If you want to know more about the Giant Redwood trees in California, keep reading the given information on the climate that these trees grow well in and the anatomy of the plant.
Redwood trees belong to the family of Sequoia and are also known as Coast Redwood or California Redwood. These are evergreen trees, with a lifespan of approximately two thousand years. The California Redwood was given the designation of the official State tree of California in 1937.
Once, redwoods grew all over northern hemisphere, but now their growth is limited to the Pacific coast. Redwood trees are preserved in parks and forests in California from the extreme south west corner of Oregon till the south of San Francisco in the Soda Springs of Big Sur, about 500 miles long.
Why do Redwood Trees Grow More in California?
These trees need moderate to heavy rainfall in the winter season and summer fog, which is the kind of climate that California has. Redwood is one among the three most important trees in North America.
These trees require moisture and precipitation. Most of these trees, which have grown well, are found in gullies and deep valleys where the amount of moisture that the tree receives throughout the year is high.
The amount of fog is also high. It is interesting that the trees that do not receive much fog actually do not grow very tall. Redwood trees also do not grow near seas and oceans because of the salt spray, sand, and wind, which are not suitable for their growth.
More about Redwood trees
Characteristics
Redwood trees are not really about red wood, but are combination of ferns, vines, and deciduous trees. They are tall, dense, huge, which at times appear as nature's enormity. They grow in groups or groves.
The crown of these trees are conical and they have slightly bent branches which look like they are drooping. The bark of these trees is approximately 30 cm and are soft and fibrous. They have a bright red-brown hue, thus earning the tree it name.
The roots of these trees have numerous lateral roots, which spread far and wide. The leaves of these trees are long and flat and are approximately 15 to 25 mm in length. The arrangement of leaves is spiral and most of the time the leaves lie flat so that they can capture maximum sunlight in the minimum time that they receive the sun's rays.
Propagation
These trees start reproducing at the age of approximately ten or fifteen years. They have the ability to reproduce sexually or asexually. They produce a large number of seeds for reproduction. The seeds have wings though they are not very effective.
As a result of which, the seeds can move only about 60 to 120 m from the parent tree. The asexual way of propagation is either by layering or sprouting from the root or stump or even the fallen branches. If and when the tree falls over it generates many trees along the length of the fallen part.
Uses
These trees are rot resistant, which is the reason that they have been used for building railroad ties and trestles throughout California. They are also used to make furniture and table tops.
These trees are useful and they can be used in various ways if used carefully and with research. They make a great tourist attraction since there are roads that pass through the trunk of these trees.