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Pando (from Latin pando 'I spread') is the name of a quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) clone located in Sevier County, Utah, United States, in the Fishlake National Forest.

A male clonal organism, Pando has an estimated 47,000 stems (ramets) that appear to be individual trees but are genetically identical parts of a single tree connected by a root system that spans 42.8 ha (106 acres). As a multi-stem tree, Pando is the world's largest tree by measures of weight, landmass and species, and is generally held to be the world's single largest organism by weight. Systems of classification used to define large trees vary considerably, leading to some confusion about Pando's status. Within the United States, the Official Register of Champion Trees defines the largest trees in a species-specific way; in this case, Pando is the largest aspen tree (Populus tremuloides). In forestry, the largest trees are measured by the greatest volume of a single stem, regardless of species. In that case, the General Sherman Tree is the largest unitary (single-stem) tree. While many emphasize that Pando is the largest clonal organism, other large trees, including redwoods can also reproduce via cloning. Pando being the heaviest tree and the largest tree by landmass, while also being the largest aspen clone, leaves it in a class of its own. Friends of Pando and the Fishlake National Forest partner to study and protect Pando, working alongside the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Notable organizations that also study and advocate to protect Pando's care include the Western Aspen Alliance and Grand Canyon Trust.

The Pando tree was identified in 1976 by Jerry Kemperman and Burton V. Work by Fishlake National Forest to understand and protect the tree began in 1987, according to interviews and articles written by Fishlake Forest as well as accounts gathered by Friends of Pando. Based on Barnes and Kempermans's 1976 paper noting Pando's discovery, Michael Grant, Jeffrey Mitton, and Yan Linhart of the University of Colorado at Boulder re-examined the clone in 1992 and described Pando as a single male aspen clone based on its morphological characteristics such as pollen production, leaves, and root structure. Michael Grant named the tree "Pando" which is Latin for "I spread" in an editorial which was later published in Discover Magazine.

Additionally, between 2015 and 2022, the local grazers group, 7-Mile Grazers Association, who rely on Pando's forage and biomass to sustain the landscape, signed off on a long-term protection plan working with Fishlake National Forest and Friends of Pando, and also wrote letters of support for the "Pando Protection Plan", a plan to bring nearly 34 hectares (84 acres) of the tree into protective care. In terms of fire suppression, research indicates Pando has survived fires that would have likely leveled the tree many times, after which Pando regenerated itself from the root system. Despite this, many have argued more work needs to be done to control wildlife, as the Pando Tree is surrounded by 700 square miles of de facto wildlife preserve managed by people, groups and agencies who do not have Pando's sustainability as a central concern in their land management policies. Between 2015 and 2022, Fishlake National Forest, Pando's federal land stewards, developed a plan and gathered public feedback for work to expand wildlife controls and protections of the Pando Tree as part of the Fishlake Basin Recreation Improvement Plan. Based on wildlife behavior data gathered by Friends of Pando, Fishlake National Forest and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources the final plan was mapped to maximize wildlife management in and around the tree.

A 2017 paper by Chen Ding et al. seems to support US Forest Service claims that Pando could not be older than the last Glacial Maximum in the area based on paleo-climate models and genetic traits of aspen sites throughout North America.

Friends of Pando "A Guide to All Things Pando"

Quick Facts

• As a multi-stem tree, Pando is the world's largest tree by measures of weight, landmass and species, and is generally held to be the world's single largest organism by weight.
• Within the United States, the Official Register of Champion Trees defines the largest trees in a species-specific way; in this case, Pando is the largest aspen tree (Populus tremuloides).
• A male clonal organism, Pando has an estimated 47,000 stems (ramets) that appear to be individual trees but are genetically identical parts of a single tree connected by a root system that spans 42.8 ha (106 acres).
• Pando being the heaviest tree and the largest tree by landmass, while also being the largest aspen clone, leaves it in a class of its own.
• Friends of Pando and the Fishlake National Forest partner to study and protect Pando, working alongside the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Source material: Wikipedia - "Pando (tree)". Adapted and summarized for DiscoverScroll. Original contributors are credited through the linked Wikipedia article. Read original on Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes were made from the original.