Britain's oldest tree, the Fortingall Yew, is 'undergoing a sex change'





The Fortingall Yew, in the churchyard of the village of Fortingall in Perthshire, Scotland is estimated to be around 5,000 years old and may be the oldest living organism in Britain. It's girth at one stage was over 56 feet when measured in 1769. It is considered male as it produces pollen, as opposed to female yews which bear red seed-holding berries.

However, “three ripe red berries” were spotted on one of the ancient yew’s branches this year, suggesting at least part of the tree had become female.



More: The Independent

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