Term of the Day: Pando
Pronunciation: PAN’-doh
Derived from the Latin for “I spread,” Pando is a clonal colony of quaking aspen in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest that holds the distinction of being the heaviest known living organism on Earth. Weighing an estimated 13 million pounds (6 million kilograms), the organism comprises roughly 40,000 genetically identical trunks—technically stems—sprawling across 106 acres (43 hectares). Every tree shares a single, vast root system. Genetic analysis indicates this subterranean network may have persisted for tens of thousands of years.
Usage: A walk through Pando feels like a typical forest stroll, yet every trunk surrounding you belongs to a single, ancient entity.
