Together with the giant sequoiadendron, it belongs to the highest trees on the planet (they reach a height of over 100 m and a trunk diameter of 8.5-9 m. Evergreen conifer tree taxodia family. Monotypic genus, represented by a single species. Named in honor of Sequoyah (1770 - 1843) - the Cherokee Indian leader, the inventor of the Cherokee syllabary.
Fossils found give an idea that giant sequoias existed in the Jurassic and were widespread throughout the northern hemisphere at the end of the Cretaceous and in the Tertiary period. The remains of forests with their participation, which once occupied vast areas, are now preserved only in a limited area of western North America. One hundred and fifty million years ago, these trees grew all over the continent.
Sequoia sempervirens general form mature tree
Sequoia forests were first discovered by Europeans on the Pacific coast in 1769. By the arrival of lumberjacks in the 19th century, they covered an area of 8,000 sq. km. By the beginning of the 20th century, most of these forests had been cut down. Now they can only be found in California and Southern Oregon.
Description: The sequoia is probably the tallest tree on earth, except for references to the unusually tall eucalyptus trees in Western Australia, and mention of Douglas pseudo-hemlock (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in historical times, reaching more than 120 m, which were higher than any redwoods. It is likely that the tallest coast sequoias were the first victims of the axe, so it is difficult to say what the tallest tree of this species was in early historical time.
Sequoia sempervirens "Hyperion"
Today, the tallest sequoia, named "Hyperion", was discovered in the summer of 2006 in national park Redwood north of San Francisco. The tree reached a height of 115.5 meters. Most of the trees are over 60 m in height, many are over 90 m with a trunk diameter of 3-4.6 m (maximum 9 m).
The second place in height after the sequoia is Douglasia or Pseudotsuga Menzies . The tallest living pseudo-hemzies of Menzies reaches 99.4 m in height. A related species - does not reach a height of more than 100 m, it is somewhat shorter and has a thicker trunk than a sequoia.
Sequoia sempervirens - young tree
Sequoia crown dense and wide at a young age, later open, irregular narrow-conical, formed by branches growing horizontally or with a slight downward slope. root system consists of shallow, widely spread lateral roots. The trunk is enclosed in a thick, fibrous, relatively soft, incombustible bark. When you touch it, the palm seems to sink into the tree, creating unusual sensations. The bark is hard-fibred, deeply furrowed, red-brown in color, about 35 cm thick.
Young shoots grow slightly to the sides and up. The branches are thin, dark green. The leaf arrangement is two-row, they are flat, strongly appressed, linear or linear-lanceolate, with obvious annual growth constrictions. Leaves 15-25 mm long, elongated in young trees in the shady lower part of the crown, or scaly 5-10 mm long in the top of the crown of old trees.
Sequoia sempervirens - flowering cone
It dusts at the end of winter, the seeds ripen after 8-9 months. Anthers nearly spherical to ovoid, 2-5 mm are located singly on short terminal or axillary stems. The female cones are ovoid, oblong to spherical, 12-35 mm long, reddish-brown, composed of 15-25 spirally twisted woody scales, with many flat, are located singly at the ends of leafy branches. They are light brown, 3-6 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, flat, lenticular, with two narrow leathery wings, spilling out when the cone dries and opens. Seedlings with 2 (rarely 4) cotyledons.
Sequoia sempervirens - young female cones
Ecology: Forms quite extensive woodlands on a narrow strip of the Pacific coast in the USA, from Southwestern Oregon to the Santa Lucia Ridge in California (at an altitude of 600-900 m), on a strip about 750 km long and 8 to 75 km wide. Sometimes trees grow near the shore, sometimes they climb to a height of up to 920 m. Sequoia loves the humidity that the sea air brings with it, so its distribution is limited to coastal areas (within 60 km from the sea) in a zone of heavy fog.
Sequoia sempervirens - male cones
The breed has an increased ability to absorb moisture from the air. The tallest and oldest trees grow in gorges and deep ravines where all year round flows can get humid air. Trees growing above the fog layer (above 700 m) are shorter and smaller due to drier, windier and cooler growing conditions. Prefers well-drained, fresh alluvial soils where it forms pure stands or grows with Pseudotsuga menziesii (Pseudotsuga menziesii),Sitka spruce and (R. sitchensis and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ).
Sequoias have impressive growth in height, young trees sometimes grow at a rate of more than 1 m per year. This property places strong competitive pressure on associated conifers. Some of the tallest and narrowest individuals have formed in the redwood grove to keep up with growth. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Sitka spruce (R.itchensis) reaching heights of over 90 m. Per unit area, redwood forests have the highest biomass loads of any ecosystem on earth.
Sequoia sempervirens - young growth
This breed in nature creates a kind of forest biocenoses with rather complex animal and plant communities. Young trees branch in all directions, but with age, the lower branches fall off, and a closed canopy forms at the top. It practically does not transmit light to the ground; as a result, the undergrowth in the sequoia forest is rather poorly developed. Only ferns and other shade-loving plants can grow here, along with rare young sequoias.
Sequoia sempervirens - immature buds
An adult tree produces many seeds, but only a small part of them germinate successfully, and those that germinate are forced to fight with low light. Under natural conditions, such slow reproduction would be quite sufficient, since trees can live 3000 years, but with more active forest exploitation, young trees do not appear quickly enough to compensate for felling. In such a forest, 60 m from the ground, life is relatively impoverished.
Sequoia sempervirens - old cone
This is largely a consequence of vegetative self-reproduction after fire damage. The tree can be completely destroyed by fire, after which it quickly regenerates from a bunch of clonal stems. In some cases, a single tree can have over a hundred of these stems, essentially creating a single tree forest. The surfaces of the forks and pockets within this structure create reservoirs for water storage and enhance the biological activity of the soil, as well as providing habitat for various mammals, birds, amphibians and a huge variety of arthropods.
The list of “fun facts” includes the fact that after a fire, young shoots receive carbohydrates, water and nutrients from a common network of fused roots from trees undamaged by fire, which allows sequoias to displace other conifers and regenerate even in deep shade under their own canopy. This also explains the appearance of the so-called "white sequoias", which do not have chlorophyll in their leaves and are completely fed by root connections with photosynthetic trees.
Sequoia is a unique combination of age, size and weight, making these trees the largest and longest-lived creatures present on planet Earth today. The giant sequoia is second in life expectancy only to the bristlecone pines that are found in the arid mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Many trees live up to 2000 years - this is a long time. The oldest known saw cut of a tree has 2267 growth rings.
The question arises, can sequoias live forever? I guess, yes. There is little evidence to support the existence of aging in these conifers, and all very old trees can live many times longer. In fact, there are factors that determine longevity environment that age and kill trees. When a tree is resistant to these factors, or when the factors are weak, the tree can reach a respectable age of 3,000 years or more. Environmental factors is a statistical inevitability.
Sequoia sempervirens - old tree trunk
Old trees die mainly from the combined adverse effects of certain fungi, wind, fire or floods. The most common mortality in redwoods is due to stem or root rot, which leaves the tree vulnerable. Trees are prone to windblow due to the large windage of the crown with poorly developed or rot-damaged roots. The health of such trees never gets better and tends to get worse. Eventually the wind breaks or uproots the tree during a big storm. This happens especially often on swampy soils, when, due to flooding, the friction between the roots and the soil decreases.
This is one of the few trees adapted to forest fires. Fire is not terrible for a tree, but frequent fires can kill by repetition: one fire leaves a scar in the thick bark, the next one enlarges the opening, where fungi subsequently settle, which infect the core, so that eventually the tree will fall. In culture, as a result of artificial plantings of the 19th and 20th centuries, there are small groves of evergreen Sequoia and its single specimens in Europe and Asia, usually in special botanical gardens and arboretums (for example, in Belgium).
In Russia, it is found in Western Transcaucasia, in Ukraine on the southern coast of Crimea. Three fruit-bearing trees at the limit of the cultural area grow in Transcarpathia (Mukachevo, Berezinka arboretum). Cultivation possible in USDA zones 7-10 (Hardiness between -17.7°C and -12.1°C) Winter hardiness increases with age. Thus, the experiment of introduction into forest cultures in Ukraine in Transcarpathia) showed the result of the tolerance of lower winter temperatures. Mature 30 m trees in zone 6b / 7a in forest conditions tolerate periodic short drops to -23.2 ° C without damage.
Sequoia sempervirens - underside of leaves
In BS them. Fomina in Kiev grows with a wide squat bush, periodically freezes strongly but grows back. For successful introduction to more northern regions, it requires lateral lighting, the most protected, with a favorable microclimate of locations, moderately moist, well-drained, permeable soils and high humidity. In general, it is not demanding on soils, does not tolerate blocking soils, and dry calcareous soils. Dwarf varieties of this species with slow growth can be tested in amateur collections in the 6th zone - in the Carpathian and Transcarpathian regions, in the south-west of Belarus, in Kaliningrad, on the coast in the Baltic countries.
Sequoia sempervirens - upper side of leaves
Reproduction and agricultural technology: This is one of the few vegetatively propagating conifers that easily regenerates with stump growth after fire damage. A peculiar consequence of this is the emergence of "white sequoias", which are non-photosynthetic coppice trees that take carbohydrates from photosynthetic associated roots with which the "white trees" have grown together. White sequoias are found only in old-growth forests, where the amount of biomass of photosynthetic sequoias is colossal, they usually do not exceed 3 meters in height. Nevertheless, there are isolated white sequoias up to 20 m in height, dressed in fresh, snow-white needles. Propagation by cuttings and seeds is similar to that of and.
Application: Biostability and durability make sequoia wood an ideal material for the manufacture of wooden pipes, gutters and trays, tanks, vats, roofing shingles, and for the exterior cladding of buildings. It is also used on racks and profile products for interior decoration. The wood is used in the production of plywood. The thick bark serves as raw material for fiber boards and filter media. Wood is valued for its beauty, strength, light weight and resistance to decay.
Commercial lumber plantings now cover large expanses of private land in northern California. Such plantings are especially cost-effective because the tree propagates easily vegetatively and immediately re-establishes roots after felling. As recently as the beginning of the century before last, sequoias were the largest trees on earth, and almost all of them (over 90% of the largest trees) were cut down in a logging frenzy, in just over a century. It all ended in the 1990s. The wood was used for construction, underwater structures, etc.
The hardest times began in 1850 with commercial demand for building timber mines, and continued until the 20th century. The deforestation of the redwoods was driven by the hype created by the California gold rush. Today, redwoods are among the most symbolically important tree species. They are revered by millions of people as an aesthetic symbol of the intangible values of the greatness and power of wildlife. Sequoia and ( Sequoia Sempervirens and Sequoiadendron giganteum ) is the state tree of California.
Today, the species is well protected in nature, it can be easily seen in several National Parks in California: in Redwood National Park (Red Forest) and in National Reserve Muir Forest. If you have never seen a grove of ancient sequoias, it is worth doing it at least once in your life. This view is one of the most beautiful sights anywhere in the world.
ld: The breed is suitable only for large parks and BS in warm temperate humid climate. Magnificent accent of the first order, landing singly or in small groups at the end of the alley or as a silhouette dominant in the background.
In contact with
Trees of the Taxodiaceae family ( Taxodiaceae). According to one of the classification systems, the Taxodiaceae family belongs to the subclass Coniferous ( Pinidae or Coniferae), which, in turn, is included in the class Conifers or Pinopsida ( Pinopsida), belonging to the department Gymnosperms ( Gymnospermae).
The only species of the genus is evergreen sequoia, or red ( S. sempervirens) - considered a symbol of the US state of California, it is one of the tallest and longest-lived trees on Earth, also famous for its beautiful, straight-grained and rot-resistant wood.
The height of the evergreen sequoia is about 90 m, and the record one is 113 m. It is noted in the Redwood National Park in California. The diameter of the trunk reaches 6–11 m and can increase by 2.5 cm per year. The sequoia has the most valuable wood among taxodies with a red core and pale yellow or white sapwood (sapwood is the layers of wood located between the core and the cambium). The bark of the tree is thick, reddish, deeply furrowed. The quality of wood varies not only depending on the place of growth, but also within the same trunk. The crown is narrow, starting above the lower third of the trunk. Oval buds and short shoots with flat bluish-gray needles give the sequoia beauty and splendor. The root system is formed by lateral roots that go deep into the soil.
The evergreen sequoia is one of the longest-lived plants on Earth: its age is more than 2000 years (the oldest known tree is about 2200 years old). Maturity occurs at 400-500 years.
The reproductive organs of sequoias (like all conifers) are strobili - modified shortened shoots bearing special leaves - sporophylls , on which spore-forming organs - sporangia are formed . There are male strobili (they are called microstrobiles) and female (megastrobili). Sequoia is a monoecious plant (microstrobils and megastrobils develop on the same tree). Microstrobili are solitary, they are placed on the tops of the shoots or in the axils of the leaves. Megastrobili are collected in small oval-shaped single cones. One of the features of the sequoia is the ability to produce abundant shoots that do not differ in growth rate and life expectancy from seedlings grown from seeds. Sequoia forests in America consist mainly of trees grown in this way.
At the end of the Cretaceous and in the Tertiary period, the evergreen sequoia, along with other representatives of taxodiaceae, was widespread in the northern hemisphere, but now the remains of forests with its participation have been preserved only in a limited area of western North America, namely, on a narrow strip of the Pacific coast from Monterey County to northern California to the Chetco River in southern Oregon. The length of this strip is about 720 km, it is located at an altitude of 600 to 900 m above sea level. The evergreen sequoia needs a very humid climate, so it does not go further from the coast than 32-48 km, remaining in the zone of influence of humid sea air.
For the first time, sequoia forests were discovered by Europeans on the Pacific coast in 1769. By the color of the wood, the sequoia then got its name "mahogany" ( Redwood), which has survived to this day. In 1847, the Austrian botanist Stefan Endlicher singled out these plants as an independent genus and gave it the name "sequoia" in honor of the Sequoia (Sequoyah, 1770-1843), an outstanding leader of the Iroquois, who invented the alphabet of the Cherokee tribe.
Because of the beautiful wood and fast growth, sequoia is specially grown in forestry. Light, dense, resistant to rotting and insect attack, sequoia wood is widely used as a building and joinery material, goes to the manufacture of furniture, sleepers, telegraph poles, railway cars, paper and tiles. Lack of smell allows it to be used in the tobacco and food industries. Boxes and boxes for cigars and tobacco, barrels for storing honey and molasses are made from it. Because of the beautiful wood and fast growth, sequoia is specially grown in forestry. Sequoia is also used as an ornamental plant, planting it for this in gardens and parks.
Two other species are close to the evergreen sequoia, each of which is also the only representative of its genus. The first species is the giant sequoiadendron or mammoth tree ( Sequoiadendron giganteum); the second species is the glyptostrobus metasequoia ( Metasequoia glyptostroboides).
Sequoiadendron giant
or the mammoth tree was named so because of the gigantic size and outward resemblance of its huge hanging branches to mammoth tusks. The evergreen sequoia and the giant sequoia are similar in appearance, but differ from each other in the shape of the leaves, the size of the cones, and a number of other features.
Like the evergreen sequoia, the giant sequoia was widespread in the northern hemisphere at the end of the Cretaceous and in the Tertiary, now only about 30 small groves have survived, located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in California at an altitude of 1500-2000 m above sea level.
The giant sequoiadendron was described in 1853, but after that its name changed several times. The appearance of the tree impressed the Europeans so much that they began to give it names the greatest people that time. So, the famous English botanist D. Lindley, who first described this plant, called it wellingtonia in honor of the English Duke of Wellington, the hero of the Battle of Waterloo. The Americans, in turn, proposed the name of Washington (or Washington Sequoia) in honor of the first US President D. Washington, who headed freedom movement against the British. But since the names washingtonia and wellingtonia had already been assigned to other plants, in 1939 this plant received its current name.
The giant sequoiadendron is an unusually majestic and monumental tree, reaching a height of 80-100 m with a trunk diameter of up to 10-12 m. It is distinguished by longevity and can probably live up to 3 or even 4 thousand years.
Because of the durable, rot-resistant wood, sequoiadendrons have been rapaciously exterminated in their homeland since the time of the first explorers. The remaining old trees (and there are only about 500 of them) are declared protected. The largest sequoiadendrons have their own names: "Father of the Forests", "General Sherman", "General Grant" and others. These trees are real giants. flora. It is known, for example, that an orchestra and three dozen dancers freely fit on the saw cut of one of them, and cars pass through the tunnels made in the lower parts of the trunks of some other trees. The weight of one of the largest of these trees - "General Sherman" - is about 2,995,796 kg.
Sequoiadendron as an ornamental plant is bred in many countries of the world, for example, it has perfectly taken root in the parks and gardens of the southwestern part of Europe, where it was introduced back in the middle of the 19th century.
Sequoiadendrons are used not only for decorative purposes. The rotting wood of the sequoiadendron is used in construction work, for the manufacture of tiles and fences. The thick bark of the tree (30–60 cm) is used as spacers in fruit containers.
Metasequoia glyptostrobusa
differs from other taxodia (including sequoia and sequoiadendron genera close to it) by the arrangement of leaves and scales. This plant was first known only from fossils, so the discovery of a living metasequoia (in 1946) aroused the interest of biologists around the world. Subsequent expeditions made it possible to establish the range of this plant. Now the metasequoia is preserved only in a small area (about 8000 m 2) in the mountains of the northeast of the Chinese province of Sichuan and in the neighboring province of Hubei at an altitude of 700–1350 m above sea level. The main part of the metasequoia (about 1000 mature trees in total) is concentrated in the province of Hubei, in a valley called the Valley of the Water Fir after the local name of the tree. Here grow trees with an age of 600 years or more, reaching 30–35 m in height and 2 m in diameter.
Natural habitats of metasequoia - mixed forests along the slopes of mountain gorges, along streams and in hollows. In addition, it is often found in the surrounding villages, where among local residents there is a custom to plant young trees brought from the forest along the rice fields and near the houses.
In the past, the range of this genus was extremely wide, as evidenced by metasequoia fossils found almost everywhere in Asia, North America, Greenland and Svalbard. This genus arose, apparently, in the Cretaceous period (from 132 to 66 million years ago) and flourished in the Oligocene epoch of the Tertiary period (from 37 to 25 million years ago). Forests with metasequoia covered at that time vast expanses in the northern hemisphere, but, unlike modern look, metasequoias of the past were grown near wetlands of forests.
Now metasequoia began to be grown in many countries outside its natural range. It develops best in the humid subtropics, but it also grows in cold climates (Alaska, Norway, Finland) and in countries with a hot continental climate. As a rule, it is grown as an ornamental plant - a slender metasequoia with a pyramidal crown and a beautiful reddish-brown trunk is the decoration of any park. The wood of this tree is not of high quality, however, in a number of countries with an optimal climate for the development of metasequoia, attempts have been made to introduce its forestry.
Natalia Novoselova
Syn: mahogany.
Sequoia is a monotypic genus of woody plants of the Cypress family, represented by a single species, evergreen (or red) sequoia. Sequoia is considered one of the most tall trees on the planet, some specimens can be over 110 meters, and the maximum age of the sequoia is 2000 years. The plant is used as a building material and is part of a dietary supplement to strengthen bones.
Ask the experts
In medicine
In official medicine, sequoia is not used. However, sequoia extract is present in some supplements.
Contraindications and side effects
Since sequoia is not used in official medicine, no contraindications have been identified. Any use of the plant for medicinal purposes is contraindicated.
In horticulture
Sequoia is not used everywhere in gardening for a simple reason: it grows very slowly, and only the great-grandchildren of a person who has begun to grow sequoia will catch the “teenage” period of tree development. However, sometimes sequoia is grown. In Russia, this is done mainly in the Krasnodar Territory, for example, in the Sochi arboretum there is a site with sequoias.
The tree can be grown from seed or purchased from seedlings. Seeds harvested from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California are considered superior to the seed available from European nurseries. The fact is that sequoias were brought to the botanical gardens of Europe a little over a century ago, for trees this is a small age, they are too young to produce strong seeds. But seedlings, on the contrary, are better to order from nurseries in France and Britain, they may not be able to transfer transportation from America.
Seeds must be prepared before planting, first they are placed in the refrigerator for a week, then soaked in water at room temperature for two days. They are planted in sandy-clay moistened soil, sprinkled with earth by 1-2 mm, and placed in a sunny place. It is recommended to cover the container with cling film. Twice a day, the crops are sprayed and ventilated, they cannot be watered, because. from waterlogging, they can die. Seed germination is low, 15-20 percent. The first shoots may appear in a week, a couple of months.
When sprouts appear, the cling film must be removed. Young shoots need the sun, but direct sunlight is harmful, so the plant needs to be shaded. Five months after planting, the sequoia already looks like a small Christmas tree. Up to three years, the plant is grown in a pot and watered regularly. Then it can be transplanted into the ground, but you need to keep in mind that the sequoia does not tolerate temperatures below minus 18 degrees.
In other areas
Sequoia wood is widely used as a building and joinery material, it has high strength, is less susceptible to rotting and damage by insects, and also withstands transverse loads well. Furniture, sleepers, telegraph poles, paper, tiles are made from wood; produce boxes for storing tobacco and cigars, barrels for molasses and honey.
The durability and strength of sequoia make it an excellent material for the manufacture of gutters, tanks, vats, pipes. It is used for interior decoration and exterior cladding of houses. The thick bark is the raw material for fiber boards and filter media. Even coffins are made from sequoia.
V last years the construction of houses from sequoia timber is becoming popular, although this fashion mainly concerns the United States.
Classification
Sequoia (lat. Sequoia) is a monotypic genus of woody plants of the Cypress family (lat. Cupressaceae).
Botanical description
Sequoia is monoecious evergreen tree. It has a conical crown. Branches grow with a slight downward slope, or horizontally. The bark can be up to 30 cm thick, fibrous, soft, red-brown, darkening with age. The root system is a shallow, widely spreading roots. The leaves of a young sequoia are flat and elongated, 15-25 mm long, and on top of the crowns of old trees are scaly, 5-10 mm long.
The cones are egg-shaped, 15-32 mm long, the scales are spirally twisted. Pollination occurs at the end of winter, and ripening after 8-9 months. Each cone contains 3-7 seeds 3-4 mm long. After drying, the cone opens and the seeds spill out.
The sequoia genome (at 31,500 megabases) is one of the largest among the conifers and is the only known hexaploid among the gymnosperms.
Spreading
Sequoia grows in the United States along the Pacific coast, from California to southwestern Oregon, at an average altitude of 30-750 m above sea level. The tree prefers moisture and fog. Redwoods growing above the fog layer are smaller and shorter. Sequoias are grown in British Columbia, Hawaii, New Zealand, Great Britain, Portugal, Italy, Mexico and South Africa. In Russia, sequoia is grown in the Krasnodar Territory.
Distribution regions on the map of Russia.
Procurement of raw materials
The plant is not used for medicinal purposes and is not harvested for future use.
Chemical composition
Chemical composition redwoods have been little studied.
Pharmacological properties
The pharmacological properties of sequoia have not been studied.
Application in traditional medicine
Sequoia does not apply in folk medicine, however, the plant extract is contained in the dietary supplement BIO SEQUOIA, designed to strengthen bones and joints.
History reference
The sequoia got its name in the second half of the 19th century, as the tree was called by the Austrian botanist, numismatist and orientalist Stefan Endlicher, an outstanding taxonomist who created the best natural plant system at that time (“Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturalis disposita”, Vienna, 1836-1840; “ Enchiridion botanicum", Leipzig, 1841). It is believed that Endlicher named the tree in honor of the leader of the Cherokee Indian tribe Sequoyah, better known as English name George Hess. Sequoyah was the founder of the Cherokee alphabet, it was he who came up with an alphabet of 85 characters, peeping at how the British colonialists write down their speech on paper.
It is believed that the highest sequoia was cut down in 1912 and reached a height of 115.8 m, but there is no documentary evidence of this. So at the moment, the tallest sequoia is the tree discovered in 2006 by Chris Atkins, called Hyperion, its height is 115.61 meters. Moreover, the researchers agree that only the damage caused by the woodpecker was able to grow even more sequoia. And before Hyperion, the record holder was the Stratospheric Giant sequoia from the Humboldt-Redvus park with a height of 113.11 m.
Literature
1. Trifonova V. I. Taxodiaceae family // Plant life. In 6 volumes / Ch. ed. Al. A. Fedorov. - M.: Enlightenment, 1978. - T. 4. Mosses. Club mosses. Horsetails. ferns. Gymnosperms. Ed. I. V. Grushvitsky and S. G. Zhilin. - S. 374-383. - 447 p.
On the planet, then the sequoia will certainly receive the palm. It belongs to conifers, sometimes it is also called "mahogany" for the rich color of the trunk. The height of the evergreen sequoia has always been of interest to naturalists, because there are a lot of these trees on the planet, and it was a matter of honor for researchers to find the very best.
Tree Indian?
Although it has been growing on our planet for a long time, it received its name, which we use today, only at the beginning of the 19th century. It is believed that the etymology of this word comes from Sequoyah or Sequoia. That was the name of the Indian leader of the Cherokee tribe, who invented the syllabary for this people.
Be that as it may, today this giant tree causes awe and delight among everyone who saw it live, and the height of the evergreen sequoia is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Along the Pacific coast, in the states of California and Washington, as well as in the south of the Canadian state of the British province, sequoia is most often found, where it grows for many, many years. The researchers found the remains of this tree in ancient rocks that formed during the Jurassic period. And this is neither more nor less than 208 million years BC. It is believed that this tree has come down to us unchanged, just like it was millions of years ago. Therefore, it is referred to as relic rocks.
Unfortunately, only two species have survived to our times - this is an evergreen sequoia and People call them Red and And earlier, as the researchers assure, there were much more species, and they grew all over the globe.
Thick and soft bark
Of course, the height of the evergreen sequoia is of great interest. But it will be no less interesting to learn more about some of the features of this giant. The bark of this tree is very thick, up to 30 centimeters. But despite this, it is quite soft, has a fibrous structure and is relatively easy to separate from the trunk. True, after lying for some time in the air, the bark acquires a brownish tint. It is because of this that the sequoia is also called Although the bark is soft, the trunk itself is very strong and dense.
What is visual? This is a huge wide trunk, a dense crown of a conical shape, and the branches grow either completely horizontally or go down a little, like the paws of a spruce. Beautiful dark green leaves reach a length of 15-25 centimeters.
How does it reproduce?
Sequoia is an evergreen cone which reaches 15-22 centimeters in length, produces fertilized fruits every year. At the end of winter, pollination of seeds occurs, and then they ripen for about 9 months. Each fruit contains 3-7 seeds approximately 3-4 mm in size. As the cone dries out, the scales begin to open and the seeds fall to the ground. If they get into a favorable environment, new trees can grow from them. True, the chance for a new life is very negligible. The thing is that the crown of a large tree covers the sun's rays so tightly that young shoots most often die from a lack of good lighting.
So although this tree has quite a lot of fruits every year, most of them die and do not give offspring. Natural selection.
Excellent wood
112.83 meters
What is the tallest sequoia tree in the world? This question did not give scientists peace of mind for a long time, and after many years of measurements and research, they finally found the largest giant. It turned out to be the Stratospheric Giant, which now grows in the Humboldt Redwoods National Park. This sequoia grew exactly 112 meters 83 centimeters in height. True, the last time it was measured more than ten years ago, in 2004. So it sure has grown.
Prior to this, the limiting height of the evergreen sequoia was in a tree called Giant Dyerville, which also grew in Humboldt Redwoods. In 1991, after bad weather, it fell, and when they measured the distance from the base to the top, the figure turned out to be: 113 meters 40 centimeters. The age of the Giant Dyerville was determined at 1600 years.
But they say that in modern history there was a tree even higher! And they cut it down in 1812. His high-altitude record is 115 meters 80 centimeters. Biologists believe that the maximum growth of a sequoia cannot exceed 130 meters, because the forces of gravity will not allow the juices to rise higher. True, so far no one has found trees of this size.
How many giants are on planet Earth?
And yet, every traveler who has been in the shade of this tree is fascinated by its unusualness and some ancient statics of evergreen sequoia (height). All travelers love to take photos against the background of these giants. Pictures of tourists are especially popular when they try to grab the trunk of a relic tree as a whole group, but sometimes there are not enough hands. Yes, such a huge growth requires a solid foundation. The trunk in diameter of some trees reaches several meters. The largest sequoia reached 7 meters at the base in diameter.
This is a real giant on our planet. Today, about 15 trees grow on Earth, the height of which reaches more than 110 meters. Scientists also counted 47 sequoias, which stretched more than 105 meters.
Does sequoia grow in Russia?
Basically, this giant tree is found in America on the Pacific coast. Sometimes they grow near the coast, but mostly they are located within 30-750 meters above sea level. This tree loves good humidity, so in dry places it is doomed to death. Some seeds successfully climbed even higher, gave their shoots and the trees took root well there. In any case, there are sequoias that grow well at an altitude of 920 meters above sea level.
This unique giant is very beautiful and fascinates with its size. Therefore, many national nature reserves Europe successfully planted this tree, which, with proper care, reaches a relatively large size and in the middle lane.
In Russia, sequoia can be found in the Crimea and Transcaucasia. The warm climate of these territories allows relic trees to grow to a very decent size. Of course, these sequoias are relatively young, they are no more than 200-250 years old. But on the other hand, there is a chance that if the climate does not change, they will grow for many more centuries to the delight of others.
Sequoia is a genus of evergreen perennial woody plants that belongs to the Cypress family. It is represented by the only species that naturally grows on the Pacific coast in North America. V wild nature some representatives reach a height of 100 m. Being one of the tallest trees on earth, Sequoias can also boast a life expectancy of up to 3 thousand years. According to one version, the genus got its name in honor of the leader of an Indian tribe.
The tree has a conical crown. The branches are arranged horizontally, sometimes slightly tilted down. The trunk is covered with thick bark. It is soft, it can reach a thickness of 30 cm. Due to the reddish-brown hue, which intensifies when separated from the trunk, the Sequoia was called "mahogany". The bark is valuable because it practically does not rot.
The leaves are green, oblong and grow up to 25 mm in length. The cones are shaped like an egg. Scales occupy a spiral arrangement. The root system is strongly distributed in width.
Bonsai from Sequoia is a valuable and rare specimen. This mighty tree is not easy to grow in a cramped pot, but it's worth the effort. The plant will be a worthy decoration of the interior.
cultivation
For a comfortable existence of bonsai, it is better to determine the window of an eastern or western orientation. Sequoia is photophilous. However, if you are located on the south side at noon, you will have to consider a shading system. Due to a long stay under direct rays, the plant may die. But in winter, with a lack of light, moving the tree to the southern windowsill can be a solution to the problem. The main thing is not to forget to return the plant to its original place in the spring, when the sun begins to bake.
Bonsai prefers moderate air temperature. In winter, you need to place it in a well-lit, cool room. The optimum temperature from December to February is +8–10°C. If the thermometer rises higher, additional spraying will be needed.
Sequoia does not tolerate the lack of fresh air. In summer, it must be taken out to fresh air, providing protection from direct sun. The plant does not like temperature extremes and drafts. The rest of the time, regular airing of the room has a beneficial effect.
Diseases and pests
Aphid, mealybug, spider mite.
reproduction
Seeds, cuttings.
First steps after purchase
When choosing a Sequoia bonsai in a store, pay attention to the condition of the crown, bark, branches and root zone. The tree should just like it purely outwardly. Do not hope in the future to correct the direction of growth of the trunk or expect that the crown will become much more magnificent in your house. It is almost impossible to radically change something in an established instance. If something fundamentally does not suit you, it is better to refuse to purchase. It is also worth postponing the purchase when the Sequoia has a lot of yellow and dry leaves, mold on the trunk or traces of mechanical damage (for example, from wire), small insects or larvae on the shoots.
When the bonsai arrives home, check the moisture content of the soil. If the earth ball is too dry, the plant is watered and left alone for 2 weeks. A beginner needs to get used to the atmosphere of someone else's house and adapt. After 10-14 days, Sequoia can be determined to a permanent place.
Success Secrets
Sequoia does not tolerate drought. A long stay without water is fatal for her. It is necessary to make sure that the earthen ball does not dry out all the time. However, bonsai also does not accept long-term waterlogging. Good drainage and moderate watering will help keep the tree healthy and beautiful. For irrigation, it is recommended to take water at room temperature. Before use, it must be allowed to settle for at least a day. Excess moisture from the pan should be removed to avoid rotting of the root system. In autumn, the frequency of watering is slowly reduced. It depends on the temperature in the room. If the Sequoia winters at + 8 ° C, it is enough to moisten the soil 3 times a month. With an increase in temperature by several degrees (+ 12–14 ° С), watering is carried out almost 2 times more often.
During the active growing season, the plant is fed. Complex fertilizer is applied once a month. It must first be diluted with warm water. The dose is taken half as much as that indicated on the package. Sometimes bonsai are limited in nutrients, thereby trying to slow down growth. This is fundamentally wrong.
Possible difficulties
The trunk began to stretch
Reason: 1) the plant does not have enough light.
Root system rots
Reason: 1) the organization of poor drainage or its absence, 2) frequent soil moisture.
The leaves thinned and turned yellow, began to dry
1) rare watering, 2) long exposure to direct sunlight.
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