Rocky Mountain “panty-tree”

With one inch of new snow this morning in Park City, it might be timely to revisit the subject of arboriculture in our snowy mountains. After recently discussing the “boot-tree,” today will be devoted to the study of the “panty-tree” which scientific name is “subligaculum arboreus” and is sometimes known as “pantybratree.” Except for certain sightings down under, in New Zealand, that tree seems to be native from, and only found in North America. The first tree of this kind appeared in the 1950’s, in Aspen, Colorado, somewhere under the Bell chair. At the moment, biologists found that it would develop when a tourist lady was conquered by some local male and her panties were grafted as trophy onto that tree. These trees that can either be deciduous or evergreen, have since that time multiplied at most American and even Canadian ski resorts, with bras as well as Mardi-Gras beads joining panties as "fruits." The most famous can be seen on chair 5 in Vail; of course, Park City has its own, half way up Pioneer chair on the right. Over the years and at various resorts, some trees have been chopped down in an effort to protect “family values” but have never failed to re-grow a few yards farther. Like the infamous Park City boot-tree, a typical panty-tree bears its fruits year-round but is not stressed by excessive weight; as a result, it seems to have been blessed and fully accepted by the ecologist community.