If crocodiles and sharks fray (frilled shark) is considered a living fossil in the form of an animal, what about plants? Apparently, there are several species of plants that have been around for hundreds of years.
Launch Oldest, almost all of the plants on this list are the only remaining species in their genus, family, or even order. No need to linger, scroll down your screen if you’re curious!
1. Water caltrop
Don’t get me wrong, these aren’t Baphomet horns, but water caltrop! This floating aquatic plant has many nicknames, such as devil pod, buffalo nut, ling nut, bat nut, mustache nut, ling what nut, singhada, and lin kok.
The unique shape of the fruit makes water caltrop easy to recognize. The fruit contains edible seeds. Quotes Oldest, fossil water caltrop The oldest is thought to have come from the Cretaceous, about 66-145 million years ago.
In North America, water caltrop It is considered an invasive species because one hectare of crops can turn into 100 hectares in just a year! Hmm, looks like water hyacinth, huh?
–
2. Pinus Wollemi
Wollemi pine illustration (instagram.com/iturraran) –
Before being discovered in 1994, the existence of pine Wollemi (Araucariaceae) is known only from the fossil record. In fact, Wollemi not true pine, but related to Agathis, another ancient plant.
It takes its name from Wollemi National Park in New South Wales, Australia, where this plant was first discovered. Scientists suspect, pine Wollemi has existed since 200 million years ago.
Sad, pine Wollemi It is critically endangered and is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List). Agar pine Wollemi still alive, the propagation program has been intensively carried out since 2006.
–
3. Cycads
cycads plant illustration (gardeningknowhow.com/MasaoTaira)–
At least, fossil cycads dating from the early Permian epoch, about 280 million years ago. However, some experts say there are older fossils dating back to the Carboniferous, 100 million years before the Permian.
FYI, cycads is gymnospermae or open seed plants. Cycads known from the large yellow seeds that grow from the crown of the plant. Usually, cycads The female produces seeds, while the male has a cone that contains pollen.
Not only is it one of the ancient plants, cycads also live very long. Although growth is very slow, cycads can live up to 1,000 years! This plant is most commonly found in South and Central America.
–
4. Welwitschia
illustration of a welwitschia plant (instagram.com/vanderful_adventures) –
Not much different from the other plants on this list, welwitschia is the only remaining species in its order, family and genus. This dangling, withered plant comes from the Namib Desert in southern Africa.
Continue reading the article below
Editor’s picks
–
It is named after the Austrian botanist and doctor Friedrich Welwitsch. Estimated, plant welwitschia has existed since 100-146 million years ago, reported Oldest.
Same as cycads, welwitschia is a long-lived plant. On average it can last up to 500-600 years. However, the oldest species are estimated to be 2,000 years old!
Also Read: 7 Original Indonesian Medicinal Plants With Proven Efficacy, What Are?
–
5. Equisetum (horse tail)
illustration of equisetum plant (instagram.com/richardwilf) –
The next is Equisetum or horsetail, the only living genus in the plant class Equisetopsida. Equisetum can be found in almost all parts of the world (except Antarctica), especially in wet areas. Most are found in the non-tropical northern hemisphere.
Although Equisetum Considered a weed by some, it is in fact used for food and medicine in some cultures. In addition, it is also used as animal feed or herding animals.
FYI, Equisetum lived 300 million years ago and used to dominate the forest understory in the late Paleozoic era. Uniquely, this plant reproduces by spores, not seeds!
–
6. Agathis
agathis tree illustration (instagram.com/gone__walkabout) –
Move to Agathis, which is also known as kauri or dams. This is an ancient coniferous tree that dates back to the Carboniferous period, about 298.9-358.9 million years ago. Most species Agathis experienced a mass extinction, just like the dinosaurs.
Today, there are about 22 species Agathis distributed in the Southern Hemisphere and Southeast Asia. Especially in countries such as Papua New Guinea, Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand Oldest.
What are the general characteristics of the tree Agathis? Mature trees have large trunks with few branches under the crown. For information, tree Agathis the biggest named Tāne Mahuta and is estimated to be 1,250-2,500 years old. You can find it in the forests of Waipoua, New Zealand.
–
7. Moss
moss illustration (instagram.com/otch0627_various) –
And the first winner is moss! The ancestors of mosses are thought to have lived 470 million years ago. Moss can be found all over the world, especially on rocks, riverbanks, seepage of cliffs and waterfalls, rotting logs, and more.
Because of their soft and brittle nature, the presence of lichens in the fossil record is very limited. Some of the oldest lichen fossils date back to the Carboniferous, about 298.9-358.9 million years ago. Even so, the moss worked survive to this day!
Today, there are about 12,000 species of lichens living in various habitats around the world. Not much different from other ancient plants, mosses do not produce seeds and instead release spores.
Well, those are some plants that are very old and have lived for hundreds of millions of years. It’s amazing, huh?
Read also: Not only animals, 10 unique plants in the world are threatened with extinction
–
–
