Giant Sequoias - Sequoiadendron
Giganteum
More Information
Facts
Flowering and
Fruiting
Flowering and fruiting of the giant sequoias - both male and female (monoecious) cone
buds form on the same tree during late summer. Egg-shaped mature cones develop at the end of the second growing
season. Each cone is 5 to 9cm / 2.0 to 3.5-inches long with 30-50 spirally arranged scales, with several seeds on
each scale. The seed is dark brown, 4-5mm / 0.16-0.2-inches long and 1mm / 0.04-inch across, with a 1mm / 0.04-inch
yellow-brown wing along each side. Some seeds eject when the cones shrink during hot weather in late summer, but
fire or heat damaged cones dry out and release the majority of seed.
Cone Production
Cones produce an average of 200
seeds each. Mature giant sequoias produce an average of 1,500 new cones each year. Exceptional years when soil moisture is good
can produce 20,000 cones on a large tree. Excellent growing conditions result in a greater yield of viable
seeds. The upper third of the crown normally bears at least two-thirds of the cones. Mature trees having
extended cone retention may hold on to 10,000 to 30,000 cones at any given time, two-thirds of which may be
green and closed with the remainder opened, brown and mainly seedless.
Worldwide Distribution
Giant Sequoias are one of the most highly valued tree species of North America. Within its natural range it is
valued principally for esthetic and scientific objectives. Outside its natural range, both in the United States and
in many other countries, giant sequoias are highly regarded as an ornamental tree. The species grows
successfully in most of western and southern Europe, Continental Europe and the British Isles, the Pacific
Northwest of North America, north to southwest British Columbia, southeast Australia, New Zealand and
central-southern Chile.
Timber and its Uses
It
could be a major timber-producing species but mature trees are fibrous and brittle and although highly resistant to
decay are not regarded as suitable for construction. Immature trees being less brittle have tested to be a very
high-yielding timber crop. Logging in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century made minimal commercial
benefit. There is also interest from entrepreneurs in utilizing Giant Sequoias in Christmas tree plantations.
Tourism plays a major role in the commercial market drawing people to these natural wonders of the world. The USA
has national parks, tourist and visitor centers specifically for the Giant Sequoias experience. Famous places
include Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Giant Sequoia National Monument in the southern
Sierra Nevada.
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Giant Sequioas -
Sequoiadendron Giganteum More Information Facts
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