thumb|King Clone, the 11,700-year-old [[Larrea tridentata|creosote bush ring in the Mojave Desert]]

King Clone is thought to be the oldest creosote bush ring in the Mojave Desert. The ring is estimated to be 11,700 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. This single clonal colony plant of Larrea tridentata reaches up to in diameter, with an average diameter of .

Geography

The King Clone ring is on restricted-access land in the central Mojave Desert, near the towns of Lucerne Valley and Landers. It is in the Creosote Rings Preserve of the Lucerne Valley and Johnson Valley.

See also

  • List of oldest trees
  • Fairy ring

References

  • National Park Service: Creosote Bush webpage
  • Jepson Flora Project: Larrea tridentata