Lost tree from the Bible is resurrected from 1,000-year-old mystery seed

Daily Mail UK ^ | September 25, 2024 | Matthew Phelan Senior Science Reporter

[SunkenCiv]

Scientists have managed to grow an ancient seed recovered from a cave just north of Jerusalem into a long-lost species of tree — one with likely Biblical significance.

The now 10-foot-tall tree, painstakingly brought back to life over a period of 14 years, has proven to be a once presumed-extinct relative from the 'frankincense and myrrh' family.

Researchers now suspect that the tree, which they named 'Sheba,' might be the same species that produced the highly valued medicinal extract 'tsori,' first alluded to in the book of Genesis and later Old Testament accounts of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

'The identity of Biblical 'tsori' ['balm' in English] has long been open to debate,' they said. 'There are no descriptions in Biblical sources of the tree which produced tsori.'

But 'Sheba' is just the latest in a series of this team's botanical resurrections to have come out of the Holy Land, including the 2005 sprouting of an ancient date palm, nicknamed 'Methuselah,' from a seed dating back to the time of Christ.

[Sirius Lee]

'Sheba,' might be the same species that produced the highly valued medicinal extract 'tsori,'

If it is and it works, big Pharma will kill it.

[martin_fierro]

'Sheba' is just the latest in a series of botanical resurrections to have come out of the Holy Land in the 21st century, including the 2005 sprouting of an ancient species of date palm, nicknamed 'Methuselah,' whose seed dated back to the time of Christ

Meanwhile, all my houseplants are silk, because I've been known to kill bromeliads.

[mware]

I recall reading a thread at FR about a year ago of a lemon dating back several 1000 years ago going up for sale for over a million dollars. Figured someone bought it to attempt to grow the seeds.

[Bigg Red]

A pithy remark....

[mware]

When I taught 7th grade some 10 years ago ( retired now) I was giving a chapter test to my students on Early Christianity. One of the suggested questions was, “ Jesus Christ was the head of the Church.” I used the question but with a change in one word. “ Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.”.

[gundog]

Tuscana? I know a guy. A rental you can’t refuse.

[gundog]

Apparently the Burseraceae Family is mostly dioecious, so it could be male or female.

[Bob434]

lol- hand-holding didn’t get her pregnant?

[Kartographer]

No idea how it works, but it did.

Its called having sex I believe.

[SunkenCiv]

Frankincense toilet seat!

[Texan5]

I buy Frankincense “tears”-the hardened beads of tree sap/resin-in little plastic bags from an incense supplier, and burn it on little cakes of charcoal. It is my favorite incense since going to Mass as a kid...