A Perthshire yew tree, believed to be one of the oldest in Europe, has started changing sex.
The Fortingall Yew, reputed to be up to 5,000 years old, has started sprouting berries on one of its upper branches - something only female trees do.
Scientists at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, said it was "quite a surprise" to find berries on the tree, in the churchyard of Fortingall.
The berries have been collected for protection and to be studied.
Their seeds will be included in a project to conserve the genetic diversity of yew trees around the world.
The tree is said to be one of the oldest living organisms in Europe - according to local legend, Roman prefect Pontius Pilate was born in its shadow.
Ive heard that some dieoecious plants (like the U) have been changing into monoecious kinds (bearing male and female naughty bits, and this seems maybe to be a strategy to deal with rising temperatures.
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