Aging
bones of an ancient Bristlecone pine tree.
This
is a harsh climate with poor soil and a very short growing season.
The pines only grow a small amount each year. A three foot (one
meter) tree could well be seventy or eighty years old. Bristlecone
pines are the longest living species on Earth.
Some
of the groves have living trees that are well over 2000 years
old. The oldest known living Bristlecone tree is over 4000 years
old.
White
Mountains, California