I'm convinced they actually are streaks in the sand, but with a caveat.
I'm convinced they are streaks because I see too many different "growth" angles for them to be actual trees. Trees, especially those that are mostly trunk with generally short branches as these would be if they were trees, always grow straight away from the pull of gravity. The reason for that is that if they don't, and instead grow at a tangent or an angle less than about 80 or 90 degrees perpendicular to the pull of gravity, gravity will pull them over and they will topple - even more likely if they are rooted in mere loose sand. I see no toppled trees there, despite the crazy angles each "stand" is "growing" at.
When a tree has wider branches, i.e. "the spreading chestnut tree" of village smithy fame, it can afford to grow at somewhat more of an angle, because it can send out branches to the opposite site to counter balance the pull of gravity and keep it from falling over.
So... I think they are streaks rather than trees. Now comes the caveat -
Although I don't think they are trees, I think there is something else weird going on here. The streaks are way too dark, and they certainly ARE "dendritic" (tree-like, branching), which is a characteristic of river and creek channels on Earth. Together, these things indicate a "flow", and it certainly looks more like a liquid flow than just tumbling sand. The under-layer is dark, much darker than the normal surface of Mars. It looks wet to me. CO2 doesn't have a liquid phase normally, and certainly not under the atmospheric pressures on Mars. it just sublimates - goes directly from solid to gas.
The features look sort of like middle eastern "wadis", dendritic channels in the desert cause by running liquid (water here on Earth)... so what is the liquid causing these martian wadis to form?
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I'm convinced they are streaks because I see too many different "growth" angles for them to be actual trees. Trees, especially those that are mostly trunk with generally short branches as these would be if they were trees, always grow straight away from the pull of gravity. The reason for that is that if they don't, and instead grow at a tangent or an angle less than about 80 or 90 degrees perpendicular to the pull of gravity, gravity will pull them over and they will topple - even more likely if they are rooted in mere loose sand. I see no toppled trees there, despite the crazy angles each "stand" is "growing" at.
When a tree has wider branches, i.e. "the spreading chestnut tree" of village smithy fame, it can afford to grow at somewhat more of an angle, because it can send out branches to the opposite site to counter balance the pull of gravity and keep it from falling over.
So... I think they are streaks rather than trees. Now comes the caveat -
Although I don't think they are trees, I think there is something else weird going on here. The streaks are way too dark, and they certainly ARE "dendritic" (tree-like, branching), which is a characteristic of river and creek channels on Earth. Together, these things indicate a "flow", and it certainly looks more like a liquid flow than just tumbling sand. The under-layer is dark, much darker than the normal surface of Mars. It looks wet to me. CO2 doesn't have a liquid phase normally, and certainly not under the atmospheric pressures on Mars. it just sublimates - goes directly from solid to gas.
The features look sort of like middle eastern "wadis", dendritic channels in the desert cause by running liquid (water here on Earth)... so what is the liquid causing these martian wadis to form?
'
Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’