The tree from which the town Aspen gets its name. This shot is from the nearby Maroon Lake area.
It’s interesting to note that this is probably mostly all one tree, as the visible trees are (typically) connected to a single root system. As a result of this manner of spreading over vast areas, Aspens are thought by many to be the largest living organisms known on earth.
-cvj
On this day on Asymptotia...
- Delicate Star - 2008
One root system? I did not know that. Cool.
Interesting. Thanks for the info.
Great picture. I’ve never seen them with green, just with snow!
Btw Clifford, when you’ve a chance look up the ski mountain in town there (which is actually called Ajax, not Aspen Mountain!), particularly the really steep parts (particularly the front face and the chutes). I skied them last December, it’s a great mountain and great fun.
Hi Yvette,
Every year, I hike directly up the front face. It is incredibly steep and a quick way to get one’s system acclimatized to the reduced oxygen levels!
-cvj
If they are all from the same root system, does that mean that all those trees are genetically identical?
Yes. It is just one tree!
-cvj
Amazing. I was under the impression that the largest living thing was a honey fungus but that turns out to be the largest thing by area. The aspens are largest by mass or by volume, apparently.
Fair play clifford - this is the place for unexpected bio-info. First that business with the male dragons spawned by parthenogenesis, and now the monstrous nature of aspens. Nice picture, too, though not as mouth-watering as the golden tomatoes
Thanks. Good to know it is appreciated.
-cvj