Longest living organisms on earth

[Dahlia]

Trees are supposedly the longest living organisms on earth. Many trees live for thousands of years!
The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in CA is believed to be the oldest living tree species.

 

[flowerbug]

however, underneath it all are the bacteria, viruses, phages, fungi, etc. which have been around for much longer, but because they live in a different way and aren't very big they're not considered as important - without them we'd not be here nor would the plants or other animals.

 

[flowerbug]

ok, i hadda, (smak me if you want i can take it )...

It's the equivalent of a humongous 1,500 soccer fields and is 8,650 years old | Discover Wildlife

This humongous fungus is the biggest organism in the world

www.discoverwildlife.com

 

[Dahlia]

ok, i hadda, (smak me if you want i can take it )...

It's the equivalent of a humongous 1,500 soccer fields and is 8,650 years old | Discover Wildlife

This humongous fungus is the biggest organism in the world

www.discoverwildlife.com

Wow, talk about old!!!

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Dahlia ..How old is the bristlecone tree? Is it the tree that’s nicknamed Methuselah ?

Have you been to the Redwood National Forest in CA. ? There are some ancient tall old redwood trees there . Standing next to them ya feel the size of a tiny mouse. There are trees that have fallen across roads where they have been cut open like a tunnel for cars to drive thru on the roads.

And the tallest tree (non redwood) in the world is the Douglas fir in Oregon 327 and 450-500 years old. It’s a beauty.

 

[Dahlia]

I thought I read that the bristlecone tree is around 4000 years old! Yes, I have been to the Redwood Forest many years ago!
Is the Oregon Douglas fir 327 feet tall!? Amazing!

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Dahlia Yes the bristlecone is that old 4000 years. I read the reason why acheived a long life is because it is hidden deep in the forests and protected from human visitors . No one can find it except the forest service.

There are several old growth Doug fir trees over 140’ - 200’ in the old growth forest near by .

There was once the tallest in the world Sitka spruce tree in Oregon thought to be 750-800 years old.i have visited . It’s a beautiful full tree. It was about 144 feet tall with a broken top, broken from a storm , but over 15 feet in diameter, and 48 feet in circumference. The national park had a ramp and deck built over the trees huge roots and around the circumference of tree to protect the tree from visitors.

Nice you have seem the redwood forest too. It’s a sight to behold definately some beautiful giants of the world forests the only place they grow.

 

[SPedigrees]

I wonder how long a colony of quaking aspen can live. Perhaps they could live a long time since as the old trees die off (at fairly young ages) new ones spring from the root collective. But typically they get replaced by slower growing hardwoods, oaks, maples, etc. though, at least here in the northeast.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Yes the oldest quaking Aspen is the largest organism in the world in Utah about 14,000 years old. I can see why they spread rapidly and in mountains away from humans they are left to spread their roots for miles. Not one of my fav encounters.
Believe me it took yers over 10 to stop seedlings from popping up everywhere after 3 Quaking Aspen trees wore cut down. A royal pain in the caboose…