In our article, we want to talk about what kind of miracle is this - the mammoth tree? Those who see him for the first time, it seems that it is magical, as if from some kind of fairy tale. But in fact, this huge plant is nothing more than a giant sequoiadendron.
From the history…
The mammoth tree is gigantic in size, outwardly its branches resemble real mammoth tusks. Small plants reach a height of ten meters, and some specimens grow to 110 meters. Apparently, sequoia has a rather long history, because forests of such trees existed even in the time of dinosaurs. In those days, they were spread all over the planet. Now, under natural conditions, they grow only in northern California and in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
It is very difficult to determine the average age of giant plants, it is assumed that they are at least 3-4 millennia, although the age of some specimens reaches 13 thousand years.
After the discovery of the mammoth tree by Europeans, it changed its name several times. The British botanist Lindley called the plant Wellingtonia (in honor of the Duke of Wellington), and the Americans proposed to name the plant Washington (in honor of President Washington). But these names were previously assigned to other plants, so in 1939 the tree began to be called sequoiadendron.
Giant sequoiadendron: description
Sequoiadendron belongs to the genus of evergreen conifers of the Cypress family. The first mention of such a plant among Europeans dates back to 1833. The mammoth tree is currently the tallest in the world. It is also called "mahogany." The plant has bluish-green needles and red-brown bark, the thickness of which is more than 60 centimeters, which makes the tree resistant to frost. The height of the sequoiadendron is more than one hundred meters, and the diameter of the trunk at the base is 10 meters. The approximate weight of such a giant is at least two thousand tons. Such an evergreen plant grows at an altitude of up to 750 meters above sea level. Along the Pacific Ocean on the California Coast.
Giant-sized sequoias are considered the most massive trees in nature, as well as the largest living organisms. Among them, there are about 50 trees more than 105 meters high. The oldest tree today is about 3, 500 years old. An interesting fact is that on the trunks these giants have their own ecosystems. Lichens and other small plants, animals and organisms perfectly live here.
At a young age, mammoth trees grow very quickly (10-20 centimeters per year). They have a cone-shaped, dense crown, later it becomes more open and highly raised. With age, the branches are located only on top of the trunk. Young shoots have a greenish brown hue.
In an adult plant, the red-brown bark is very thick and soft, it is separated from the trunk by fibers. The needles remain on the shoots up to four years. The plant blooms in April-May.
Features of the mammoth tree
The mammoth tree has very valuable wood, which is most highly regarded among species with a red core and white sapwood (or pale yellow). Sequoia bark is incredibly thick, red in color with deep furrows on the surface, it reliably protects the plant from external factors.
Strong wood of giants does not lend itself to decay, which is why trees in the homeland began to be destroyed from the time of the gold diggers and the first explorers. Up to now, no more than 500 copies have survived, which are under protection and are considered protected.
Sequoiadendron is considered one of the centenarians on Earth. It can grow over 2000 years. The tree reaches mature age in 400-500 years.
Where does sequoia grow?
If we talk about where the mammoth tree grows, it is worth noting that in the Cretaceous period, such evergreens were widespread throughout the northern hemisphere. But now, minor forest debris has survived only in a limited area of North America. Trees grow in a narrow strip along the Pacific coast. The length of this strip is no more than 720 kilometers. And it is located at an altitude of 600-900 meters above sea level. Sequoia (photos are given in the article) is in dire need of a humid climate, and therefore the maximum distance it can move away from the coast is 48 kilometers, remaining in the zone of influence of moist sea air. In other conditions, it simply cannot exist.
Mammoth tree: interesting facts
The living fallen sequoia tree does not die, but continues to grow, using its shoots for this. If nobody or nothing interferes with them, then after a while they will turn into independent trees. Most of the groups of these plants formed in such a simple way. Each such family of trees is formed from the unbroken remains of the ancestor. As a rule, young plants grow around an old stump, forming a circle. If we analyze the genetic material of the mini-grove, we can determine that it is the same for the stump and for the entire shoot.
The mammoth giant has one feature - to dump not only needles, but also whole branches in hot periods. In such an interesting way, he reacts to the heat.
The largest trees that have survived to this day have their own names. So, there is "General Sherman", "Father of the Forests", "General Grant" and others. The mammoth tree “Father of the Forests” no longer exists, but its description has been preserved, from which it is known that the plant reached 135 meters in height, and the trunk diameter at the base was 12 meters.
But sequoia (photo is given in the article) "General Sherman" has a height of about 83 meters. It is estimated that the plant has 1, 500 cubic meters of fine wood, and the trunk girth at the base has a diameter of 11 meters. To transport such a tree would require a train of 25 wagons.
Where can I see the sequoia?
To see what a mammoth tree looks like, you don’t need to fly to another continent, just visit the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in Crimea (on the South Bank). The two largest trees grow on the curtains 9 and 7 of the Upper Arboretum Park. One of them reaches 42.5 meters in height, and the trunk girth is 610 centimeters. Both plants were planted back in 1886, and the seeds of future seedlings were obtained in 1881. It is difficult to imagine, but today the age of trees is 136 years.
Wood
As we already mentioned, sequoia has excellent wood and at the same time grows quite quickly. Therefore, it is currently grown in forestry. Light strong wood, not subject to decay, is widely used as a building and carpentry material. Furniture, telegraph poles, sleepers, tiles, paper are made from it. The complete absence of smell makes it possible to use it in the food and tobacco industry. Of it make boxes and boxes for tobacco and cigars, barrels for honey.
In addition, sequoia is used as an ornamental plant, planting in gardens, parks and reserves. It has taken root in many countries of the world, including in the south-west of Europe, where the plant was introduced in the middle of the 19th century.
