Known as 'Pando,' this massive colony of Quaking Aspens in Utah appears to be a forest of 47,000 individual trees, but they are all genetically identical.
The Massive Root System:
- 🌱 One Single System: All 47,000 trees share a single, massive underground root system. It weighs an estimated 6,000 tons, making it the heaviest known organism.
- 🧬 Clonal Colony: Because they share the same DNA, when one 'tree' dies, the root system simply sends up a new sprout nearby to replace it.
Ancient Longevity:
- ⏳ Thousands of Years: While individual tree trunks live for about 130 years, the entire root system is estimated to be over 80,000 years old, surviving through many climate changes.