The Great Basin Bristlecone pine trees live for thousands of years and the oldest of these gnarled, weather-beaten, and resilient old trees is confirmed to be almost 5,000 years old. share. Methuselah, a 4,852 year old Great Basin bristlecone pine is the oldest confirmed living non-clonal tree in the world. It has been named Methuselah and its location is kept secret by the guardians of this forest. Posted by 7 days ago. 541. Bristlecone pine wood that has fallen to the ground can remain intact for thousands of years in the cold, dry climate of the White Mountains. In old-growth groves there are few or no young Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pines. Close. 42 comments. A stand of these pines on Wheeler Peak in eastern Nevada is known to contain several trees over 3,000 years old and was the site of the Prometheus tree, which was cut down and dated to be just under 5,000 years old. Methuselah, a 4,852 year old Great Basin bristlecone pine is the oldest confirmed living non-clonal tree in the world. U.S. Forest Service; The Great Basin bristlecone pine (P. longaeva) has the longest life span of any conifer and is likely the oldest non-clonal tree on Earth. One of the three species, Pinus longaeva, is among the longest-lived life forms on Earth.The oldest Pinus longaeva is more than 4,800 years old, making it the oldest known individual of any species. Great Basin bristlecone pine trees (Pinus longaeva) from California and Nevada top the list of the oldest trees. These ancient Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pines are typically 1,000 to 2,000 years old. The term bristlecone pine covers three species of pine tree (family Pinaceae, genus Pinus, subsection Balfourianae).All three species are long-lived and highly resilient to harsh weather and bad soils. While Nevada’s boasted the ripe age of nearly 4,900 years, this new discovery narrowly surpassed it in age coming in at 5,066 years old. 3. Recent research indicates there is a living tree older than 5,000 years. Claim: A photograph shows the "oldest tree on earth," a 6000-year-old Baobob tree in Tanzania. There are several that are around 5,000 years old. There are many trees in the bristlecone pine forest of the White Mountains that exceed 4000 years of age, and are still growing. Common Names: Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, Intermountain Bristlecone Pine Scientific Name: Pinus longaeva Size (height & diameter) English & Metric: 40-60 ft. (6-12 m) tall, trunks 12-30" (.3-.8 m) in diameter Habitat: Exposed dry rocky slopes and ridges between 6500-11,000 ft (2280 - 3500 m) Flowering Season: N/A not a flowering plant Range: Mountains of Utah and the Great Basin. save. Researchers discover a bald cypress along North Carolina's Black River that is 2,624 years old. 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