Clonal colony

<p>A clonal colony or genet is a group of <a href="/facts/Genetics/bu8wne0A">genetically</a> identical individuals, such as <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plants</a>, <a href="/facts/Fungi/BHo5DP59">fungi</a>, or <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a>, that have grown in a given location, all originating <a href="/facts/Vegetative_reproduction/Y6xlN48g">vegetatively</a>, not <a href="/facts/Sexual_reproduction/hmsXy53s">sexually</a>, from a single ancestor. In plants, an individual in such a population is referred to as a ramet. In <a href="/facts/Fungi/BHo5DP59">fungi</a>, "individuals" typically refers to the visible <a href="/facts/Fruiting_bodies/ftuHhG1E">fruiting bodies</a> or <a href="/facts/Mushroom/sRdY6lfe">mushrooms</a> that develop from a common <a href="/facts/Mycelium/znB97XNn">mycelium</a> which, although spread over a large area, is otherwise hidden in the <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a>. Clonal <a href="/facts/Colony_(biology)/b5QfltwY">colonies</a> are common in many plant <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a>. Although many plants <a href="/facts/Sexual_reproduction/hmsXy53s">reproduce sexually</a> through the production of <a href="/facts/Seed/a4xGSLxJ">seed</a>, <a href="/facts/Plant_reproduction/JbDSJ8tH">reproduction</a> occurs by underground <a href="/facts/Stolon/dNDj2H9p">stolons</a> or <a href="/facts/Rhizome/wWDKJrSf">rhizomes</a> in some plants. Above ground, these plants most often 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.
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Clonal colony open-in-new

Clonal colony