Redwood Tree

Scientific Name: 

Sequoioideae

Physical Appearance:

  •  Extremely tall, I’m talking over 300 feet tall (91m)

  • Multi toned bark around 12 inches thick which is high in tannin 

    • HOLD UP FOR VOCAB:

    • Tannin is a chemical substance from phenolic acids and found in plants all around the globe

    •  It is insoluble and decomposition resistant

    • The tannin gets stored in barks, buds, stems, fruits, seeds, and roots in order to protect the plant from bacterial or fungal infections 

    • Something kinda cool about tannin is that it tastes awful. Can you imagine why it is beneficial for unripe fruit tends to be high in tannin? Well, if it tastes gross until full development, animals will be discouraged from eating the fruit until tannin content decreases and seeds are ready to be dispersed. 

When Does It Grow: 

  • Flowering during Spring

Preferred Environment: 

  • Coastal plains

  • Not picky in terms of elevation

  • Cool and damp areas with heavy fog 

  • Redwoods are do not do well in dry climates so heavy fog helps reduce evaporation rates from the tree and the soil around it 

Method of Reproduction: 

  • Sexual and asexual reproduction

  • Female and male parts are located on different branches and can be pollinated by wind 

  • Can produce sprouts from root crowns or even on base of trunk 

Medicinal Uses: 

  • There are claims to the leaves being heated and used for earache treatment, but not many records of medical benefits 

Role in the Ecosystem: 

  • Redwood trees are host plants for different species of lichens, bryophytes, and different vascular plants… yay for epiphytes 

  • Provides shelter and moist refuge for animals like the clouded salamander. These little guys do not have lungs, instead they breathe through their skin which means they need moisture. They have found sanctuary in epiphytic areas that are able to conserve water

  • Beloved Bald Eagles, Northern Spotted Owls, and various other birds use the redwoods as their homes 

Random: 

  • Growth rates vary sooo much depending on climate conditions. If the weather is moist with heavy rain and fog protection a tree can grow 2-3 feet a year, but if it is dry, a tree may grow less than an inch

  • I mentioned that redwoods struggle when in dry areas, well over time they have gained some handy adaptations for it: 

    • Since the bottom of the tree has more shade than the top, the higher needle have tight spike that conserve moisture due to little surface area; while lower branches are flat and wide to catch as much sunlight as possible through the dense canopy 

    • The bark of the tree is an insulator and slows evaporation rates 

  • Ever seen photos of redwood trees that you can walk through? Well this is because redwoods have some cool adaptations for fire resilience to allow them to survive after traumatic fire damage: 

    • Thick bark 

    • Incredible height 

    • Ability to sprout from the root crown or even dormant buds under bark