Sequoia sempervirens

Sequoia sempervirens

Sequoia sempervirens (/səˈkwɔɪ.ə ˌsɛmpərˈvaɪrənz/) is the only living species in the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include coast redwood, coastal redwood and California redwood. It is an evergreen, long-lived, monoecious tree that can live over 1,200 years. This species has the tallest living trees on Earth, reaching up to 116.22 m (381.3 ft) in height (without the roots) and up to 8.9 m (29 ft) in diameter at breast height. These trees are also among the longest-living trees on Earth.

Before commercial logging began in the 1850s, these trees grew naturally in an area of about 810,000 ha (2,000,000 acres) along coastal California and a small part of coastal Oregon in the United States. Because they are the tallest tree species and have a small range, many redwoods are protected in state and national parks. Some of the largest trees have special names.

The name sequoia can sometimes refer to the subfamily Sequoioideae, which includes S. sempervirens along with Sequoiadendron (giant sequoia) and Metasequoia (dawn redwood). When people say redwood by itself, they usually mean the species described in this article, not the other two species.

Description

The coast redwood, also called the California redwood, is a tall evergreen tree. It usually grows to be between 60 to 100 metres (200 to 330 feet) tall, but some can reach even higher than 110 metres (360 feet). The trunk can be very thick, up to 9 metres (30 feet) wide.

These trees have straight trunks and cone-shaped tops with branches that spread out horizontally. Their bark is thick, soft, and red-brown, turning darker when exposed to weather. The leaves are small and flat, arranged in a spiral pattern, and change shape depending on their position on the tree. The tree produces both male and female cones on the same plant, with seeds that spread when the cones dry and open.

Genetics

The coast redwood has a special genetic makeup. It has 66 chromosomes, which is different from most cone-bearing trees. Scientists think it might have a lot of genetic material, more than any other plant studied by the year 2020. The redwood’s genetic material is passed down from the father through parts that make energy and give color.

Taxonomy

Scottish botanist David Don described the redwood in 1824 and called it Taxodium sempervirens. Later, in 1847, Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher gave it its current name, Sequoia sempervirens. The redwood is one of three related tree species in the subfamily Sequoioideae.

The name "sempervirens" means "evergreen" because the redwood keeps its leaves all year. The common name "redwood" comes from the rich red color of the tree's inner wood, called heartwood. Other names for this tree include "California redwood," "coastal redwood," and "coast redwood."

Distribution and habitat

Coast redwoods grow in a narrow strip of land along the Pacific coast of North America. This strip is about 750 km long and 8 to 75 km wide. The trees grow from extreme southwestern Oregon to Monterey County, California. They like to grow in areas with lots of rain and fog.

The tallest and oldest redwoods are usually found in deep valleys where streams flow year-round. These trees have been planted in places like Victoria, Australia, where they grow well. Redwoods need moist conditions to thrive, and fog helps provide them with water.

Ecology

The coast redwood lives where there is a lot of rain, up to 2,500 mm (100 in) each year. Cool air and fog drip keep the forest wet. This helps redwoods grow tall.

Redwoods need fog and rain to grow. They can live for over 2,200 years. These trees have thick bark that helps protect them from fires. Even when fires happen, redwoods often stay safe because of their strong bark. Redwoods can also grow where floods happen, and they find ways to survive by growing new roots.

Reproduction

Coast redwood trees can grow in two ways: by making seeds or by growing from parts of the tree without seeds. Seed making starts when the tree is about 10 to 15 years old. The seeds are small and light, and they usually only move a short distance from the parent tree. Many young trees do not survive their first few years, but those that do can grow quickly.

Redwoods can also grow from parts of the tree that are not seeds, like branches or roots. If a tree falls down, it can grow new trees from its trunk. These new trees often form a circle called a “fairy ring” around where the original tree stood. Some redwoods have special growths called burls that can also grow into new trees when separated from the original tree.

Cultivation and uses

Coast redwood is very important for timber. In California, many redwood forests have been logged for wood. The wood is prized for its beauty, lightness, and ability to resist decay. It doesn’t have much resin, so it absorbs water well and resists fire.

The Yurok people used to burn parts of the forest to help certain plants grow. Logging began in the early 1800s using axes and saws. Later, steam engines and then trucks were used to move logs. Today, redwoods are also grown in places like New Zealand, Great Britain, and parts of the United States and Canada, where they grow well. They are often used in parks and gardens because of their impressive size.

Statistics

Coast redwoods used to be the largest trees in the world. Some reports said they grew over 122 meters tall before people cut them down. Scientists think the tallest they can grow is between 122 and 130 meters, but they need the right foggy conditions.

Today, many coast redwoods grow over 60 meters tall, and some are even taller than 90 meters. The tallest known living coast redwood is called the Hyperion tree. It is 116.22 meters tall and was found in Redwood National Park in 2006. Another famous tall tree is the Stratosphere Giant, which stands at 112.84 meters.

The largest known living coast redwood is Grogan’s Fault. Its trunk holds at least 1,084.5 cubic meters of space. Other big trees include Iluvatar and the Lost Monarch.

Redwood trees have layers of soil in their tops made from fallen leaves and other natural materials. These soils keep water and create a home for many small plants and animals, like Clouded Salamanders. Mosses and other plants, called epiphytes, also grow on the tree tops and survive tough weather.

List of tallest trees

See also: List of tallest trees

List of largest trees

Canopy layers

Other notable examples

• The Blossom Rock Navigation Trees#"Navigation_Trees") were two very tall redwoods used by sailors.
• The Lindsay Creek Tree was a very tall and big tree that fell in a storm in 1905.
• Old Survivor is the last remaining old-growth redwood in the Oakland Hills.
• A big redwood stump was found in Oakland, California.