Radiocarbon dating of Aspromonte sessile oaks reveals the oldest dated temperate flowering tree in the world.

The longevity of trees is a major life-history trait that could provide crucial information about ecological history, forest dynamics and the carbon cycle. Studying the longevity of trees in different environments in response to climate change is a research priority for both nature conservation and climate change mitigation strategies (Korner 2017, Lindenmayer and Laurance 2017). The full expression of tree longevity is frequently disrupted by natural and human disturbances (e.g. climate extremes, fires, logging).