Giant Sequoia
Height (m): 28
Girth (m): 4.98
Origin: USA.
The Giant Sequoia stands in a significant trio of ‘exotics’ down by the Railway Line with a Blue Atlas Cedar and a Cedar of Lebanon. The Sequoia in Sydney Gardens is thought to be over 160 years old; planted soon after the species was brought to the UK in 1853. The tree was planted beside the rail line, the work on which begun in 1839.
The installation of railway, which virtually cut the gardens in half, caused the loss of various features in Sydney Gardens which included a tearoom, the labyrinth, a Castle and part of the perimeter wall. The installation of the railway also necessitated the building of two new bridges to connect the footpaths in the gardens.
The Giant Sequoia is the only living species of Sequoiadendron giganteum. Sequoia is native to the Pacific North West of America. Recorded at heights of over 85m and age over 3500 years. The tree carries the generic name of Sequioadendron after Sequoyah, an educator and significant person in the Cherokee Nation.
The installation of railway, which virtually cut the gardens in half, caused the loss of various features in Sydney Gardens which included a tearoom, the labyrinth, a Castle and part of the perimeter wall. The installation of the railway also necessitated the building of two new bridges to connect the footpaths in the gardens.
The Giant Sequoia is the only living species of Sequoiadendron giganteum. Sequoia is native to the Pacific North West of America. Recorded at heights of over 85m and age over 3500 years. The tree carries the generic name of Sequioadendron after Sequoyah, an educator and significant person in the Cherokee Nation.
|
The Sequoia characteristic fibrous, spongy bark is bright reddish brown in colour and can be up to 30cm thick. In its natural habitat, in the USA this fibrous bark protects the tree against the frequent forest fires.
|
|
This photo shows the immature cones on the Giant Sequoia This is the mature female cone on the Gaint Sequoia found in Sydney Gardens. The Giant Sequoias only regenerates by seed. The seed cones are 4-7cm long and mature in 18-20 months, but the seeds can remain inside the green closed cone for up to 20 years. A cone can produce around 230 seeds, which are dark brown in colour, 4-5mm long with side wings. Young trees start to bear cones around 12 years |
|
