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Pando

Pando, also known as the Trembling Giant, is a clonal population of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) located in the Fishlake National Forest in central Utah, United States. It is not a single tree but a single living organism that spreads through an extensive underground root system.

The grove consists of genetically identical trees that arise from the same root structure. The above-ground

Pando is commonly described as covering about 106 acres (43 hectares) and containing tens of thousands of

In recent decades Pando has faced ecological stress from drought, climate change, pests, and natural disturbances,

Pando is frequently cited in discussions of clonal organisms and ancient life, illustrating how a single genetic

stems
are
separate
trees
that
turn
by
season
to
a
pale
shimmer
in
the
wind,
giving
the
appearance
of
a
forest
of
individual
trunks.
The
grove
reproduces
asexually,
with
new
shoots
emerging
from
the
roots
rather
than
primarily
by
seed.
stems,
all
part
of
one
shared
clone.
Estimates
of
its
age
vary,
but
many
scientists
place
it
at
around
80,000
years
old,
making
it
one
of
the
oldest
known
living
organisms.
The
total
mass
of
the
clone
is
estimated
to
be
in
the
thousands
of
metric
tons,
with
figures
often
cited
around
several
thousand
tons.
leading
to
notable
die-back
in
some
areas.
Conservation
and
management
efforts
focus
on
reducing
stressors,
monitoring
health,
and
promoting
conditions
that
support
the
root
system
and
regrowth.
entity
can
persist
for
millennia
through
connected
root
networks
while
producing
diverse
above-ground
growth.