Americus giganteus (Lindl.) W.H. Hanford， nom. utique rej.
Sequoia gigantea (Lindl.) Decne.
Sequoia wellingtonia Seem.
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Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) J. Buchholz Giant sequoia, sierra redwood
The giant sequoia is the only living species of genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three living species of cone-bearing trees called redwoods. They are found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Interested in the oldest trees? Check this Wired magazine article. Identification: Although California redwoods are taller, giant sequoias have a larger volume. Giant sequoias reach 164-279′ (50-85 m) vs. California redwoods, which top out at 377′ (115 m). Giant sequoias also live longer, up to 3,500 years. Bark, up to 3′ (91 cm) thick at the bottom of the tree, is fibrous and furrowed. Leaves are 1/16-3/16″ (3-6 mm) long, arranged in spiral whorls. Cones are 1½-2½″ (4-7 cm) long. (Photo 1 is a baby tree planted in 1981, not a trick of perspective. |
1 · “Out of its element here, the giant sequoia shares a heritage with the coast redwood. Mature sequoias do not reach the lofty heights of the tallest coast redwoods. Tolerant of extreme heat and cold, this mammoth thrives on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Unlike the coast redwood, the giant sequoia requires fire in the reproduction process.” · 8/28/2007 · Rte 199 State Park Info Place, Crescent City, California |
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The redwoods: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sequoia sempervirens |
You are here Sequoiadendron giganteum |
Metasequoia glyptostroboides |
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| Plant | Up to 377′ (115 m) tall, living up to 2,200 years. | 164-279′ (50-85 m) tall. | Up to 148′ (45 m) high, up to 6½′ (2 m) in diameter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves |
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1/16-3/16″ (3-6 mm) long, arranged in spiral whorls. |
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| Stem | Bark up to 1′ (30 cm) thick at base. | Bark, up to 3′ (91 cm) thick at the bottom of the tree, is fibrous and furrowed. | Bark reddish brown when young, becoming fissured an gray. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruit | Oval, ½-1¼″ (1.5-3.2 cm), with 15-25 spirally arranged scales. | Cones are 1½-2½″ (4-7 cm) long. | Cones are ½-⅞″ (1.5-2.5 cm) in diameter, with 16-28 scales. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | Wild | Wild | Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Online References:
The Encyclopedia of Stanford Trees, Shrubs and Vines
The USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The Humboldt State University Institute for Redwood Ecology
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
2 · 7/29/2023 · Sequoia National Park, Tulare Country, California · By Constance B. Kent 
3 · 7/29/2023 · Sequoia National Park, Tulare Country, California · By Constance B. Kent 
Sequoiadendron giganteum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
4 · The General Sherman Tree: the largest living thing on Earth. · 7/29/2023 · Sequoia National Park, Tulare Country, California · By Constance B. Kent 
5 · 7/29/2023 · Sequoia National Park, Tulare Country, California · By Constance B. Kent 
Range:
