I’m not much of a plant person, but every so often I learn about a plant that definitely deserves snaps. Methuselah is the oldest known living (non-clonal) organism in existence. It is 4,842 years old! It was germinated (popped out of its seed) in 2832 BC!
Helpful clarification: A non-clonal organism means that it was created sexually and not just the product of asexual reproduction where all offspring are genetically identical to the parent (i.e. bacteria).
Methuselah is a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) that is named after the biblical figure, Methuselah that was said to have lived for 969 years. For being so old, Methuselah is still happy as can be – growing and thriving and still producing seeds. If you want to see Methuselah – good luck! It is happily growing in the “Forest of the Ancients” in California’s White Mountains, but the exact location of the tree is being kept a well guarded secret to prevent stupid people from messing with it.
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