Populus tremuloides Michx. (quaking aspen), growth habit, tree form
3.78735
digital color photograph
Born digital
(Item)
Photographic image
2004 – 2012
Populus tremuloides Michx. (quaking aspen), this is the most widely distributed tree in North America, fast growing but relatively short-lived attaining heights of 40-50' with a spread of 20-30' pyramidal and narrow when young but usually long-trunked and narrow with a rounded crown at maturity, its leaves flutter in the slightest breeze hence the common name of quaking aspen, aspen is noted for its ability to regenerate vegetatively by shoots and suckers arising along its long lateral roots, this sprouting results in many genetically identical trees, in aggregate called a "clone", the largest and oldest (aged at 80,000 years) known aspen clone is the "Pando" clone on the Fishlake National Forest in Utah, its determined to be a single living organism by identical genetic markers and believed to have one massive underground root system making it the largest known plant
