The tree that takes 100 years to grow and has shocked many because of it

There are several species of trees around the world, but there's definitely one species that has surprised many people around the world, and that's due to the time it takes to grow. What plant takes up to 100 years to develop?

The Bristlecone Pine, scientifically known as the long-lived pine , has unique characteristics that allow it to survive extreme conditions, as reported by National Geographic. “It's a tree that can take up to 100 years to reach its full growth. This species is found primarily in the mountains of California, Nevada, and Utah, in the United States. Its slow growth is due to the adverse conditions in which it develops, such as a lack of nutrients in the soil and low temperatures,” explained the Mexican company Aqua. (See more: How many years does 1,300 weeks of pension contributions represent?) Furthermore, they maintain that it's a type of tree that has adapted to different conditions, allowing it to survive for thousands of years.

"Some olive pine trees have survived like this since before the pyramids at Giza were erected. Among them is Methuselah in California's White Mountains, the oldest documented living olive pine, which, according to tree-ring data, is 4,853 years old ," NatGeo noted.

How do you identify long-lived pines?

The U.S. National Park Service noted that this species is often confused with limbo pines. “ They grow side by side, at the same height, and often share the same groves. Both pines suffer from the same harsh climate and are affected by the same erosional processes. This gives them their gnarled, dead-looking trunk and exposed wood,” they noted.

“The best way to distinguish the Great Basin bristlecone pine from the limbo pine is to look at the needles, which in bristlecone pines are about an inch long and grow in clusters of five. The needles completely encircle the branches in tight tufts. In addition, the needles can extend 12 inches or more along the branch, giving it the appearance of a bottlebrush,” they stated.

(See more: Very pretty, but attracts snakes: The plant you should avoid in your garden) The developing cones often have a purple appearance, a favorable aspect because it allows the tree to absorb heat. When they are mature, they turn brown. "The tree gets its name from these cones, whose scales are tipped with claw-like bristles; hence the name 'bristlecone,'" they noted.