On April 17, 2008, http://www.wildbiology.com/ published an article about the world's oldest living organism, a spruce tree in the Swedish province of Dalarna. The spruce produces clones, and, thus, scientists hotly debate the appropriateness of calling this tree, which is 9550 years old, the "oldest" "organism." This might lead me in a good direction for a story; I just read Out Stealing Horses, after all, and there are some silly comments following the article from wildbiology readers. However, I think I'm more interested in writing about Prometheus and Methuselah--two non-cloning organisms that are 5,000 and 4,800 years old, respectively. Prometheus, which grew in Neveda, was actually chopped down in 1964 by a researcher named Donald R. Currey. It's still unclear why he did this; apparently, he was researching climate change and the evidence of it in trees. The science community maintains it wasn't necessary or reasonable for him to cut down the tree in order to conduct his research. Now they keep the exact location of Methuselah a secret, though we know it's somewhere in California.
Queen's Giant, a tulip poplar, is probably the oldest living thing in the New York metropolitan area. While its location isn't exactly secret, there are no signs announcing it and it would be hard to find if one didn't know exactly where to look. Apparently the way to see it is to go on the Urban Park Ranger tour.
The Tree of Life in Bahrain is mysterious because its water source is unknown. It has stood for 400 years in a place "completely free of water."
Mediaeval Oak, 750 years old and in London, is not secret or mysterious; it stands in one of the tees in a gold course.
Endicott pear tree--oldest cultivated fruit tree planted by Endicott himself. Doesn't produce anymore, while Olive tree of Vouves (reputed to be 3000 years old) still produces olives.
General Sherman tree lost a branch in a snowstorm; losing branches may be a natural defense mechanism against adverse weather conditions. General Grant tree is nearby. Dispute about which is the largest.
