A neat question, but not a simple answer. Basically, the age is
established by hybridizing records and by historical records. but it
is tricky t o prove current clone is same one described. For example
"Dalmatica" Briefly, there seems to be several clones, but none may be
the original.
A process of creating Dendrograms can establish the age and
relationship of species, and probably could be used to establish
relative age of a clone. This is done by comparing parts of DNA to see
what variation is present and finding age of divergence from main
branch. As changes occur slowly. This is not accurate on short time
periods. Usually on time scale of thousands of years. And requires
detailed work on a good number of selected plants.
This is being done on many plant genus to establish genetic
connections. Being used on plants and animals to show evolutionary
links. And has resulted in many changes in plant and animal
evolutionary trees.
Chuck Chapman
-----Original Message-----
From: Darlene Moore <d*@carolinarubber.com>
To: iris-species <i*@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Dec 19, 2012 3:14 pm
Subject: [iris-species] Age of plants
Â
How do we know the age of a certain iris plant?
Also, it has been said that certain clones have been around centuries.
Do we know that just by description in literature?
Is there any scientific method to date a species? Outside of the
fossil
record, if any.
Darlene Moore
