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Clonal colonyA clonal colony or genet is a group of plants (or a fungal mycelium) that has grown in a given location, the "individuals" which are all genetically identical, originating vegetatively and not sexually from a single ancestor. Individuals in these populations are referred to as a ramet. In the case of a fungus, "individuals" typically refers to the visible fruiting bodies or mushrooms, these over a wide area developing from a common mycelium spread over a large area, hidden in the soil. Clonal colonies are common in many plant species. Although many plants reproduce sexually through the production of seed, some plants reproduce by underground stolons or rhizomes. Above ground these plants appear to be distinct individuals, but underground they remain interconnected and are all clones of the same plant. However, it is not always easy to recognize a clonal colony especially if it spreads underground and is also sexually reproducing. Additional recommended knowledge
Methods of establishment
Record coloniesThe Pando Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) clone in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA, is sometimes considered the world's largest organism by mass, covering 43 hectares. It is possible that other unknown clonal colonies of trees rival or exceed its size, though their status as single individuals. The only known plant of King's Lomatia (Lomatia tasmanica) in Tasmania is a clonal colony claimed to be 43,600 years old. Another possible candidate is a strand of the marine plant Posidonia oceanica in the Mediterranean Sea, which could be up to 100,000 years of age.[citation needed] ExamplesWhen woody plants form clonal colonies, they often remain connected through the root system, sharing roots, water and mineral nutrients. A few non-vining woody plants that form clonal colonies are:
References
Categories: Plant reproduction | Mycology |
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Clonal_colony". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia. |