King Clone, World's Oldest Organism
Posted: Saturday, February 27, 2010
by Jack H. Schick
King Clone is a creosote bush that has been growing in the Mojave Desert for a very, very long time. It lives east of Old Woman Spring Road in Johnson Valley about thirty-five miles north of Yucca Valley, California. Botonists believe it is the oldest living organism on the planet. It is estimated to be 11,700 years old, almost 7,000 years older than the most ancient Bristlecone Pine found in the White Mountains a few hundred miles to the north, which once claimed the distinction of oldest living thing.
Few creosote seeds germinate due to the harsh conditions in the high desert. When a plant does become established it grows very slowly. A foot tall plant will be at least ten years old. New branches originate around the periphery of the original plant's stem crown. As time passes, the older, inner branches and central stem die. The plant splits and the outer branches appear to become separate 'bushes'. Each 'bush' has identical DNA. They are clones of the original plant. They actually are the original plant only in a different configuration and no longer joined.
The 'clone bushes' usually assume an elliptical or round shape as they spread out from the center. The plant is called a 'creosote ring'. A mound of sand usually accumulates in the center. King clone is a huge, oval 'creosote ring' that measures 45 feet by 67 feet in diameter. Carbon dating of original wood fragments at the center of the ring reveals an age of about 11,700 years. Similar tests on other plants and comparison measurements of those 'rings' support that age. Consequently, King Clone is probably the oldest living thing on Earth, having been growing there in the desert since almost 10,000 b.c.
The creosote bush has many medicinal uses. The Apache chewed branches to cure diarrhea. Other Amerind tribes brewed a tea from dried leaves as a treatment for the common cold or for the relief of kidney pain. The resinous leaf nodes were used to soothe and heal bruises and wounds. Today, extracts are used to help cure herpes and as a cancer treatment. However, large doses of creosote can cause liver damage.
King Clone is in a protected, fenced off area near the Johnson Valley Off Road Vehicle Recreation Area. There are many other creosote rings in the area, but none as big or as old. Research is being done on some other creosote bushes in San Gorgonio Pass north of Palm Springs. The constant wind through the pass has precluded the formation of rings. The plants grow in a line, the down wind part usually being the only 'clone' to survive. Several are estimated to be even older than 11,700 years, but tests are inconclusive. For now, King Clone stands alone. It (he), has lived longer than anything else on Earth.
King Clone, himself.
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More commentsVery informative and well-thought article you have here Jack! Thanks for sharing it with us!Regards,Terence
Wow! Who would have known this?Facinating, isn't it? Thanks for reading.
Interesting article! And to think that most people would just walk right by King Clone, not realizing what it's significance is.
I just saw a specimen of a tree at my local nursery that was thought to be extinct - and was around in the age of dinosaurs. A tree that was found somewhere in California.
Read this before, and commented on it. Still think it's a very interesting article. You're a good, clear, concise writer. Thanks - Always- EllaThanks Ella, again
Not for me, but that doesn't mean much. Sounds like an expert, I'm just not interested in this type of thing. If I were, however, I would find this information well written and informative.your disinterest should not affect appraisal of the writing. Thanks for reading, anonymousRead my comments and you'll see that my disinterest did NOT affct my appraisal of the writing. Not every article should get five stars, not even my articles. I was honest, and honestly - as I mentioned - although this is not my area of interest, the author did a fine job with the information and has set himself up as an expert. That, by the way, is the ultimate reason the articles exist on this website.
I have to say that I never knew that plants can live that long. 11,700 years old!! Do they grow in a protected area? I'm actually from London, UK so fogive me if I ask a obvious question.Most of the area is not protected. That's how old the experts say it is.
Very interesting Jack! I had never heard of the King Clone before. It sounds very interesting considering all of the medicinal uses, but not too pretty to look at! :) Thanks for sharing!Thanks for reading.
I certainly learned something new today. Your article was very informative, and you wrote the information in a logical, organized order that was easy to follow and to understand. I like the way you explained the "clone" of this unique plant and the medicinal value of it. The only other thing that I am left to wonder about is this: Are there any specific Native American stories or legends associated with this plant? It would be great if you could work a few sentences along those lines if you find it in research.Its in a very bleak part of the desert. The indians certainly had no idea of it's age.
Very informative and interesting article Jack.thanks for reading, linda
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