BBC: Date palm buds after 2,000 years

BBC ^ | Monday, 13 June, 2005, 01:21 GMT 02:21 UK | staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Date palm buds after 2,000 years

Dates have symbolic importance in the Middle East

Israeli researchers say they have succeeded in growing a date palm from a 2,000-year-old seed.

The seed was one of several found during an excavation of the ancient mountain fortress of Masada.

Scientists working on the project believe it is the oldest seed ever germinated.

Researchers in Jerusalem have nicknamed the sapling Methuselah, after the biblical figure said to have lived for nearly 1,000 years.

Future medicine?

The palm is from a variety that became extinct in the Middle Ages and was reputed to have powerful medicinal properties.

The plant is now nearly 30cm (12in) tall.

Researcher Sarah Sallon of the Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Centre in Jerusalem said that one of the plant's leaves had been sent for analysis.

Dates had "an enormous amount of use in ancient times for infections, for tumours" she told the Associated Press news agency.

"We're researching medicinal plants for all we're worth, we think that ancient medicines of the past can be the medicines of the future," she added.

If it continues to thrive, scientists hope the palm will eventually reveal the secrets of its past.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[moog]

I wonder how long it takes them to plant the whole garden.

[Betaille]

never would have happened without Israel.

[Paul Atreides]

I don't see how it could be happening at all, given that we are destroying the planet. /sarcasm

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I wonder if it's only one palm or did they find more than one seed ?
And how long will it take before the plant reaches maturity and produces seeds in it's own ?

[AntiGuv]

I wonder how it became extinct in the Middle Ages. It annoys me when an article gives intriguing info like that without bothering to explain it!

Very interesting though.

[InkStone]

Will someone please let us all know how a seed can "live" that long? I did read of an underwater archaeological site, where an amphora was brought up with some weed seeds inside, which DID germinate. I didn't believe it at the time, but maybe it was true.

[cyborg]

A seed is in a dormant state and when the right conditions happen, can grow. If a seed is kept in a dry, cool place I suppose many can be held indefinately. I think foodstuffs from 2,000 years old are much purer and scientists have sprouted amaranth seeds that were thousands of years old before. As a side note, honey is another foodstuff that has been founded unspoiled in jars in Egypt after thousands of years.

[spinestein]

[I wonder how it became extinct in the Middle Ages.]



I'm sure all the industrial pollution from the greedy corporations killed it off after the Republicans succeeded in gutting environmental laws so their rich buddies could have more money to stuff into their back pockets.

I'm also sure George W. Bush had a personal hand in it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I'm also sure George W. Bush had a personal hand in it.

I'll check the paper tomorrow , I'm sure they will tell us something like that!

[spinestein]

Try the front page of the NYTimes; that's the editorial page.

:^)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL!

[familyop]

"I wonder how it became extinct in the Middle Ages." All of those palms were destroyed by the crusaders.

[blam]

"Will someone please let us all know how a seed can "live" that long? I did read of an underwater archaeological site, where an amphora was brought up with some weed seeds inside, which DID germinate."

I was suprised to learn that mosquito eggs will hatch after laying in the dust/dirt for 10 years.

[SunkenCiv]

After a 2,000-Year Rest, a Seed Sprouts in Jerusalem
NY TIMES | JERUSALEM, June 11
Posted on 06/11/2005 7:29:53 PM PDT by TheOtherOne
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421192/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Ernest.

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I was suprised to learn that mosquito eggs will hatch after laying in the dust/dirt for 10 years.

Well....damn...I didn't know that...no wonder they are such a nuisance!

[SunkenCiv]

Just updating the GGG information, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
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