World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
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Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#2Had to read this in reader mode because while the text of the article was in English, the cookie pop up was in what I’m guessing is Norwegian, and covered most of the space where the text is. Who does that?
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#3That title is rather clickbaity for a "science" magazine. Crucially, the tree prominently featured in the large picture is not 10,000 years old and only its root system originates from that period:
> Today Old Tjikko’s tree trunk is only five metres high. Although the spruce may have had many such trunks over the millennia, the tree's root system has survived all these years. No part of today’s living tree is as old as 9 500 years, but genetically, the tree is exactly the same individual as when it began to germinate.
Indeed if we allow equating the plant to the age and extent of its root system (genetically the same organism, although no part of the present plant is as old), I already found this other tree root system named "Pando" in Utah, USA, that is estimated to be up to 14,000 years old - making the Swedish spruce's claim to world's oldest dubious:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pando_(tree)
Pando is also thought to be the largest and heaviest known single organism, covering 43 hectares and weighing 6,000 tons.
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#4That title is rather clickbaity for a "science" magazine. Crucially, the tree prominently featured in the large picture is not 10,000 years old and only its root system originates from that period: > Today Old Tjikko’s tree trunk is only five metres high. Although the spruce may have had many such trunks over the millennia, the tree's root system has survived all these years. No part of today’s living tree is as old…
What is a "tree"?
None of the leaves on Methuselah are 5000 years old, but we say that the tree is that old.
Kind of a Tree of Theseus situation going on.
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#5That title is rather clickbaity for a "science" magazine. Crucially, the tree prominently featured in the large picture is not 10,000 years old and only its root system originates from that period: > Today Old Tjikko’s tree trunk is only five metres high. Although the spruce may have had many such trunks over the millennia, the tree's root system has survived all these years. No part of today’s living tree is as old…
yes, one tree with multiple trunks. Many trees will drop their leaves annually, then recreate new leaves next spring. Turns out the spruce can do this with its entire trunk. I found it fascinating and enlightening, and learned something new.
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#6Had to read this in reader mode because while the text of the article was in English, the cookie pop up was in what I’m guessing is Norwegian, and covered most of the space where the text is. Who does that?
[deleted]
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#7That title is rather clickbaity for a "science" magazine. Crucially, the tree prominently featured in the large picture is not 10,000 years old and only its root system originates from that period: > Today Old Tjikko’s tree trunk is only five metres high. Although the spruce may have had many such trunks over the millennia, the tree's root system has survived all these years. No part of today’s living tree is as old…
yes, one tree with multiple trunks. Many trees will drop their leaves annually, then recreate new leaves next spring. Turns out the spruce can do this with its entire trunk. I found it fascinating and enlightening, and learned something new.
IANAB (B = botanist) but I believe that many species of tree can grow more than one trunk and that the spruce is not unusual in this respect.
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#8That title is rather clickbaity for a "science" magazine. Crucially, the tree prominently featured in the large picture is not 10,000 years old and only its root system originates from that period: > Today Old Tjikko’s tree trunk is only five metres high. Although the spruce may have had many such trunks over the millennia, the tree's root system has survived all these years. No part of today’s living tree is as old…
What is a "tree"? None of the leaves on Methuselah are 5000 years old, but we say that the tree is that old. Kind of a Tree of Theseus situation going on.
You are 10 years old, I am also 10 years old. We are all 10 years old. [10]
[10] https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/science/your-body-is-youn...
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
What is a "tree"? None of the leaves on Methuselah are 5000 years old, but we say that the tree is that old. Kind of a Tree of Theseus situation going on.
You are 10 years old, I am also 10 years old. We are all 10 years old. [10] [10] https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/02/science/your-body-is-youn...
While its true that most cells in our body replace once about seven years, humans do have e.g. neuron cells that are about as old as the individual: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/does-body-replace-itself-s...
Re: World's oldest tree still growing near the Norwegian-Swedish border
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
yes, one tree with multiple trunks. Many trees will drop their leaves annually, then recreate new leaves next spring. Turns out the spruce can do this with its entire trunk. I found it fascinating and enlightening, and learned something new.
IANAB (B = botanist) but I believe that many species of tree can grow more than one trunk and that the spruce is not unusual in this respect.
Aspen trees do this.