A Clone in Utah

By Linda Tancs

Located in central Utah at the Fishlake National Forest (so named for the largest freshwater mountain lake in the state), Pando is an aspen clone that originated from a single seed and spreads over 106 acres, consisting of over 40,000 individual trees. Reputedly, it’s the world’s largest organism ever found at nearly 13 million pounds. It attracts visitors worldwide and was even honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a stamp as one of the “40 Wonders of America.” The clone’s name derives from the Latin phrase meaning “I spread.”