, United States Covers 107 acres (0.43 km2) and has around 47,000 stems (average age 130 years), which continually die and are renewed by its roots. Is also the heaviest known organism, weighing 6,000 tonnes.
Jurupa Oak[40] 13,000[41] Palmer oak
Quercus palmeri
Jurupa Mountains, California, United States Quercus palmeri Engelm. = Quercus dunnii Kellogg.[41]
Old Tjikko 9,550 Norway spruce
Picea abies
Fulufjället National Park, Dalarna, Sweden The tree's stems live no more than 600 years, but its root system's age[42][43] was established using carbon dating and genetic matching.[44] Elsewhere in the Fulu mountains, 20 spruces have been found older than 8,000 years.[45]
Old Rasmus 9,500 Norway spruce
Picea abies
Härjedalen, Sweden [46]
 ? 3,000[47]–10,000[48] Huon Pine
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Mount Read, Tasmania, Australia Several genetically identical males that have reproduced vegetatively. Although single trees in this stand may be around 3 to 4 thousand years old, the stand itself as a single organism has existed for 10,000 years.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. It is uncertain when Methuselah's age was determined, but "it seems likely the tree had 4,789 rings (crossdated) in the summer of 1957".[7] The age given here is based on this reference point.

References

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  38. Quaking Aspen by the Bryce Canyon National Park Service
  39. Genetic Variation and the Natural History of Quaking Aspen, Mitton, J. B. & Grant, M. C. (1996). BioScience 46 (1): 25-31.
  40. Connor, Steve (Science Editor), "At 13,000 years, tree is world's oldest organism", The Independent (newspaper), United Kingdom, December 23, 2009, online article December 22, 2009.
  41. 41.0 41.1 May, Michael R.; Provance, Mitchell C.; Sanders, Andrew C.; Ellstrand, Norman C.; and Ross-Ibarra, Jeffrey, "A Pleistocene Clone of Palmer's Oak Persisting in Southern California", PLoS ONE, Vol. 4, Issue 12, December, 2009.
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