seeds of Sequoia sempervirens, Coastal Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens, also called the coastal redwood, is an evergreen tree species of the family Cupressaceae. The plant’s synonyms include Gingantabies taxifolia, Schubertia sempervirens, and Condylocarpus sempervirens. Common names for the tree also include Calfornia redwood and coast redwood. Sequoia sempervirens is indigenous to the United States in California and Oregon. Successful naturalisation has led to the cultivation of the redwood in New Zealand, Britain, Italy, and Portugal. Sequoia sempervirens can grow to a height of 115 metres and achieve a trunk diameter of up to 9 metres. The tree’s bark is fibrous and thick (30 cm). The soft bark has a reddish surface underneath which is the reason why the tree is called a redwood. Leaves are arranged spirally and have a length of 15 to 25 mm. The cones are ovoid and have a length of 15 to 32 mm. The plant is monoecious and thus, self-fertilises by providing pollen for the cones. Sequoia sempervirens is one of the most valuable sources timbers in areas with huge tree populations of the species, e.g., the state of California in the United States. Thousands of redwoods are logged every year to meet various timber demands with most of the logged trees being second growth. What makes the timber from the coast redwood valuable is its lightness and resistance to decay. Moreover, the fact that it doesn’t have any resins means it can’t catch fire easily. Sequoia sempervirens also grows as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks that have enough space to accommodate its large size. Sequoia sempervirens can mostly be found growing in Mountainous regions where it can take advantage of precipitated moisture coming from the ocean. Coastal redwoods are some of the tallest trees in the world. These trees are also the oldest given their lifespan can last longer than 2000 years.