GIANT REDWOOD 



G.N. 8318 



GIANT REDWOOD 



Sequoia sempervirens Rndl. Coniferae. Taxodinse. 



A very soft, light, wood of a beautiful crimson-red colour; sometimes 

 purple. Darkens considerably and becomes brown on exposure to the 

 light. No smell. 



Transverse section. Boundaries of the rings well very defined by the 

 much darker Autumn zone, which latter may vary in breadth from a 

 mere line to a considerable band. 



Resin-canals absent. Resin-cells present, but by no means abundant; 

 scattered rather than in zones. 



Rays of one kind only, uniseriate, similar to those of the Pencil Cedar 

 but sometimes attaining a height of 25 cells. The rays at times seem to 

 be superposed one over the other to as many as three, as though they 

 composed a single high ray with constrictions at intervals. 



Giant Redwood is not easily confused with any other wood, except 

 S. giganfea and perhaps Pencil Cedar when there is no opportunity of 

 remarking the smell of the latter. 



Pencil Cedar [rays in tangential 

 section seldom 15 cells high (micro- 

 scope): resin-cells abundant, often 

 visible in transverse section with 

 lens as vague dark-coloured zones]. 



Redwood, rays in tangential 

 section up to 25 cells high: resin- 

 cells rare, an occasional one here 

 and there. No smell. 



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