|
Welcome
to Point of Interest Road
Signs! A
collection of photos of road and trail signs. Click
here for more Wyoming Signs
Yellowstone
National Park - Forces of the Northern Range - Trembling Aspens
Location
of sign - on the Forces of the Northern Range Trail between Tower
Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs
in
Yellowstone National Park.
Photo
taken June 2008
Text
of sign:
Trembling
Aspens
Roots of Survival
The
secret of an aspen grove lies hidden beneath the ground. Aspen's rarely grow
from seeds but spring up abundantly from the
roots
of their parent. These young shoots are connected to each other
underground by an extensive root system and are
genetically
identical! This method of reproduction is called
"cloning".
Aspens
are masters of cloning. Their clones can cover several acres and
sometimes live for thousands of years.
Why do Aspen's Tremble?
Trembling.
Quaking. Quivering. These words have all been used to describe Populus
tremuloides. Aspen leaves flutter in the
slightest
breeze because of how they are built. Their slender petioles - the
stems on each leaf - are flat and at a right angle to the
leaf
surface. Consequently, the leaves quiver as they catch the wind.
When
aspens tremble, light reflects from each shiny leaf, causing the entire grove
to shimmer.
Elk
and deer browse on aspen bark, scarring the trunks.
This
exhibit made possible by a generous grant from the Yellowstone Association.
Graphics
on the sign
In
addition to the text there are several pictures of aspen trees, aspen bark
and a three dimensional inset of aspen leaves and
branches.
Please help us
out by submitting
a photo!
You
can find more information about the state of Wyoming here and
get an Wyoming
Homepage here
|
