Bristlecone Pine (Noun)
Meaning
Small slow-growing upland pine of western United States (Rocky Mountains) having dense branches with fissured rust-brown bark and short needles in bunches of 5 and thorn-tipped cone scales; among the oldest living things some over 4500 years old.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The bristlecone pine is one of the most resilient trees found in the Rocky Mountains, with some specimens dating back over 4500 years.
- Bristlecone pines have adapted to the harsh conditions of the high-altitude terrain, growing slowly but steadily over thousands of years.
- In the White Mountains of California, researchers have discovered numerous ancient bristlecone pines, including one named 'Methuselah' that is estimated to be over 4850 years old.
- The unique characteristics of the bristlecone pine, such as its thorn-tipped cone scales and rust-brown bark, have fascinated botanists and naturalists for centuries.
- Bristlecone pines can be found in isolated groves at high elevations, where their dense branches and short needles have allowed them to thrive in areas with limited resources.