Sequoia sempervirens

Sequoia sempervirens (/səˈkwɔɪ.ə ˌsɛmpərˈvaɪrənz/) is the sole living species of 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 living 1,200–2,200 years or more. This species includes 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 and clearing began by the 1850s, this massive tree occurred naturally in an estimated 810,000 ha (2,000,000 acres) along much of coastal California (excluding southern California where rainfall is not sufficient) and the southwestern corner of coastal Oregon within the United States. Being the tallest tree species, with a small range and an extremely long lifespan, many redwoods are preserved in various state and national parks; many of the largest specimens have their own official names.

The name sequoia sometimes refers to the subfamily Sequoioideae, which includes S. sempervirens along with Sequoiadendron (giant sequoia) and Metasequoia (dawn redwood). Here, the term redwood on its own refers to the species covered in this article but not to 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 very large amount 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 both its energy-making and green-coloring parts.

Taxonomy

Scottish botanist David Don first described the redwood in 1824, calling 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, unlike some related trees, the redwood keeps its leaves year-round. 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 naturally grow from extreme southwestern Oregon to Monterey County, California. They prefer to grow in mountainous areas where there is lots of rain and fog. The tallest and oldest redwoods are usually found in deep valleys where streams flow year-round and fog provides extra water.

These trees have been introduced to places like Victoria, Australia, where they have done well. They usually grow between 30 and 750 meters above sea level, but can sometimes be found at higher or lower elevations. Redwoods need moist conditions to thrive, and fog plays an important role in providing them with water. However, fog levels have decreased in recent years, which may be a problem for the trees.

Ecology

The native area of the coast redwood has heavy seasonal rains, up to 2,500 mm (100 in) each year. Cool coastal air and fog drip keep the forest damp all year. This wet environment helps the redwoods grow tall and strong.

Redwoods grow best in areas with frequent fog and rain. They can live for more than 2,200 years! These trees have thick bark that protects them from fires. Even when forests catch fire, redwoods often survive because their bark is very strong and fire can actually help them grow better by clearing away other plants. Redwoods also grow in areas that flood, and they have special ways to survive these floods by growing new roots.

Reproduction

Coast redwood trees can grow in two main ways: by producing seeds and by growing from parts of the tree without seeds. Seed production starts when the tree is about 10 to 15 years old. The seeds are small and light, and they usually only travel a short distance from the parent tree. Many young trees don’t 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, large areas of redwood forests have been logged, mostly for second-growth 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 were once the largest trees in the world, with some reports of trees over 122 meters tall before logging. Scientists think the tallest these trees could grow is between 122 and 130 meters, but this needs the right foggy conditions they naturally live in.

Today, many coast redwoods grow over 60 meters, and some are even taller than 90 meters. The tallest known living coast redwood is called the Hyperion tree, measuring 116.22 meters. It 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, with a trunk volume of at least 1,084.5 cubic meters. Other big trees include Iluvatar and the Lost Monarch.

Redwood trees have layers of soil in their canopies made from fallen leaves and organic material. These soils hold water and create a special home for many small plants and animals, like Clouded Salamanders, which live high up in the trees. 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.