eli5: How can trees live for so long?

Question

I was just randomly thinking about the fact that some trees are over 10,000 years old. Other biennial plants don’t last that long, so what is it that helps trees survive for so long without withering into crumbs like other plants?

In: Biology

Answer 1

It’s largely due to a handful of characteristics, such as retained stem-cell-ness that allows for pretty solid regeneration of its parts, a system plan that allows for damaged areas to largely *not* just kill the entire organism, a durable form that can endure many physical threats, and generally good cellular defense/control. It also can function well on a comparatively slow scale with long periods of little activity.