“Albino” Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Redwoods are able to reproduce asexually by putting forth new suckers from the base of the tree. Normally, these new shoots are perfect clones of the parent, but in a few cases they display mutations or give expression previously unrecognized genes. The offspring here is nearly white instead of green because of a genetic trait that renders it unable to produce essential amounts of chlorophyll. This phenomenon, which occurs occasionally in other plant species, produces individuals that quickly die off. Without chlorophyll, they lack the ability to produce adequate nutrients for themselves. In Redwoods, however, these “ghost trees” can survive for decades by taking nutrients from the root system of the parent. These “albino” Redwoods are extremely rare, with less than a hundred known examples. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Near Felton, Santa Cruz Co., Calif.
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“Albino” Redwood