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Hyperion -- tallest redwood.

last year

Pic was in a facebook link. Beautiful pic -- 380 ft tall, but in a way saddening, because every tree around it had been logged (yes, they're growing back). And that makes the tree severely isolated and exposed to potential damaging weather and lightning strikes. http://famousredwoods.com/hyperion/

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BillMN-z-2-3-4

last year

I hope I look that good at 915 years old! :-))

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Comments (8)

L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last year
however, because of the logging we can see and appreciate it better.
bengz6westmd thanked L Clark (zone 4 WY)
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
It should get lots of sun that way.

Beautiful tree!
bengz6westmd thanked BillMN-z-2-3-4
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The relevant science here is the Transpiration Pull - Cohesion Theory, also known as the Cohesion-Tension Theory. A few quotes from http://waynesword.palomar.edu/trjuly99.htm [quote] When water is confined to tubes of very small bore, the force of cohesion between water molecules is very strong. Tensions as great as 3,000 pounds per square inch are needed to break the column of water molecules. This is roughly equivalent to the force needed to break steel wire of the same diameter. In a sense, the cohesion of water molecules gives them the physical properties of solid wires. According to George Koch of Northern Arizona University and his associates, there may be a limit to the maximum height of tall trees. [Koch, G.W., Sillett, S.C., Jennings, G.M. & Davis, S.D., 2004. "The Limits to Tree Height." Nature 428: 851-854.] They climbed to the top of the tallest redwoods and measured the water potential and photosynthesis in the highest branches. They concluded that gravity starts to win out against water cohesion at about 110 meters (360 feet). This value correlates with the fossil record for tall trees at about 120 meters. The hydrogen bonds between water molecules become insufficiently strong to hold the cohesive mass of water molecules below the leaves. In addition, a decrease in the water potential of leaf cells causes the stomata to close, thus restricting water loss and the availability of carbon dioxide.color> [end quote]
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Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
last year
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I find the cylindrical canopy strange. It was undoubtedly constrained by the surrounding trees, I wonder how long the tree will take to widen its canopy, if ever. The very top of the canopy which was never constrained, is not much wider than further below.
bengz6westmd thanked Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
our friend resin.. back in the glory days of gardenweb ... suggested that at that height.. there are severe limitations for further growth ... mostly due to gravity ... and the plants ability to pump it up there ...

which then lead me to speculate about this trees ability to take on significant water thru the leaves at height.. i dont recall if we ever had an answer to that ...

another thought that crosses the mind.. we tell peeps not to build a house int he middle of the forest.. leaving trees real close to the building site.. for fear of root damage and soil compaction due to machinery.. you would think logging machinery would have impacted this tree ...

thx for the pix and the mind candy... i needed something to think about today ...

ken
bengz6westmd thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
weird.. cant copy paste from the link above ..

its next to fog creek in fog canyon ... that might be a clue to my wonderings above re: water intake?????
bengz6westmd thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
arbordave (SE MI)
last year
last modified: last year
Great photo of a really impressive tree. But apparently, hiking to within a mile of Hyperion is now off-limits due to the damage caused by the influx of visitors according to this NY Times article.

Wikipedia notes that "Researchers have said that woodpecker activity at the top may have prevented the tree from growing taller"
bengz6westmd thanked arbordave (SE MI)
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
Around here any tree that towers over the rest of the forest usually has an eagles nest near the top. That tree could have several at different heights. That is if eagles' territorial instincts allow other eagles to nest in close proximities.
bengz6westmd thanked BillMN-z-2-3-4

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