DOCSLIB.ORG

A Guide to Interesting Trees of the Cal Poly Campus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

A Guide to Interesting Trees of the Cal Poly Campus Map# Common Name Botanical Name Family Native Range 1 Chinese Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides Taxodiaceae China 2 Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens Taxodiaceae Northwestern California 3 Giant Sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum Taxodiaceae California Sierra Nevada 4 Wollemi Pine Wollemia nobilis Araucariaceae East Australia 5 Montezuma Bald Cypress Taxodium mucronatum Cupressaceae Mexico 6 Red Gum Eucalytpus camaldulensis Myrtaceae Australia 7 Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa Fagaceae Eastern North America 8 Floss Silk Tree Ceiba speciosa Malvaceae South America 9 Queensland Lacebark Tree Brachychiton discolor Malvaceae Eastern Australia 10 Macadamia Nut Macadamia integrifolia Proteaceae Queensland Australia 11 Costa Rican Holly Olmediella betschleriana Flacourtiaceae Central America 12 Bismarck Palm Bismarckia nobilis Arecaceae Madagascar 13 Coral Gum Eucalyptus torquata Myrtaceae Southwest Australia 14 American Elm Ulmus americana Ulmaceae Eastern North America 15 Valley Oak Quercus lobata Fagaceae California 16 Sugar Maple Acer saccharum Aceraceae Eastern North America 17 Cork Oak Quercus suber Fagaceae Southern Europe 18 Chilean Wine Palm Jubaea chilensis Arecaceae Central Chile Matt Ritter, Spring 2015 www.plantconservatory.calpoly.edu InterestingTrees of the D R VI K LLAG E E D Cal Poly Campus RE R C 9 E. FARM SHOP H2 A Guide to 71 36 70 TRANSPORTATION D DR 24 UNIV FACILITIES LAN POLICE GH FOOD 8A HI AG UNI PROCESSING 58 ENGINEERING 80 H4 & MARKETV WELDING E.H.S. V I SHOP D A R E CKEE RD S TRU C K RSI A EE A R F R R 15 101 C E D . T T E 8 AG T 102 H2 Y A CORP E DIAB Y H4 LO G ENGINEERING 192 D 11 74 W ADMIN A PALOMAR L 100 K R L ENGINEERING IV A I L A AG SCIENCES Y V SHASTA M H4 41A E A ENGR D . C R N T BROWN 197 TER . H A E 47 P PLAZA RIM 104 103 L PE E ENGR BONDERSON N. R R I FAC OFC D F IM LASSENWHITNEY O ENGR III CTR NORTH E R T 7 8 N ADVANCED 22 E R E I 41B 33 N A TECH LABS ENGLISH LA 9 R OUNTAIN FISHER D M B REINHOLD H11 SCIENCE L D SCIENCE 81 31 V AERO R 53 ETER D 35 U NORTH HOUSING D E M 1 ERI NI 10 2 HILLCREST N. P XT KENNEDY 3 V 105 E ERHART AG R E LIBRARY 4 R 5 TRINITY 13 38 R R D S W 106 D E 6 7 VI A1 I MA10 TH & SCIENCE Y C7 ENGINEERING T OL SANTA LUCIA Y P N. BAKER SCIENCE D 34 R 25 15 13 180 V DEXTER I 12 A FAC OFC 1 C 5 11 107 A EAST ADMINISTRATION ARCHITECTURE & R MUIR T 14 A 108 E DES 20 2 DEXTER LAWN 52B SEQUOIA ENGR EAST 52 65 COTCHETT SCIENCE EDUCATION 14 UNIVERSITY GRAN D PILLING 20A UNION AV 18 E C C4 3 COMP SCI 65 D FORBES DR R 110 A 16 17 BUSINESS 21 W UNIVERSITY L E TENAYA FAC OFC YVI R 44 I O'NEILL ENGR WEST OL STORE E F S. P T SPANOS PAC O GREEN E M RN I THEATRE 187 19 R 6 E D I DINING P COHAN C R A TR 60 SIMPSON 26A S. R B 45 E CRANDALL 186 PRESS C6 L CONSTRUCTION 40 MUSTANG DAVIDSON DE V GYM INNOV CTR 26 ENGR D WAY GRAPHIC ARTS MUSIC 46 SOUTH TAHOE 76 PERIMETER NATATORIUM S. RD 43A 42 R KINESIOLOGY MOTT D 61 124 C P E Dr. Matt Ritter U Cal Poly Biology Department [email protected] C (805) 756-2775 SPAN STUDENT OS E O 4 SERVICES S 3 L 42A G-S STADIUM T L A 51 RECREATION CTR 130 EGE ANDERSON V A UNIVERSITY GRAND PARKING E POOL 115 HOUSE 2 116 A 7 V CHASE SMITH HEALTH JESPERSENE ALUMNI CTR POOLS TENNIS CTR COURTS AY 28 USW C2 133 P C4 CAM C C3 117 ORFALEA CHILDREN'S A L HERON CTR I F O 117T R C1 N CAD RESEARCH I A .
Recommended publications
  • Growth and Colonization of Western Redcedar by Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Fumigated and Nonfumigated Nursery Beds

    Growth and Colonization of Western Redcedar by Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Fumigated and Nonfumigated Nursery Beds

    Tree Planter's Notes, Volume 42, No. 4 (1991) Growth and Colonization of Western Redcedar by Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Fumigated and Nonfumigated Nursery Beds S. M. Berch, E. Deom, and T. Willingdon Assistant professor and research assistant, Department of Soil Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, and manager, Surrey Nursery, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Surrey, BC Western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) VAM. Positive growth responses of up to 20 times the seedlings were grown in a bareroot nursery bed that had nonmycorrhizal controls occurred under conditions of limited been fumigated with methyl bromide. Seedlings grown in soil phosphorus. Incense-cedar, redwood, and giant sequoia fumigated beds were stunted and had purple foliage. seedlings in northern California nursery beds are routinely Microscopic examination showed that roots from these inoculated with Glomus sp. (Adams et al. 1990), as seedlings were poorly colonized by mycorrhizae, and only by experience has shown that the absence of VAM after soil fine vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae. In contrast, roots from fumigation leads to phosphorus deficiency and poor growth. seedlings grown in non-fumigated beds had larger shoots and When western redcedars in fumigated transplant beds at green foliage and were highly colonized by both fine and the British Columbia Ministry of Forest's Surrey Nursery coarse vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae. Tree Planters' began to show signs of phosphorus deficiency, a deficiency Notes 42(4):14-16; 1991. of mycorrhizal colonization was suspected. Many studies have demonstrated improved P status of VAM-inoculated Species of cypress (Cupressaceae) and yew plants (see Harley and Smith 1983).
  • Giant Sequoia Insect, Disease, and Ecosystem Interactions1

    Giant Sequoia Insect, Disease, and Ecosystem Interactions1

    Giant Sequoia Insect, Disease, and Ecosystem Interactions1 Douglas D. Piirto2 Abstract: Individual trees of giant sequoia (Sequoia gigantea [Lindl.] afflict and kill other trees." Similarly Hartesveldt (1962) Decne.) have demonstrated a capacity to attain both a long life and very concurred that "Sequoia's longevity and great size have large size. It is not uncommon to find old-growth giant sequoia trees in their native range that are 1,500 years old and over 15 feet in diameter at been attributed by nearly all writers, popular and scientific, breast height. The ability of individual giant sequoia trees to survive over to its few insect and fungus parasites and the remarkable such long periods of time has often been attributed to the species high resistance of the older trees to damage or death by fire. resistance to disease, insect, and fire damage. Such a statement, however, is There is no record of an individual sequoia living in its a gross oversimplification, given broader ecosystem and temporal interac- tions. For example, why isn't there a greater representation of young-growth natural range as having been killed by either fungus or insect giant sequoia trees throughout the mixed-conifer belt of the Sierra Nevadas? attack." Even as recently as 1991 Harlow and others (1991) What other factors, in addition to physical site characteristics, limit giant stated: "Insects and fungi cause but minor damage, and no sequoia to its present range and grove boundaries? How does fire and fire large Bigtree killed by them has ever been found." frequency affect disease and insect interrelationships in the giant sequoia/ mixed-conifer ecosystem? Are current forest management strategies (e.g., It is finally being recognized that giant sequoia is fire suppression, prescribed burning programs) affecting these interactions? subject to the same natural forces as other tree species (Bega Giant sequoia trees are subject to the same natural forces (e.g., insect and 1964, Harvey and others 1980, Parmeter 1987, Piirto 1977, disease organisms) as other tree species.
  • Why Are Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia Not Where They Are Not?1

    Why Are Coast Redwood and Giant Sequoia Not Where They Are Not?1

    Proceedings of the Coast Redwood Science Symposium—2016 Why Are Coast Redwood And Giant Sequoia Not Where They Are Not?1 2 W.J. Libby Abstract Models predicting future climates and other kinds of information are being developed to anticipate where these two species may fail, where they may continue to thrive, and where they may colonize, given changes in climate and other elements of the environment. Important elements of such predictions, among others, are: photoperiod; site qualities; changes in levels and yearly patterns of temperature, wind, fog and precipitation; the effects of these on interactions with other biota at each site; the effects of changes in fire frequency and intensity; the availability of seeds and seed vectors; and the effects of human activity. Examples are presented, with focus on fire and human activity. Natural migration may need assistance. Establishing groves far from the native ranges is advocated. Keywords: assisted colonization, assisted migration, climate change, fire, Sequoia, Sequoiadendron When preparing this talk and then paper, it became increasingly clear that it is more of an Op-Ed than a comprehensive review, and is meant for people interested in and familiar with coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) and giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz). Thus, four background references are provided, and they in turn provide detail on many of the topics covered. The final two references provide background on future speculative scenarios. Possible responses to such future scenarios are suggested. Coast redwood’s current natural latitudinal range begins with discontinuous canyon-bottom populations near the southern Monterey County border, extends north through increasingly- continuous coastal and generally-separated interior populations, and stops just north of the Oregon/California border.
  • Giant Sequoia Management in National Parks 1

    Giant Sequoia Management in National Parks 1

    in: Aune, rnuip s., teen, coora. iyy*. rroceeainss oi me symposium on uian. sc^uiaa. '«'" ^.o^c ... the ecotystea and society; 1992 June 23-25; Visalia, CA. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 109-115. Objects or Ecosystems? PUB #267 Giant Sequoia Management in National Parks 1 David J. Parsons2 Abstract: Policies and programs aimed at protecting giant sequoia the effects of such external threats as air pollution and (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in the national parks of the Sierra Nevada projected human induced climadc change. The challenges have evolved from the protection of individual trees to the preservation of entire ecosystems. We now recognize that the long-term preservation of associated with assuring the long-term preservation of giant giant sequoia depends on our ability to minimize and mitigate the influences sequoia have become increasingly complicated as we have of human activities. National Park Service management strategies for giant learned more about the complexity and inter-relatedness of sequoia focus on the restoration of native ecosytem processes. This includes the greater Sierra Nevada ecosystem. the use of prescribed fire to simulate natural ignitions as well as the movement of visitor facilities out of the groves. Basic research is being This paper briefly reviews the history of giant sequoia carried out to improve our understanding of the factors infuencing giant management in the National Parks of the Sierra Nevada, sequoia reproduction, growth, and survival. Future management decisions emphasizing a gradually improved understanding of giant must recognize that giant sequoia are only part of a complex ecosystem; they sequoia ecosystems and how management has attempted to cannot be managed as objects in isolation of their surroundings.
  • The Taxonomic Position and the Scientific Name of the Big Tree Known As Sequoia Gigantea

    The Taxonomic Position and the Scientific Name of the Big Tree Known As Sequoia Gigantea

    The Taxonomic Position and the Scientific Name of the Big Tree known as Sequoia gigantea HAROLD ST. JOHN and ROBERT W. KRAUSS l FOR NEARLY A CENTURY it has been cus­ ing psychological document, but its major,ity tomary to classify the big tree as Sequoia gigan­ vote does not settle either the taxonomy or tea Dcne., placing it in the same genus with the nomenclature of the big tree. No more the only other living species, Sequoia semper­ does the fact that "the National Park Service, virens (Lamb.) End!., the redwood. Both the which has almost exclusive custodY of this taxonomic placement and the nomenclature tree, has formally adopted the name Sequoia are now at issue. Buchholz (1939: 536) pro­ gigantea for it" (Dayton, 1943: 210) settle posed that the big tree be considered a dis­ the question. tinct genus, and he renamed the tree Sequoia­ The first issue is the generic status of the dendron giganteum (Lind!.) Buchholz. This trees. Though the two species \differ con­ dassification was not kindly received. Later, spicuously in foliage and in cone structure, to obtain the consensus of the Calif.ornian these differences have long been generally botanists, Dayton (1943: 209-219) sent them considered ofspecific and notofgeneric value. a questionnaire, then reported on and sum­ Sequoiadendron, when described by Buchholz, marized their replies. Of the 29 answering, was carefully documented, and his tabular 24 preferred the name Sequoia gigantea. Many comparison contains an impressive total of of the passages quoted show that these were combined generic and specific characters for preferences based on old custom or sentiment, his monotypic genus.
  • Street Tree Inventory Report Hillsdale Neighborhood August 2016 Street Tree Inventory Report: Hillsdale Neighborhood August 2016

    Street Tree Inventory Report Hillsdale Neighborhood August 2016 Street Tree Inventory Report: Hillsdale Neighborhood August 2016

    Street Tree Inventory Report Hillsdale Neighborhood August 2016 Street Tree Inventory Report: Hillsdale Neighborhood August 2016 Written by: Kat Davidson, Angie DiSalvo, Julie Fukuda, Jim Gersbach, Jeremy Grotbo, and Jeff Ramsey Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry 503-823-4484 [email protected] http://portlandoregon.gov/parks/treeinventory Hillsdale Tree Inventory Organizers: Jim Keiter Staff Neighborhood Coordinator: Jim Gersbach Data Collection Volunteers: Dennis Alexander, Richard Anderson, William Better, Ben Brady, Brian Brady, Julia Brown, Marty Crouch, Hannah Davidson, April Ann Fong, Lise Gervais, Margaret Gossage, Karen Henell, Jim Keiter, John Mills, Pat Ruffio, Jerry Sellers, Kristin Sellers, Mimi Siekmann, Haley Smith, Nancy Swaim, Mark Turner, Loris Van Pelt, Paige Witte, and Maggie Woodward Data Entry Volunteers: Michael Brehm, Nathan Riggsby, and Eric Watson Arborist-on-Call Volunteers: Will Koomjian GIS Technical Support: Josh Darling, Portland Parks & Recreation Financial Support: Portland Parks & Recreation Cover Photos (from top left to bottom right): 1) Colorful foliage on a golden Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara 'Aurea'). 2) The deep green leaves of a quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). 3) Unusual peeling bark on a young madrone (Arbutus menziesii). 4) A vivid fuchsia bloom on a magnolia (Magnolia sp.) 5) The developing cone of a rare China-fir Cunninghamia( lanceolata). 6) Unusually shaped leaves on a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). 7) The pendant foliage of a weeping giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Pendulum'). 8) Multicolored scaly foliage on a variegated elkhorn cedar (Thujopsis dolobrata 'Variegata'). ver. 10/17/2016 Portland Parks & Recreation 1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1302 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 823-PLAY Commissioner Amanda Fritz www.PortlandParks.org Director Mike Abbaté Contents Key Findings .........................................
  • Discover Giant Sequoia National Monument

    Discover Giant Sequoia National Monument

    United States Department of Agriculture Discover the Giant Sequoia National Monument Western Divide Ranger District Hume Lake Ranger District The Monument is named for the native Giant Sequoia tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum, the world’s largest tree. Sequoias can tower more than 300 feet high and reach diameters of 40 feet. Out of approximately 67 groves in the Sierra, the Monument contains 38. On April 15, 2000, President William J. Clinton, by proclamation, In addition, almost all National Forest System land created the Giant Sequoia National Monument. The Giant Sequoia is available for you to choose your own camping National Monument is located within Sequoia National Forest in the spot and this is called dispersed camping. Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Gateways are Highway Remember to obtain a campfire permit if you plan 180 east of Fresno, Highway 190 east of Porterville, County Road M-56 to make your own camp and pack out all your trash. east of California Hot Springs, and Highway 178 east and north of Bakersfield. The Monument encompasses approximately 327,769 acres Several refurbished historic cabins can be rented for over-night of federal land managed by the Sequoia National Forest, Western Divide visits: Big Meadows Guard Station near Hume Lake, Poso Station and Hume Lake Ranger Districts. near Sugarloaf and Glenville, Frog Meadow Guard Station near Tobias Peak, and Mountain Home Guard Station near Balch Park The landscape is as spectacular as its 38 groves of giant sequoia. Elevation and Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest. Please contact the climbs from around 1,000 to 9,700 feet over a distance of only a few Districts for more miles, capturing an extraordinary array of habitats within a relatively information .
  • Density Effects on Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron Giganteum) Growth Through 22 Years: Implications for Restoration and Plantation Management

    Density Effects on Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron Giganteum) Growth Through 22 Years: Implications for Restoration and Plantation Management

    Density Effects on Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) Growth Through 22 Years: Implications for Restoration and Plantation Management Robert A. York, Kevin L. O’Hara, and John J. Battles Giant sequoia were planted at various densities and tracked for 22 years to quantify the effect of growing space on diameter, height, stem volume, branch diameter, and branch density. Beginning after just 4 years and continuing through year 22, both stem diameter and height growth were highly sensitive to initial planting density (expressed in this case as horizontal growing space per tree) within the tested range of 3.7 to 28.4 m2. Through 22 years, treatments allocating the greatest growing space per tree had greater volume per tree with no tradeoff yet observed in stand level volume growth. Branch diameter along the stem generally increased with growing space, but branch density did not change. To meet objectives, this study demonstrates that management strategies should be tailored to species’ specific growth strategies. Giant sequoia is characterized by rapid early growth coupled with exceptionally low mortality, which has relevance in both native grove restoration as well as plantation management contexts. The measurements in this study suggest either planting at low density ABSTRACT or thinning giant sequoia very early in dense stands if the objective is to increase individual tree growth rates without a corresponding reduction in stand volume. Young stands developing following high-severity fires may benefit from low-severity prescribed burns if objectives are to increase average stem growth or the rate of canopy recruitment. Keywords: spacing study, density management, intraspecific competition nderstanding the nature of competition between plants for In native groves, management objectives revolve around cohort es- finite resources is fundamental to the study of vegetation tablishment and canopy recruitment following regeneration failures Udynamics (Hutchings and Budd 1981).
  • Naturalization of Sequoiadendron Giganteum (Cupressaceae) in Montane Southern California Rudolf Schmid University of California, Berkeley

    Naturalization of Sequoiadendron Giganteum (Cupressaceae) in Montane Southern California Rudolf Schmid University of California, Berkeley

    Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany Volume 30 | Issue 1 Article 4 2012 Naturalization of Sequoiadendron giganteum (Cupressaceae) in Montane Southern California Rudolf Schmid University of California, Berkeley Mena Schmid Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso Part of the Botany Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Forest Biology Commons Recommended Citation Schmid, Rudolf and Schmid, Mena (2012) "Naturalization of Sequoiadendron giganteum (Cupressaceae) in Montane Southern California," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany: Vol. 30: Iss. 1, Article 4. Available at: http://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol30/iss1/4 Aliso, 30(1), pp. 19–32 ’ 2012, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden NATURALIZATION OF SEQUOIADENDRON GIGANTEUM (CUPRESSACEAE) IN MONTANE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RUDOLF SCHMID1,3 AND MENA SCHMID2 1Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3140, USA ([email protected]); 2Somerville, Massachusetts 02144, USA([email protected]) 3Corresponding author ABSTRACT After the August 1974 fire in the upper Hall Canyon area on the southwestern flank of Black Mountain in the northwestern San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside Co., California, the United States Forest Service revegetated the burn in the mixed-conifer forest with the Sierra Nevada endemic Sequoiadendron giganteum (Cupressaceae). On 1 May 2009 a GPS census starting at the head of Hall Canyon revealed both in the canyon and upslope beyond it at least 157 individuals in the vicinity of the Black Mountain Trail, plus an outlier 450 m distant near the summit. This species alien to southern California is regenerating prolifically on Black Mountain, as revealed by multiple age classes, from juveniles (seedlings and saplings) about 20– 60 cm tall to young adult trees over 6 m tall, up to about 40 years old, and reproductively mature.
  • Sequoiadendron Giganteum (Big Tree / Wellingtonia)

    Sequoiadendron Giganteum (Big Tree / Wellingtonia)

    Sequoiadendron giganteum Big Tree / Wellingtonia Giant by name and giant by nature the Sequoiadendron giganteum is a vigorous large evergreen tree. The branches form a rounded dense conical crown towards the top with individual branches sweeping downwards with upturned ends. It has distinctive spongy reddish –brown bark with small scale-like blue-green, awl shaped leaves 6-12mm long arranged spirally round the shoots. Male and female cones are borne on the same tree and are tiny (5-7cm) in relation to the tree as a whole. The cones take at least two years to ripen when they turn reddish brown but many will remain green and unopened for anything up to 20 years. 80/90 Sequoiadendron giganteum field grown Plant Profile Name: Sequoiadendron giganteum Common Name: Big Tree, Wellingtonia Family: Cupressaceae Height: Higher than 30/35 metres Width: Over 10/12 metres Demands: Full sun or partial shade in any aspect, exposed or sheltered Soil: Well drained sand, chalk, or loam Foliage: Evergreen Sequoidendron giganteum CG Deepdale Trees Ltd., Tithe Farm, Hatley Road, Potton, Sandy, Beds. SG19 2DX. Tel: 01767 26 26 36 www.deepdale-trees.co.uk Sequoiadendron giganteum Big Tree / Wellingtonia Giant Sequoias are among the oldest living things on earth, the oldest known giant sequoia based on ring count is 3,500 years old. Whilst it is still known under the name ‘Wellingtonia’ this name is invalid as it had already been used for another unrelated plant. 80-90 Sequoiadendron giganteum 3-4m Sequoidendron giganteum Sequoiadendron giganteum 7m Deepdale Trees Ltd., Tithe Farm, Hatley Road, Potton, Sandy, Beds.
  • Biggest Trees of the World Pub 13-2

    Biggest Trees of the World Pub 13-2

    Dendrology Series WSFNR13-2 January 2013 Tallest, Biggest, & Oldest Trees by Dr. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia Trees have a long relationship with people. They are both utility and amenity. Trees can evoke awe, mysticism, and reverence. Trees represent great public and private values. Trees most noticed and celebrated by people and communities are the one-tenth of one-percent of trees which approach the limits of their maximum size, reach, extent, and age. These singular, historical, culturally significant, and massive trees become symbols and icons of life on Earth, and our role in environmental stewardship and sustainability. What Is A Tree? Figure 1 is a conglomeration of definitions and concepts about trees from legal and word defini- tions in North America. For example, 20 percent of all definitions specifically state a tree is a plant. Concentrated in 63% of all descriptors for trees are four terms: plant, woody, single stem, and tall. If broad stem diameter, branching, and perennial growth habit concepts are added, 87% of all the descrip- tors are represented. At its most basic level, defining a tree is not species based, but is a structural definition. A tree is represented by a type of plant architecture recognizable by non-technical people. The most basic con- cepts for defining a tree are -- a large, tall, woody, perennial plant with a single, unbranched, erect, self- supporting stem holding an elevated and distinct crown of branches greater than 10 feet in height and greater than 3 inches in diameter.
  • A Botanist's View of the Big Tree1

    A Botanist's View of the Big Tree1

    A Botanist's View of the Big Tree1 Robert Ornduff2 Abstract: Although assigned to Sequoia for most of its taxonomic life, there "unleashed American cross fire that was to consume is general consensus that the Big Tree merits its own genus hundreds of pages for decades to come." Even today, British (Sequoiadendron). Recent taxonomists have suggested that its traditional horticulturists refer to our Giant Sequoia or Big Tree as family (Taxodiaceae) should be merged with the Cypress Family (Cupressaceae), to comprise the expanded Cupressaceae. Like its redwood "Wellingtonia." relatives, the Big Tree has an extensive fossil record and once had a wider Although the impression was given that American range than at present. Its current range appears to have been rather recently botanists believed that Lindley had pulled a fast one by his occupied, and to have been shaped by Pleistocene glaciations and an expeditious scientific naming of the Big Tree, I am not extensive Xerothermic period a few thousand years ago. The maximum height and maximum mass of the Big Trees have been a matter of dispute, convinced that his rush into print reflected anything other but both are exceeded by other organisms. Botanists, foresters, and the public than excitement over what he had learned of the tree. He wrote continue to be impressed by the majesty of the Big Trees. "What a tree is this! -of what portentous aspect and almost fabulous antiquity!" (Lindley 1853a). To Lindley (1853b), as a horticultural subject the Big Tree promised to The invitation to present a paper about the Big Tree be an "extraordinary tree..