It was called "The Senator Tree" and it was the oldest pond cypress tree in the world, and the fifth oldest tree known to scientists in the entire world.
Located in Big Tree Park, Longwood, Florida, the Senator was estimated to be roughly 3,500 years old at the time of its demise.
It was revered by the Seminole Indians and other Native Americans as a landmark because it was so large, reaching 125 feet in height and 17.5 feet in diameter!
On January 16th 2012 the top of the Senator tree mysteriously caught fire, resulting in the tree burning inside out.
Although firefighters attempted to put out the blaze, unfortunately it burnt down. On February 28th of 2012, the Division of Forestry arrested Sara Barnes (inset), who would routinely go to the tree to use various drugs.
Barnes claims she lit a fire at night so she could see and that it got out of control, igniting the tree. However, the blaze is reported to have started near the top of the tree and rumors persist that Barnes intentionally set it on fire while hallucinating on methampethamine.
Yet some people believe that the tree is still alive. They have spotted saplings at the base of the big tree. Officials also said that the tree was cloned at one point, and they are searching to bring the clones back.
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