To start of the tree in question is the more shrub like structure in front of the other tree in the picture, not the more conventional looking tree in the background.

An 'albino' redwood is a redwood tree which is unable to produce chlorophyll, and has white needles instead of the normal green. It survives by obtaining sugar through the connections between its roots and those of neighboring non albino redwood(s), usually the parent tree from whose base it has sprouted. Sap exchange through roots is a general phenomenon among redwoods. About 400 are known. They can be found in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, San Francisco botanical gardens, and The Santa Lucia Preserve, with eleven trees in the first. The exact locations are not publicized to protect the rare trees. They reach a maximum height of about 20 m (66 ft). Other conifers lack the ability to graft their roots, so 'albino' mutants of other species do not survive to become sizable trees.

The trees were important to Native Americans and were recorded in their legends. For example, the Pomo people used them in their cleansing ceremonies.

Albino redwoods are generally regarded as parasitic plants, but as of 2016 one researcher speculates that they are supported by other trees for their role in storing toxic heavy metals. Albinos apparently accumulate more metals than normal trees because of defective stomata, which cause them to lose more water through transpiration, forcing them to compensate by taking up more water through their roots.

On the surface, it sounds like these trees have a pretty sweet arrangement, but the truth is this freeloader strategy is not without its challenges. Even when they're feeding off the healthiest of trees, many albino redwoods are weak and malnourished, which is why so many of them look like dying Christmas trees.

Ten cases are known of chimeric redwoods that have a mosaic of albino and normal tissues. Only a single chimeric redwood is known to produce cones. Formerly threatened by the Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit rail development, it has since been replanted.

Picture of a bigger one https://www.treehugger.com/thmb/V8fOGyCvf5V6QlSXDOsUFyJtiT0=/750x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__mnn__images__2015__04__Humboldt-Redwoods-State-Park-Albino-59c5798b06264b68a8db15d18c763382.jpg

Video of the trees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5mZQLpe98

And article some of info was sourced from https://www.treehugger.com/the-mysterious-world-of-albino-redwood-trees-4867273

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  • ClassUpperMiddle [they/them]
    ·
    1 year ago

    Feeling horrible all day, stupid ass boss is sticking his nose into shit he doesn't know anything about or need to worry about.

    Went to a pop jam last night that went okay, I felt like I had to play loud since all the obviously jazz guys were way too quiet in the mix but I was disappointed to find out that my chop builders didnt allow me to play loud and also fast. Got the loud, but maybe too loud and hitting too hard? It wasn't all awful, I just need to practice playing grooves at that dynamic... BUT I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT!!!

    I wish my life was either two of these scenarios: Work a day job and be gigging semi-regularly (atleast once or twice a month, I'd settle for this) or I had a real job that I cared about (like be a doctor or something) and I played video games in my free time. Being full time musician is something I've given up on. I feel like such a useless piece of shit in this middle state. I hate the world, what a horrible place sometimes you wonder why bother living

    • Multihedra [he/him]
      ·
      1 year ago

      That sucks. It really is fucked up how hard it is to make a living playing some music

      Not the kinda thing headphones out of an amp can replicate, or is that not a thing?