THE 9 OLDEST, TALLEST, AND BIGGEST TREES IN THE WORLD
3. THE WORLD'S OLDEST CLONAL TREE: PANDO
Pando, also known as the "Trembling Giant", is a clonal colony of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) that spans 106 acres of Southern Utah's Fishlake National Forest. What is clonal colony? Unlike the other entries on this list, Pando is not one singular trunk with branches, but instead many biologically identical trunks with a shared root system.
40,000 stems that appear on first glance to be individual trees, each branch of Pando is in fact, a genetically identical part of the same tree connected by a vast underlying root system that could span some 12,000 miles if laid
At 106 acres in size, 13.2 million pounds, and and estimated 8-12,000 years of age, Pando easily dominates this list. While the Pando is undeniably one of nature’s most impressive accomplishments, research suggests that the tree is shrinking in response to a plethora of threats, including over-grazing, and three diseases that commonly plague aspen trees. Thankfully, the Friends of the Pando and the Forest Service are working together to protect this incredible organism.
Pando, also known as the "Trembling Giant", is a clonal colony of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) that spans 106 acres of Southern Utah's Fishlake National Forest. What is clonal colony? Unlike the other entries on this list, Pando is not one singular trunk with branches, but instead many biologically identical trunks with a shared root system.
40,000 stems that appear on first glance to be individual trees, each branch of Pando is in fact, a genetically identical part of the same tree connected by a vast underlying root system that could span some 12,000 miles if laid
At 106 acres in size, 13.2 million pounds, and and estimated 8-12,000 years of age, Pando easily dominates this list. While the Pando is undeniably one of nature’s most impressive accomplishments, research suggests that the tree is shrinking in response to a plethora of threats, including over-grazing, and three diseases that commonly plague aspen trees. Thankfully, the Friends of the Pando and the Forest Service are working together to protect this incredible organism.
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