THE HEART OF A GIANT
Magnus, a three part collector series of photographic works featuring earth's heaviest organism Pando (en.spread ) the ultimate quaking aspen tree
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THE HEAVIEST ORGANISIM ON EARTH
Deep in the highest areas of the Colorado Plateau live thousands of spectacular Quaking Aspen groves (lat. Populus Tremuloides ). Each season these trees bring a natural display of extraordinary beauty.
Pando The Trembling Giant, is the most notable quaking aspen ever discovered and can be found in this region near the banks of Fish Lake, inside the Fish Lake National Forest.
This aspen clone is the largest and heaviest clonal organism on earth.
THE LARGEST ASPEN TREE
The Pando Tree ( Populus Tremloides) Fishlake UT
Pando 's weight is a staggering 13 million pounds. It has over 40,000 stems, each living an average of 130 years before regenerating. It's root system spans106 acres, generating massive tree-like stems that bring to life a forest like no other. Changing each season, from green to gold Pando delivers blissful sounds, with just the slightest breeze. Inside the heart of the Pando forest is an environment that brings serenity and calm.
A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
Pando's survival has been threatened over the years by a host of issues from insects and disease to herbivory. Having no young or mid-size trees to replace the old dying ones the clone was is in danger of dying off completely.
The Pando Aspen Clone Restoration Project fenced off and protected the clone to ensure it's survival and help regenerate new stems.
A NEW STATE TREE "The Largest Plant" on Earth
" On May 13, 2014, the quaking aspen officially replaced the Colorado blue spruce, becoming the state tree of Utah. Aspen trees grow from the roots of older trees, so that a colony of trees develops from a singular root system. The 106 acres of aspen stems found in Pando, a huge grove of aspens in central Utah, has the largest root stem in the world. . " ( American Philatelic Society )
Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives