Learn in this article everything related to the Redwood, a quite curious tree, which among its most amazing characteristics is its longevity and its great height, do not stop learning about this curious tree and read until the end, so you will know how to easily identify it when you see one of them in your town.
sequoia tree
As mentioned in the introduction, the most amazing thing about this tree is its size, it is one of the giant trees existing, because amazingly it can reach up to 115 meters, likewise it is necessary to highlight its life expectancy, which is nothing more and nothing less than 3000 years, which means that it can be crossed with someone who has more years on earth than any other living thing.
Of course, in order for them to live that number of years and even more, there must be certain conditions, otherwise their quality of life decreases and therefore also their life span; it is important to note that they grow quite slowly as will be pointed out in a segment later in the article.
Another of the most important points is the fact that when it is winter time, the whole process slows down, this is due to the harshness of these temperatures, which prevent it from continuing to grow, of course, it continues to breathe, otherwise it would die. Then, when spring arrives, it wakes up, but it does so quite slowly, which is why throughout the year, this tree only grows for six months, the rest is without activity.
These trees are very common to find in the mountains, which is why winter affects them so much and slows down their activity, since summers are usually milder than in other habitats; When people decide to grow them, they must take into account all the necessary factors, mainly the climate, since not everywhere favors them.
These trees are called "Conifers", another of their most interesting characteristics is their trunk, since this is straight and not as in the case of others that usually have many branches, as its trunk evolves it widens, there have been some of them that have even had eight meters at their base.
As for its leaves, these do not have a single size, but are quite variable, but what they are is long, in addition, their cones have an ovoid shape. The family to which it belongs is the Cupressaceae.
Description
Some descriptions have already been given in the preamble, however, in this segment we will talk in more detail about this amazing tree, which has a long and straight trunk, its branches are much thinner and fall horizontally at the top. Of this, it has a quite strikingly thick rind, and it is also quite shiny and smooth.
The size of its leaves is not fixed, unlike the Leaves of trees of another type, these can be around fifteen millimeters, up to 25 millimeters, they are flat and long. As for the color of the same, they will vary depending on whether they are exposed to the sun directly, as occurs towards the area of the crowns of these trees or if, on the contrary, they are in the shade, that is, motivated by other branches or nearby trees, the most dark ones are usually in the upper part, while the lower ones may have whitish areas.
As for the cones of these trees, as mentioned, they maintain an ovoid shape, which have a length that can vary from fifteen to thirty-two millimeters, in addition they also have spiral scales and each one of them these have seeds, approximately three to four millimeters in size, which, as the scales mature, are released and when they dry they open.
For its part, what is related to maturation, takes place between month eight and month nine after it was pollinated, which occurs when winter is ending.
These trees grow in groups in the mountains that are humid, the reason for this grouping is that in this way they protect themselves from extreme low temperatures and strong winds. These trees can be seen from Oregon to California in the southern area.
It is described as the tallest living being in the world, however, it was not always like this, previously the eucalyptus and fir trees surpassed it in altitude, but today these are not observed with such height.
There is a rather curious fact about these trees and that is that they grow quite close together, one next to the other, as if they were dependent, but the truth is that they have the same root, which are large unlike the Trees with few rootsHowever, if one of them dies, is felled or something similar, the others continue to develop, providing each other with sap when necessary.
Types of redwood
There are several genera of this type of tree, two of them are distant family and one that belongs directly to this type, these are the following: Red sequoia, giant sequoia and Metasequoia, each of them will be explained in greater detail. hereafter.
As for the first, that is, the red sequoia, scientifically it is known as Sequoia sempervirens, said in some way, this is the original, like the true one, another name by which it is known is California sequoia, mainly because of its location, more specifically on the North American Pacific coast.
In this territory it can be located at a maximum height of nine hundred and twenty meters above sea level, but there are also some lower ones, reaching only thirty meters above sea level.
This tree can have up to three thousand two hundred years of life and reach a height of more than one hundred meters.
Next, the giant sequoia was mentioned, this can also be found in California, but towards the Sierra Nevada area, the name by which it is best known is "velintonia", this type also exceeds one hundred meters in height.
As for its location, it can be achieved at high levels above the sea, from a minimum of about one thousand four hundred meters to a maximum of two thousand five hundred meters above sea level. On the other hand, their life expectancy, like the previous one, reaches 3000 and 3200 years.
Finally, there is the Metasequoia, which is scientifically called Metasequoia glyptostroboides, as for this it is important to point out that although it is a type of the tree in question, it is the one that is furthest from its origin, it can be differentiated in several ways, since there are clear details about this, such as:
- Unlike the previous ones, this one grows faster
- It is deciduous
- Its height, already in the stage of adulthood, is about forty-five meters, and its trunk will have a diameter of approximately two meters.
- Another aspect that stands out the most to differentiate them is that their origin is not in North America but in the Asian continent, more specifically in China, although several eras ago, more exactly in the Paleocene, they also lived in Mexico and in Dakota in the United States. .
- We cannot fail to mention that this is more flexible, that is, it is spreading to other territories, since the climate does not affect them as much, which is why it can be seen in gardens.
Location and ecology
These are located on the Pacific coast of North America, it is a long and narrow strip in this area, which is approximately seven hundred and fifty kilometers.
These are located in those mountains where there is more precipitation, since it is where there is more humidity, that is why the highest ones are where streams pass.
Their barks are quite thick, which benefits them greatly, as it protects them from harmful insects, as well as from the damage that the candle could cause them. On the coast the oldest tree is two thousand two hundred years old.
How long does it take to grow the Sequoia?
A little has already been said about the growth of this tree throughout the article and this is one of the points that causes the most curiosity in people when they meet or see this tree, because many times when you have the opportunity to see one and it is extremely large and wide, it means that it is already hundreds of years old.
In relation to its growth, several aspects must always be taken into account, mainly the fact of the genetics of this living being, as well as what is related to the climate in which it develops, the soil, the changing temperatures, especially before the climate change that the world has seen for many years, likewise the pests and diseases that can attack them are taken into account.
But if this tree does not face these changes, or diseases, but develops in a calm context according to its nature, then its trunk will be formed in approximately twenty years.
How much does a sequoia grow in a year?
Having said the above, surely the concern arises as to how tall a tree of this type reaches in the course of a year, the answer to this is that it is variable, but if an evolution is seen, it can be at least two centimeters when standing. optimally, without any mishap, we must remember that during the winter these trees stop their activity.
It may be that if the land in which this tree enters is constantly fertilized, then its evolution occurs faster, the times that are most recommended to carry out this type of work are in the months that go from spring until the end of the summer.
Among the materials that experts say can be used for this is compost, which you can make from your home with organic materials such as food waste, but you can also use guano; also in one of the following segments his care is highlighted.
Where is the largest Sequoia in the world?
This is another of the greatest curiosities about this tree, because many would like to see one and why not the tallest of them, which never ceases to amaze those with the opportunity to visit it, which can currently be found in California, which is their place of origin.
To get to know this tree, whether you live in the state or go as a tourist, you should go to the park in the area called Redwood, in San Francisco to the north. Its height is almost one hundred and sixteen meters, so far it is the tallest of all, its species is Sequoia sempervirens.
Likewise, it should be noted another of its most outstanding members, but in this case it belongs to another species and is called Sequoiadendron giganteum, this is also located in the state of California, but in another park, which is called Sequoia National Park, They even have a name and it's General Sherman, so if you visit the place and you want to explicitly meet him, then ask someone from the place to take you directly there.
Experts say that this is the one with the most biomass in the world, because its trunk is quite thick with about eleven meters in diameter and its height is almost eighty-four meters, it is also worth noting that its branches are quite long, about forty meters.
The thickest specimens
Several of these trees are mentioned below according to their thickness, their names, their altitude and their thickness will be mentioned:
The first is located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, in California, which is about ninety-eight meters high and its diameter is 7.9 meters, its name is Lost Monarch.
Next is the Fusion Giant, which is located in the Redwood National Park also in California, its height is a little more than one hundred and six meters, while its thickness reaches 6.8 meters in diameter.
The next one is also located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, in this case its height is about 91,5 meters and its thickness is 6.25 meters in diameter, it is called Lluvatar.
Next is the North Titan, also located in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, its height is 93.6 meters and its diameter is 7.3 meters.
Also in the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, is the so-called Howland Hill Giant, 100,6 meters high, but less thick than the rest of about 5.85 meters in diameter.
Last on the list is Sir Isaac Newton, which is in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
What are their cares?
Many people want to have a type of this tree, due to its amazing size, for this it is necessary that you have a large place mainly, where there is space so that it can be developed without any impediment, if you already have this first element the rest will be a little simpler, as shown below:
The place where you are going to plant it must be where the sun reaches it, but it also enjoys shade, as for the land in which you are going to place it, it must have sufficient organic matter, that is, it must not be dry , as it needs humidity to develop, it must also have adequate drainage.
To water your tree, the frequency should be moderate, neither too slow nor too fast, in the case of summer time, then water it at least four times a week, because it is the time when they are hottest the rest of the year should decrease as the weather tends to be more humid.
During the winter it will begin to release its seeds, which must be stratified in the fridge for at least ninety days, this is if you want to multiply it and have more specimens.
Reproduction of the Sequoia
This occurs both sexually and asexually, which is why clones sprout. These trees begin to reproduce seeds once they have reached ten or fifteen years of age, however, they are rarely viable.
artificial introduction
Even though these trees originate from the United States, they were introduced artificially in Europe around the 1800s, which is why this species can be seen in various parks on this continent, for example in Cantabria and Galicia.
