sequoiadendron giganteum

• high margin

• conifer

• the largest trees by volume

• 

• iconic, long-living

• products

  • wood: durable but brittle, used historically for construction, fencing, and shingles
  • resin: contains tannins with potential antimicrobial properties
  • ornamental: cultivated worldwide as a decorative tree in parks and estates
  • carbon sink: one of the most effective trees for carbon sequestration

• features

  • largest living tree: by volume, not height
  • fire-resistant: thick bark and tannins provide high resistance to wildfires
  • longevity: can live for more than 3,000 years
  • fast initial growth: young trees grow quickly under the right conditions

• layer:

  • canopy,
  • titan

• type: tree

  • root:
    • shallow but wide-spreading root system, lacks a taproot
  • trunk:
    • massive, reddish-brown, deeply furrowed bark up to 90 cm thick
  • bark:
    • fibrous, fire-resistant, and rich in tannins
    • tannins:
      • provides natural fungal and insect resistance
  • leaves:
    • scale-like, evergreen, bluish-green in color
    • photosynthesis:
      • occurs even in winter due to year-round foliage
  • cone:
    • small (4-7 cm), oval, contains up to 200 seeds per cone
  • seeds:
    • winged, tiny (4-5 mm), wind-dispersed but often require fire to release

• environment:

  • native to California’s Sierra Nevada mountains
  • climate: humid montane climate with wet winters and dry summers
    • Sun: 600
      • No Sun Days: 50
    • Water: 1200
      • No Water Days: 90
    • Humidity: 65%
    • Fog Resistance: moderate
    • Max Temp: 35°C
      • Optimal Temp: 20°C
        • Min Temp: -15°C
    • Wind Damage: resistant to moderate winds
  • soil:
    • prefers deep, well-drained sandy loam or granitic soil
    • soil-ph::
      • 6.0 - 7.5
    • soil-type::
      • sandy loam,
      • granite-derived,
      • moist but well-drained
  • spacing:
    • requires large space for full growth potential
    • good-neighbors::
      • Douglas fir,
      • Ponderosa pine
    • bad-neighbors::
      • dense shrubbery that competes for water
    • max-height::
      • 95,000 cm
    • max-spread::
      • 8000 cm

• lifecycle

  • longevity::
    • 3 000 yers
  • germination:
    • requires stratification and exposure to light for optimal germination
  • seedling:
    • slow initial growth, vulnerable to drought and competition
  • mature:
    • starts producing cones at 12-20 years but reaches full size in centuries
  • death:
    • can die from root disease, lightning strikes, or fire suppression issues

• operations

  • propagation
    • seeds: best germination rates after exposure to fire or heat
    • cuttings: difficult to propagate vegetatively
  • maintenance
    • fire: occasional low-intensity burns promote seed dispersal
    • watering: young trees require supplemental watering in dry regions
  • harvest:
    • cones: can be collected and dried for seed extraction
    • wood: rarely harvested today due to conservation protections

• links

  • wiki
  • nps.gov
  • arboretum

• chemical compounds

  • compound	part of plant	amount (approx.)	properties/usefulness
    tannic acid	bark	20-30%	antimicrobial, fire-resistant
    terpenoids	bark, resin	trace amounts	antifungal, insect-repelling
    lignin	wood	40%	structural strength, decay resistance
    flavonoids	leaves	small amounts	antioxidant, UV protection
    polyphenols	bark	varies	anti-inflammatory, protective properties