Palustris Experimental Forest Moon Tree

Elmer, Louisiana

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) located at the Palustris Experimental Forest near Elmer, Louisiana, in Kisatchie National Forest, planted in April, 1976. The tree was supposedly planted next to a control loblolly pine from the same cone that was kept behind on Earth. But turns out that the "control" tree (on the left in the second picture above) was actually a shortleaf pine, it is not clear how the wrong tree got there. To further compound the confusion, a sign was put up on the chain link fence giving the story of the Moon tree, but was put in front of the wrong tree.

The Palustris Experimental Station was closed, and the area around the trees has become overgrown since the earlier pictures were taken, but they are right on the other side of the chain link fence that runs along the road. The sign has been moved to the correct location, although it still refers to the other tree as a "control" tree. Below are pictures of the tree as it appears today from the road side, with the short-leaf pine on the right in the second picture.

For more on the story, see the Moon tree mystery unsolved, still funny article by Jeff Zeringue in "Forests and People" quarterly.

The tree is located at 31° 10.715' N; 92° 40.628' W

First two photographs courtesy of Katie Mottram

Moon tree mystery unsolved, still funny

Moon Tree

Louisiana Loblolly Pine - Elmer, LA - Moon Tree

Palustris Tree Sign

History of the Moon Tree Loblolly Pines
Moon Tree Home Page

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 10 June 2024, DRW