John Muir's Giant Sequoia Successfully Cloned

MARTINEZ (CBS/AP) - Efforts to clone a 130-year-old giant sequoia planted by naturalist John Muir on his Martinez property have been successful.

A Michigan tree-cloning organization collected cuttings from the tree earlier this year, and say roots have begun to grow.

The 75-foot tall tree is dying from two regional fungal diseases.

Keith Park, a horticulturist and preservationist at the John Muir Historic Site, said it is possible the new trees may become infected with the disease.

Still, he said the effort was an important part of keeping an historic link to Muir at the naturalist's former home in Martinez.

David Milarch of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, the group cloning the trees, says the clones are living links to Muir's life.

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