![]() ![]() It prevents other plants from stealing the limited nutrients from the soil around them and the rocky landscape protects them from rampant and destructive wildfires. The brutal environment itself is actually a large part of their success. These ancient trees are typically found on barren, lifeless mountainsides that receive very little rainfall, have little-to-no soil for nutrients, and have excruciatingly long and cold winters. It turns out that barren wastelands may have their evolutionary advantages. Barren wastelands: the perfect growing environment? However, despite what scientists had thought, the Bristlecone Pines were not living in the pristine environments that they had envisioned. When researchers initially began studying this ancient species of tree, the longstanding belief was that in order for something to live for thousands of years, it must live in a near-perfect environment with plenty of water, ample nutrients and protection from the elements. The secret to their long life is their ability to adapt to their desolate and often unforgiving environment. The secret to their success isn’t a fountain of youth or mystical immortality bestowed upon them by a mythological figure. What sets them apart from any other tree species in the world is their unrivaled lifespan – they continue to grow no matter what. The Great Basin Bristlecone Pines are one of several varieties of Bristlecone pines. ![]() Sitting on a lonely mountainside it is a non-descript natural wonder of the world hidden in plain sight.Īt over 5,000-years old, this ancient Great Basin Bristlecone Pine ( Pinus longaeva) is a living fossil and a testament to the extraordinary abilities that exist within the plant kingdom. This tree has roots that pre-date Stonehenge by nearly 500 years and the Great Pyramids by several hundred more. Standing 30 feet tall with a gnarled, ancient trunk and windswept limbs stands the oldest organism on Earth. ![]()
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