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'Oldest' pot plant to get new pot 'Oldest' pot plant to get new pot
(about 1 hour later)
A tree believed to be the "oldest pot plant in the world" is being re-potted in a delicate operation at Kew Gardens in south London.A tree believed to be the "oldest pot plant in the world" is being re-potted in a delicate operation at Kew Gardens in south London.
The ancient cycad was collected in the early 1770s from the Eastern Cape in South Africa by Kew's first plant-hunter Francis Masson.The ancient cycad was collected in the early 1770s from the Eastern Cape in South Africa by Kew's first plant-hunter Francis Masson.
But it outlived its finder many times over, growing outwards by 2.5cm a year to its current width of 4.4m (14.4ft).But it outlived its finder many times over, growing outwards by 2.5cm a year to its current width of 4.4m (14.4ft).
Now it has outgrown its pot too - so a team of five gardeners are changing it. Now it has outgrown its pot too - so a team of five gardeners is changing it.
They will use a specially constructed four-metre-high lifting gantry to hoist the plant, which weighs one tonne.They will use a specially constructed four-metre-high lifting gantry to hoist the plant, which weighs one tonne.
It will be an exciting and nerve-racking moment Wes Shaw, Kew GardensIt will be an exciting and nerve-racking moment Wes Shaw, Kew Gardens
The trunk will be supported with stilts while craftsmen build a new pot out of mahogany around the cycad's root ball.The trunk will be supported with stilts while craftsmen build a new pot out of mahogany around the cycad's root ball.
Wes Shaw, keeper of the Palm House, said: "Cycads are fascinating prehistoric plants, and this one is the don of the Palm House.Wes Shaw, keeper of the Palm House, said: "Cycads are fascinating prehistoric plants, and this one is the don of the Palm House.
"It has been slowly growing year by year since the Gardens began.""It has been slowly growing year by year since the Gardens began."
He continued: "As Kew celebrates its 250th anniversary, it's a fitting time to re-pot this gem to ensure that it remains healthy for future generations.He continued: "As Kew celebrates its 250th anniversary, it's a fitting time to re-pot this gem to ensure that it remains healthy for future generations.
"It will be an exciting and nerve-racking moment - but I'm glad to have a strong team of Kew gardeners around me.""It will be an exciting and nerve-racking moment - but I'm glad to have a strong team of Kew gardeners around me."
The cycad family comes from the Jurassic era, predating flowering plant-life.The cycad family comes from the Jurassic era, predating flowering plant-life.
They can live more than 500 years and provide botanists with clues about the nature of early plants.They can live more than 500 years and provide botanists with clues about the nature of early plants.
Kew Gardens think their cycad is the oldest potted plant in existence.Kew Gardens think their cycad is the oldest potted plant in existence.