?Oldest tree in Europe? found in Italy

[ahlam1399]

ROME: The oldest tree in Europe is enjoying a growth spurt. Despite being almost 1,230 years-old, scientists say the weather-beaten pine is still thriving, with substantial growth rings added to its trunk over the last several decades.This is despite the tree being subjected to extreme heat and droughts during its lifetime. Researchers have nicknamed the plucky pine ‘Italus’. They say studying its growth through changing climates could help them better understand how forests will respond to modern climate change.According to a new paper published in the journal Ecology, Italus germinated on the rocky slopes of southern Italy in 789 AD — the year the Vikings disembarked on English shores for the first time.The tree was recently discovered by researchers from the University of Tuscia who conducted an exhaustive four-year field survey within the Pollino National Park in southern Italy. The 1,230 year-old tree is a Heldreich’s pine, which are common in the harsh Pollino landscape.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/World-TheNewsInternational/~4/daXtDTwdcVY

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