oldest tree in the world

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/10/10/bristleclone.pine.ap/index.html

totally amzing

Hi Mark, thanks for the link. Hopefully these scientists won't do the tree any harm. It must be exceedingly strong in fighting off insects and diseases. Plus the high winds it surely endures. Being that far off the beaten path, we trust it will not become a toutist attraction.

what an amazing tree, I remember seeing a photo of another tree with numerous branches that propped on the ground, just can't think where I saw it.

very cool.

I read about this one a couple of months ago. The cloning project is also taking clones of other historically important trees and offering them for sale. Like the only remaining apple tree from John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed); one from (supposedly) the one that King Charles II hid in; one that George Washington grew at Mount Vernon, etc. Cool to think of owning history, huh?

Anyone plan to buy a bristlecone pine tree?

I am not by any stretch a "tree hugger". I have burned wood for years and plan to keep doing so, BUT I just don't think it's wise for anyone, "scientist" or not, to say "here's the oldest tree we can find, let's poke a hole in it". It presumably has survived because it hasn't been bothered much, why do anything to it?

I thought the oldest tree was a Cypress... apparently not.

Very interesting program they have going with the cloning...

But taking core samples is a LOT better than what one geologist student guy did back in the '60s WITH PERMISSION from the US Forest service ~ he cut one down!!!!! Because of that, security of the trees was implemented ~ even security of the deadwood, thank God! I first took an interest in Bristlecone pines when I saw pictures of furniture made from the deadwood. It was gorgeous, but not IMHO what should be done with this tree, dead or not. They need to be preserved for the world's benefit, not just some rich guy who wants a neat coffee table.

I read the article as well. The project that is assisting in cloning trees and distributing the resulting plants (which are genetically identical to the originals), is, I believe, called Champion Trees. They have a web site.

The amount of viable genetic material required to successfully clone an organism of any sort is approximately 500 x 10 to the -9 grams. Otherwise expressed as 500 one bilionths of a gram.

Given the small quantity required, I hope the hole they dug in the tree is not terribly large.

Adam.

Also, the oldest seed-producing tree?