According to new research, a tree species believed to have been lost to history has been successfully regrown from 1000-year-old seeds.
A recently published study Communication Biology magazine describes how botanists accomplished the biblical feat. In the 1980s, a completely intact seed was found in a cave in the Judean Desert, but its exact species was unknown. To find out exactly what it was, the research team planted the seed in 2010 and watched it mature.
After 14 years of growth, scientists believe they may have revived a plant that was believed to be extinct for years. The Bible and other ancient texts describe how the tree, which is part of the Commiphora genus, produces medicinal plant sap known as “tsori”, which is used as a healing ointment.
Sarah Sallon, the study's lead author, speculated that the tree may have been the source of what ancient texts call “balm of Judea” or “balm of Gilead.” The only way to find out was to observe the plant itself.
“We planted it in 2010 [and] Now the year is 2024. Why did we wait so long? [to publish the research]? Because I wanted to make sure it wasn't balsam of Judea. So how do I know for sure? “Sniff by sniff,” Sallon told CNN. Thanks to radiocarbon dating, they found that the sample dated between 993 and 1202 AD.
Sallon and his team concluded that “it is not the balm of Judea” but “a close cousin of it.” This is a non-aromatic Commiphora with an as yet unidentified “treasure chest of medicinal compounds.” The study predicted that the specimen was most closely related to Commiphora angolensis, Commiphora neglecta and Commiphora tenuipetiolata. However, since the tree has not yet bloomed or produced fruit, the question of its exact species remains unanswered.