270 



PLANTS AND MAN 



but sprouts readily from the stump, a very rare attribute of 

 conifers. These sprouts grow very fast and reach tree size in an 

 unbeUevably short time. According to the rate at which we are 

 using redwood at the present time, there is a hundred years 

 supply remaining. 



The BIG TREES, or Sierra redwoods, are known as the largest 

 and oldest of living things (fig. 7). They are found only in scat- 

 tered groves in a several hundred mile strip 

 of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Cali- 

 fornia where they occupy an altitudinal 

 range of four to eight thousand feet. 

 Though of lesser height than redwoods 

 (usually about two hundred fifty feet) they 

 reach a far greater diameter, up to forty 

 feet. They are the most majestic of trees, 

 as they spread their massive branches over 

 surrounding forest species which in them- 

 selves are giants but which seem dwarfed 

 by the presence of the big trees. Ages 

 reached by these giants have been variously 

 recorded and reported. The oldest authen- 

 tic record seems to be in the neighborhood 

 of three thousand five hundred years, with 

 an age of four thousand reported, but not 

 authenticated. The wood of the big tree is 

 brittle, but exceedingly durable. Trees 

 which fell, a thousand years ago still have 

 sound wood, and if they occurred in greater abundance, the 

 species would undoubtedly be of great economic importance. 



Bald Cypress 



The BALD CYPRESS (Taxodium) as one might guess from the 

 name, drops its leaves each year. These are of two types; either 

 short needle-like ones arranged in a row on each side of the 

 branchlets, or appressed and scale-like (fig. 190). The latter 

 condition is found mostly on branchlets bearing cones which are 

 almost spherical and composed of thick, woody, shield-shaped 

 scales. 



Fig. 190.— The 

 bald cypress has short 

 needle-like leaves ar- 

 ranged on either side 

 of the stems, and shed 

 every autumn. 



