Drive the I-5 Freeway north or south and view the evergreen mountains; strange to think that the green may be all the same tree, a clone of a unique Douglas Fir. Search “Douglas Fir Clone” or “Super Doug” on the web. Or search for
recent research and readings about NW clones. One wonders if Super Doug articles censored by the timber industry. Biodiversity is lost when one plants monocultures. Cascadia Floristic Region had but 900 native plant species, the World has but 390,000. Competitively dominant clones cause native species extinctions, just like herbicides and climate change. We once could walk to this tree’s stump. Last year we said good-by to the McMurray Fir. Trees were clear-cut, slash was crushed, and a grinder applied, herbicides were used, and small Super Doug’s planted. We could have saved a few of these, even the stumps. That said, the Pilchuck Tree Farm was willing. The Gardens and Farm failed when we could not find insurance for the trucking of this monster’s remains. No one notices the loss of plant species.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-31-mn-9240-story.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/04/science/scientists-try-to-create-forest-of-cloned-trees.html
https://www.plc215.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Kiosk-01.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/olympia/silv/publications/index.shtml#recent
https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/files/ge_trees_2016_93322.pdf
How many unique species of vascular plants are found west of the Cascade Crest, from San Francisco to Alaska?
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