Giant sequoia:giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

• Needles are scale-like with short, thick, sharp points.
  
  
  
• Fruits are small (2-3" long) and woody, and are extremely hard.
  
  
  
• Bark is reddish-brown, stringy, and very thick.
  
  
  
  

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is the only species within the giant sequoia genus. Giant sequoias are the largest trees ever to inhabit the earth, and are among the oldest. Heights of 300 feet and diameters of 30 feet are not uncommon. Their ages commonly range from 2,000 to 3,000 years (only bristlecone pines are older). Although once widespread, giant sequoias now occur only in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central California. Since 1890, giant sequoias have been protected in Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks, as well as in smaller individual groves.

giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

• Needles: Needles are bluish-green, generally lance-shaped and pressed to branchlet.
• Fruit: Cones are small and woody, generally 1.5 to 2.5 inches long.
• Bark: Bark is thick, dark reddish-brown, and deeply furrowed. Trunks are greatly enlarged and buttressed at the base.
• Distribution: Grow in isolated groves scattered throughout the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in central California. Trees are generally found at 4,900-8,200 ft. (1,500-2,500 m).

For more information on the giant sequoia, see p. 101 of "Trees to Know in Oregon".