Scientists from Sweden’s Umea University have discovered the world’s oldest tree on a mountain in central Sweden. Its root system is 9,500 years old and continues to grow.
This European spruce (also known as Norway spruce) is called Old Tjikko. It was discovered by scientists during a tree census in Sweden’s Fulufjallets National Park in 2004. After carbon 14 dating testing, it was found that its root system is at least 9,500 years old. years old, but the trunk is relatively young.
Scientists say the tree owes its survival for so long to its asexual reproduction properties, meaning it can effectively clone itself. No other big tree could live so long. The trunk of this 4-meter-tall tree looks quite young, but its root system has been growing for nearly 10,000 years. The researchers said: “During the Ice Age, sea levels were 120 meters lower than today. Much of the water between what is now England and Norway was forested at the time. This may be a fir tree from that place and era.”
