Trees are the most long-lived organisms on our planet. Fifty copies of these plants have been found, the age of which has exceeded the threshold of the millennium.
What affects the age of plants?
The long lifespan of trees is possible for several reasons. Firstly, it is facilitated by the fact that these plants extract nutrients, as a rule, from the atmosphere. From the soil, they take only ten percent of the substances necessary for life.
Another secret of longevity is the disunity of the vascular system. This allows the tree to continue to live even if one of its parts has died. Many of the long-lived plants are able to produce protective compounds designed to fight deadly parasites and bacteria.
Spruce
Even from children's fairy tales, each of us knows that many trees are long-lived. At the same time, the age of 100 is only the beginning for them. It is even difficult to imagine the fact that some of the plants that currently live on our planet stood tens of centuries ago. They could see different cultures and civilizations, as well as becomewitnesses of important historical events. If these trees could speak, then they would certainly be the main and reliable source for describing the stages of development of world history. However, today they are silent witnesses of many incidents, keeping all the secrets.
Long-lived trees are common spruces well known to everyone. This plant is widespread in our country, as well as in Europe and America.
Spruce is a coniferous evergreen tree. The place of its distribution is the Northern Hemisphere of our planet. Currently, this tree is widely used in landscape design. Also, spruce occupies a leading position among conifers used for construction purposes.
It is believed that they named this tree from the ancient Roman word "pix", which means "resin". Indeed, the plant has an incredibly fragrant resin, the same as its needles.
Spruce has no leaves. Needles grow instead. The tree propagates by seeds that form inside the cones. The shape of the spruce crown is a geometrically clear cone. At the same time, the lower branches, which are located on the trunk near the ground, are longer. Toward the top of the tree, their size gradually decreases.
Spruce can grow in coniferous forests, and also be part of mixed arrays. At present, it is difficult to find another such tree that would be a symbol of the cultural traditions of many peoples. With this plant, it is customary to celebrate Christmas and New Year not only in Russia, but also in Europe,as well as in America. Spruce is one of the favorite characters of fairy tales, cartoons, poems and songs. In other words, it is not the last role assigned to it in the culture of many peoples.
The oldest spruce on the planet
How old can these long-lived trees be? The oldest spruce on our planet grows in Sweden. It was discovered in the province of Dolarna on Mount Fulu. To date, the age of the plant is 9550 years. At the same time, the ancient spruce looks quite young. Biologists have found an explanation for this fact. The spruce that currently stands in Sweden is a shoot of an ancient tree, the remains of which are located underground.
Sequoia
Long-lived trees are not necessarily gigantic giants. However, the sequoia, which has the greatest age, equal to five thousand years, in addition to everything, is one of the highest on Earth. Some of its specimens have a gigantic height, which can reach one hundred and fifteen meters. A person near such trees looks like just an ant.
The bark of the California sequoia is very thick. Its thickness reaches thirty centimeters. The bark of this tree has an interesting feature that does not burn on contact with fire. It simply chars, which allows it to serve as a kind of bulletproof vest that protects the core.
These long-lived trees look fabulous. Walking in the forest where redwoods grow, you just forget about the real world.
Practical application
The tree is evergreen and coniferous. This symbolThe US state of California belongs to the Taxodiaceae family.
Sequoia is not only incredibly beautiful. The plant is resistant to decay processes, which makes its wood a valuable material for the manufacture of furniture and sleepers, telegraph poles and paper. Even tiles are made from it.
A medium-sized sequoia has a trunk with a diameter of about eight meters. Moreover, every year its size increases by two and a half centimeters.
Baobabs
These long-lived trees of the planet amaze any traveler with their appearance. From the school bench, we know that the trunk of this plant is the thickest on the planet. Its diameter can reach ten meters. But the height of an adult baobab cannot be called large. It is from eighteen to twenty-five meters.
Baobabs are the same long-lived trees as sequoias. Their age reaches five thousand years. The habitat of these trees is arid Africa. How do they manage to survive in difficult conditions? Wood helps plants in this. By its hygroscopic properties, it resembles a sponge. During the rainy season, trees actively absorb water, which they use during dry periods.
The name of long-lived trees, in addition to "baobab", is also "adansonia". According to its properties, this plant is one of the most amazing on our planet. The tree does not dry out, even if the bark is completely torn off from it. It easily builds up a protective cover again. The seeds of this treeused to make a wonderful drink that resembles coffee. Baobab fruits are highly nutritious. They are rich in vitamin C, calcium and have a pleasant taste. The shell of the fruit after drying becomes, like a stone, hard. Therefore, in the future it is used as a glass or vessel. The ash from the burning of the fruit is one of the ingredients in making soap.
Star anise
Some centenarians among the trees have a very extravagant look. These plants include star anise, whose age can reach three thousand years. Informally, this species was called "tree-forest". And this is no accident. Star anise can have up to a thousand trunks. The main one is located in the center. Over time, thick shoots appear on it, which grow and take root. The oldest star anise is recognized as a tree growing in India. It consists of three thousand small and the same number of large trunks. The last of them have diameters up to six meters.
Bayan can be found in Northern Vietnam and Southeast China. It is cultivated in the Philippines, Japan, Abkhazia, India and Jamaica. The fragrant fruit of the plant is used as a spice.
What long-lived trees grow in Russia?
On the territory of our country you can find plants that are thousands of years old. Long-lived trees in Russia are spruce, oak, silver poplar and large-leaved linden. These plants are found, as a rule, everywhere.
An interesting tree is oak. Some of its specimens can reach fifty meters inheight and have a diameter of two meters. The tree has long been famous for its healing properties, including astringent, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. The lifespan of an oak can reach two thousand years.
Yew is in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. This tree competes in the duration of its life with star anise, reaching the age of two to three thousand years. It is difficult to meet it in natural conditions, but some specimens grow in the Far East and on the Sakhalin Peninsula.
Silver poplar can reach the age of 1000-1500 years, and some specimens of large-leaved linden - up to 1200.
