Ancient specimens in Germany and around the world

the essentials in brief

• Trees can be divided into clonal (clones growing from common roots) and non-clonal trees (trees with their own root system)
• the common spruce “Old Tjikko” in the Swedish National Park (Dalarna region) is said to be 9,500 years old
• The long-lived pine in the USA is said to be over 5000 years old

Which is the oldest tree in the world?

4000, 9500 or even 80,000 years, how old is the oldest tree in the world actually? There is no concrete answer to this question, which is why you can find different information about this very special individual. The answer to the question of which tree is the oldest is primarily a matter of definition. Trees grow very differently, either clonally or non-clonally and therefore also reach different ages - and that is why there is basically no such thing as “the” oldest tree. However, numerous trees or groups of trees can be made out that are several thousand years old.

Clonal trees

Parts of this tree in Sweden are over 9,000 years old

Strictly speaking, clonal trees are clones that sprout either alone or in groups from a common root system. The tree clones can reach an age of several thousand to tens of thousands of years, as shown by the Norway spruce "Old Tjikko" in the Swedish National Park (Dalarna region). This single clone is said to be an unbelievable 9,500 years old, although the dating only applies to parts of its root system. The above-ground parts of "Old Tjikko", however, are only a few centuries old.

So why is "Old Tjikko" considered one of the oldest trees in the world when the actual tree is actually not that old for a spruce? The reason for this classification is the ability of this conifer species to reproduce itself again and again from the root system - practically to clone. If the old trunk of the spruce dies, a new, genetically identical one grows out of the enduring root system. Some tree species have this ability of repetitive vegetative self-reproduction. Another impressive example of such ancient clone trees is Pando, an approx. 14,000 year old American quivering poplar clone colony. This applies to the oldest and heaviest living thing on earth.

Non-clonal trees

This pine may not look very impressive at first glance, but it is 4,700 years old

In contrast to the clonal trees, which practically grow again and again from their root system, these are non-clonal trees Trees around actual individuals, whose aboveground parts such as trunk and crown have been around for millennia, wind, weather and history defy. You often don't see their age at first sight of these impressive figures, but people are amazed at the sight of them. Some of these trees germinated at a time when the Bronze Age people in Europe were learning to work metal. The following individuals in particular belong to the oldest non-clonal trees:

• Durable pine: this nameless tree in the USA is said to be over 5000 years old and has been officially the oldest tree on earth since 2013
• Methuselah: a long-lived pine (Pinus longaeva) in the Inyo National Forest (Nevada, USA), estimated age over 4,700 years
• Prometheus: was also a long-lived pine, which was felled in 1964 to determine its age. Her age: 4862 years

The appearance and the exact location of the oldest tree - as well as other impressive tree specimens such as "Hyperion", the tallest tree in the world - the American Forest Service keeps it a secret to prevent the flow of visitors and thus endanger the trees to prevent. Nonetheless, it is worth visiting the American national parks, for example the aforementioned Inyo National Forest. There are numerous “methusalems” here, which are estimated to be several thousand years old. Who knows, maybe scientists will find an even older specimen there soon?

background

The mightiest trees in the world

Which is the oldest tree in Germany?

In Germany around 90 billion trees grow in only 90 different species. These are not nearly as old in this country as the examples from Sweden or the USA just presented. Nevertheless, there are some "thousand-year-old" oaks, linden trees and yew trees, which, however, are rarely actually 1000 years old. Rather, these trees are between 500 and 800 years old and the term “thousand years” refers to a generally old age. Nevertheless, there are very impressive individuals who were famous for their peculiarity centuries ago and which are worth seeing:

The following video presents the most impressive old trees in Germany:

Digression

The Ivenack oaks in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

If you are on holiday in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, you should definitely take a look at the Ivenack oaks. The impressive group of English oaks are between 500 and 1000 years old and are therefore among the oldest trees in Europe. They can be admired in the extensive park of Ivenack Castle near Stavenhagen (Mecklenburg Lake District). As a special attraction, there is also a treetop path to climb that was only built a few years ago and is also passable for wheelchair users and prams.

The Ivenack oaks are worth a visit

How can trees get so old at all?

Hardly any other living being can reach such an old age as trees. First and foremost, the ability to reach a truly biblical age lies in the modular structure of the trees: Im In contrast to humans and many animals, their vital body elements are multiple and repeat themselves constant. If a person's heart stops, they die - on the other hand, if the trunk of a tree rots away, it can still survive. Trees are able to simply grow back lost parts - for example branches and twigs torn away by a storm - and thus replace them.

In addition, many trees - such as the long-lived pine Pinus longaeva - do not have a programmed end of life cycle, such as many annual summer flowers. While a dandelion blooms, then devotes all its energy to the formation of seeds and finally dies, trees are true survivors.

Permanent renewal

In short: their ability to grow steadily and thus to be permanently renewed help the trees to an old age of several hundred to a thousand years. It is true that individual parts of the plant - because this is what it is about - repeatedly die off, but the organism itself continues to grow and replaces the lost organs.

However, the tree's own growth will eventually become fatal, because large trees are heavier with sufficient To supply water and nutrients as small ones, in addition, the giants are much stronger against weather forces such as storms and heavy rain exposed. That is also the reason why many very old trees are not necessarily tall. Exceptions such as the giant sequoia trees in the USA confirm the rule.

Cloning as a survival strategy

Some tree species that are primarily at home in difficult habitats pursue a very special survival strategy. Spruce and pine have the ability to regenerate themselves again and again from a common root system - even if the trunk, which is not too old, dies on the surface. In this case, a new clone simply grows from the underground roots, which has the same genetic make-up and is genetically completely identical to its predecessor.

Location and environmental conditions

The oldest trees are often solitary

It is noticeable that the oldest trees in Germany are not in forests - but instead often as individual specimens in a village square, in a castle park or in a rectory garden. Forest trees, on the other hand, rarely or never reach this age - why is that? The reason for this is quite simple: German forests have been intensively managed for centuries, and moreover were the former primeval forests until 150 years ago were almost completely used for the creation of fields and settlement areas cut down. Afforestation took place slowly afterwards, and forests are still part of the forestry areas. A forest tree is only a few decades old on average before it is felled for further economic use.

The village linden tree and the park tree did not share this fate; instead, these trees were cherished and cared for. This is especially true for the village linden, which often formed the center of the village and was considered the place of jurisdiction.

How do you measure the age of a tree?

The older a tree is, the more difficult it is to determine its age. Many very old specimens no longer have a complete trunk, instead this has broken into individual trunks and the inner, oldest parts are missing. A simple count of the annual rings or the radiocarbon measurement (C14 dating) cannot be carried out in this case; instead, the age is estimated based on various factors. Dendrochronologists, so-called annual ring researchers, are responsible for such estimates. Incidentally, it is not necessary to put down the entire tree to determine its age: Instead The researchers drill core holes where possible, take samples and can thus identify the annual rings counting.

Historical documents

Sometimes historical documents help determine the age of a tree. For example, there are records from the late Middle Ages about the planting of a particular tree at the location in question, or documents or paintings from the last 300 years, which show the specimen already as a very old tree - in the hollow interior of which soldiers were hidden to increase the size of the hollow space clarify.

Ancient drawings and paintings help determine the age of trees

How old can trees generally get?

Depending on the location, growth conditions and environmental influences, the different tree species reach very different ages. Typically, city trees do not get nearly as old as their natural relatives, which is due to the higher concentration of Exhaust fumes and fine dust, the strong compression and the soil clogging, but also to do with the winter use of road salt Has. In the following table we have compiled the average life expectancy of common trees in Germany for you:

These tree species get particularly old

Basically, slow-growing trees reach a much higher age than fast-growing trees, which explains the predominance of oaks, yews and linden trees among the tree themes. The yew trees are also highly toxic, which makes the species almost invulnerable to pests and pathogens. In Germany, these tree species in particular reach a very old age:

frequently asked Questions

Which is the oldest tree species in the world?

Charles Darwin already described the ginkgo biloba as a “living fossil”, after all these trees have been around on earth for 70 million years and therefore longer than any other tree species. Ginkgo do not belong to the deciduous or coniferous trees, but belong to a botanical class of their own.

Can you determine the age of a tree yourself?

With the help of a so-called tree table, dendrochronologists also determine the age of many trees. To do this, you have to measure the trunk of the tree at a height of one meter and multiply this dimension (in centimeters!) By a factor that differs depending on the species. This gives you a probable age based on the growth in thickness, but this has an inaccuracy of several decades. The following table gives you an overview: