[bjs1779]

Possible vegetation: The thickness of the dark structures increases at lower altitudes, just as it does on Earth. The edges have a fractal character, almost a signature of vegetation on Earth. On the right, a radial quality, much like terrestrial life with a stem or trunk, may be discerned. Sources: M1001442.gif & M0804688.gif.

"I'm now convinced that Mars is inhabited by a race of demented landscape gardeners," Sir Arthur C. Clarke announced recently.

The author of 2001: A Space Odyssey was only half-joking. He claims that an image produced by the Mars Global Surveyor satellite shows "large areas of vegetation . . . like banyan trees." Most experts dismiss the idea. But Popular Science loves a free thinker, especially one as talented and charming as Sir Arthur. We questioned him in Sri Lanka via e-mail.

http://www.ultor.org/Popular%20Science%20%20The%20Banyan%20trees%20of%20Mars.htm

[SunkenCiv]

Arthur C. Clarke Stands By His Belief in Life on Mars
by Leonard David
Monday, 11 September, 2000
Space.com

Clarke spoke last night, June 6, via phone from his home in Sri Lanka as key speaker in the Wernher von Braun Memorial Lecture series held here at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Pouring over images on his home computer taken by the now-orbiting Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Clarke said that there are signs of vegetation evident in the photos. Clarke repeated several times that he was serious about his observations, pointing out that he sees something akin to Banyan trees in some MGS photos.

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Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe

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[U S Army EOD]

Well, if I remember right, "THE THING", was a vegetable So all of this is starting to make more sense.