Sequoia
Sequoia Sequoia (tree), also known as redwoods, common name for a group of huge, majestic evergreen trees characterized by a columnar, reddish-brown trunk rising 30 m (100 ft) or more above a buttressed base. Sequoia species are conical in shape, with needlelike leaves and small, oval cones. The trees are named for the Cherokee leader Sequoyah. Giant Sequoia The giant sequoia, or “big tree,” is found in a narrow strip about 300 km (about 200 mi) long on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range at elevations between about 900 and 2400 m (about 3000 and 8000 ft). It is the most massive of all living forms. The leaves of the giant sequoia are scalelike and lie close to the branches. The bark of the trunk is fluted and is spongy in texture; in large trees it reaches a thickness of 60 cm (2 ft). The wood is light, coarse-grained, and highly resistant to insects and fire. Coast Redwood The coast redwood grows along the humid Pacific coast from southern Oregon to central California. Its ...