Barking up the wrong tree?
by Lewis, 31 July, 2020, 0 comments
In their natural environment, giant sequoias are to be found only in a high and narrow area on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Like, bristlecones, giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are a long lived species - their life span can be 3000 years. However, their most spectacular feature is their sheer size - they can reach heights of 300 feet with a trunk that may be 20 feet or more in diameter. Indeed, the world’s largest tree (by volume) is General Sherman - a sequoia estimated to have a volume in excess of 52000 cubic feet.
The trees are not only long lived but ‘tough’. They have protection against fire and rock fall, both of which are hazards in their home habitat. Protection is afforded by their bark, which is very fibrous and can be up to 3 feet thick. Read more...
