9,000-year-old spruce is world’s oldest living tree
If you’re feeling a little grey behind the ears, spare a thought for Old Tjikko, a standard Norwegian Spruce that has a claim to the title of world’s oldest living tree.
Old Tjikko was first discovered in 2004 in the Dalarna Province in the mountains of central Sweden. And while the visible portion of the tree looks a little scraggly (the spruce’s trunks only have a lifespan of 600 years) it’s what lies beneath that is amazing.
Old Tjikko has an intricate system of roots which have been growing and expanding for 9,550 years. This dates Old Tjikko back to the beginning of the last Ice Age.
Scientists attribute Old Tjikko’s incredible lifespan to the plant’s ability to clone itself. Once one stem dies, another takes its place which is why its still going strong!
Old Tjikko has grown through some of mankind’s greatest accomplishments and darkest periods. To get a sense of its age, check out the infographic below:
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