After Mount Mazama erupted about 7,700 years ago, it left a lot of volcanic ash and pumice rock in the surrounding areas, which created a pumice desert in a large portion of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Since then, only about 16 species of plants have been able to grow on these pumice fields characterized by poor, well-drained soils, intense heat and sun exposure, and drought during the growing season. Scientists are studying this area, and it's labeled as one of the "Research Natural Areas" in the park. They're studying how ecological succession progresses here over time. The first and only tree species to grow in these areas is the Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), which grows very slowly. In one study, the oldest tree was about 180 years old and only measured 9 inches in diameter!
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