Oklahoma has a distinctive forest along Interstate 35 near the OKC Zoo.
This forest is home to numerous unusual oak trees, known as post oaks. The name is fitting, as the trunks of these trees usually grow only slightly thicker than a fence post.
At first glance, this forest might seem insignificant and barely worth a second look.
But that second look came from a group of scientists. They took leaf samples from several trees in the area, and to their surprise, they found that each tree was actually a clone of its neighbor.
How could this happen?
The answer lies in the fact that these trees are actually one large organism made up of multiple trunks. It reminds me of the saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.”
It’s a perfect example of how appearances can be misleading.