Sequoiadendron giganteum (Giant Sequoia)

7/8/07 "The Sentinels," North Grove Picnic Area, 

Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County.

Gil with Hana at "The Sentinels," North Grove Picnic Area, 

Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County.

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Giant Sequoia

SPECIES: Sequoiadendron giganteum

FAMILY: Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

LIFE LIST DATE: 7/8/07

LOCATION: "The Sentinels," North Grove Picnic Area, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County, CA

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Treatment from Jepson eFlora:

NATIVE

Habit: Tree, generally not sprouting. 

Stem: trunk < 90 m, to 11 m diam; old crown irregular, with large branches throughout; bark to +- 60 cm thick near base, fibrous, ridged, red-brown; branches spreading to downswept, ends upturned; twigs persistent < 20 years. 

Leaf: alternate, green < 4 years, persistent < 20; of 1 kind, appressed, +- 4-ranked, < 15 mm, awl-like. 

Pollen Cone: 4--8 mm, +- spheric to ovoid. 

Seed Cone: 40--90 mm, oblong, woody, maturing in 2 years, persistent < 20; scales peltate, fused to bracts. 

Seed: 3--9 per scale, 3--6 mm, wings 2, unequal, lateral. 

Ecology: Uncommon. Mixed-conifer forest, especially with favorable soil moisture; 

Elevation: 825--2700 m. 

Bioregional Distribution: SNH, naturalized in northwestern San Jacinto Mountains (Black Mountain), possibly naturalizing in San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains. 

Note: Most massive trunks in North America. 

Jepson eFlora Author: Steve Boyd & James R. Griffin